(If You Stop Playing the Old Game) Most contractors are walking into 2026 with the wrong posture. They’re bracing for tighter margins. They’re worried about ad costs. They’re assuming the “easy years” are gone. That mindset is understandable—and mostly wrong. For well-run home service companies, 2026 has the potential to be a breakout year . Not because conditions are perfect, but because the gap between disciplined operators and everyone else is widening fast. Here’s why. 1.