Owned and Operated continues its new Legends series, focusing on the stories of the home service industry’s most successful entrepreneurs, this time joined by Aaron Gaynor. The founder of Eco Plumbers, Aaron shares his incredible journey from losing everything to building a $75 million service business. He discusses the importance of setting a bold vision, focusing on one trade in one location, and the power of building relationships in the industry, as well as creating a reputable brand, lev...
A new episode of 'Owned and Operated' is here, with the incomparable Ellen Rohr joining Jack and John as they talk about her expensive journey through the world of plumbing, what leadership means, and why open book management leads to success. They talk about Ellen’s journey from plumbing to business success, strategic approaches to overcoming debt through proper pricing, and the personal evolution of founding successful ventures like Benjamin Franklin the Punctual Plumber and Zoom Drain. Now...
In this episode of Owned and Operated, John and Jack are joined by Sagan’s Jon Matzner to talk about the use of global talent and hiring overseas to enhance business operations, beyond just saving costs. What is the importance of systemization and automation in building a high-leverage business model?Jon also goes through the evolution of the Sagan system, which starts with global talent as an entry point and extends to include automation and decentralized leadership. What are the dynamics of...
In this episode, Jack is flying solo and speaks with Rory Tyer, a new owner of an independent garden center in South Carolina, about his journey in entrepreneurship through acquisition. Rory shares his experiences and challenges in acquiring and operating a local nursery, discussing factors such as location, customer demographics, and the dynamics of retail vs. wholesale businesses. The conversation also touches on the significant learning curve, managing inventory, and engaging in new m...
In this episode of Owned and Operated, John explains the world of home service business growth with CEO Peter Lohmann, focusing on how branding can serve as a powerful lead-generation tool. John and Peter explore the journey of scaling a home service company, including the challenges, insights, and opportunities that come with driving marketing efforts and building operational efficiency.Key takeaways from this episode include the critical role that marketing and branding play in generating l...
This episode of Owned and Operated features Chris Hoffman, CEO of the $130M Hoffman Brothers, continuing the "Legends Series," where industry leaders are highlighted for their massive influence and expertise in the home services space. Chris shares his journey with John and Jack, scaling Hoffman Brothers from a modest family business to a multi-million-dollar industry leader, operating out of St. Louis and Nashville. The discussion covers business strategies, leadership challenges, and C...
It’s Breaking $5M Workshop week, and Jack and John are together in the studio for the first time! What happens when you get these two together? They talk about call centers, that’s what. They break down organizational changes driven by AI, adjustments to call center compensation and the broader implications for business efficiency. They’ll also stress the importance of continuously negotiating with vendors to reduce costs and increase profitability. Networking and learning from industry peers...
John and Jack welcome Joe Crisara from Service MVP, a mainstay in the home services business. Joe shares his extensive experience spanning 47 years in the trades industry, detailing his journey from a service technician to a successful entrepreneur. He discusses how implementing call by call management and personalized customer service can drastically improve business outcomes. Joe also highlights the importance of using technology like Hatch and Rilla to streamline workflows and enhance...
In this episode of 'Owned and Operated,' John Wilson talks with owner Brian Sloan from TR Miller to discuss the nuances of business management and growth in HVAC and plumbing. What was the process for Brian of transitioning from a hands-on operator to a business owner mindset, learning the intricacies of multi-location management, and finding the importance of strategic partnerships? Brian shares his experiences with TR Miller’s growth trajectory, the lessons learned from slowdowns and o...
In this episode of 'Owned and Operated,' host Jack Carr interviews Wyatt Smith from Upsmith to discuss employee retention and the psychology of incentives for skilled workforces. Wyatt shares a look into UpSmith’s mission to gamify the skilled trades industry using software that provides immediate feedback and recognition to technicians while bolstering your employee retention strategy, and how this approach boosts performance and revenue. Wyatt also breaks down the significance of timely rew...
In this episode of Owned and Operated, hosts John Wilson and Jack welcome back Home Service Engine Founder Danny Peevey to discuss the complexities and challenges of making KPI, data-driven decisions in the home services industry. What starts with a talk on the importance of site visits and peer comparisons then turns to the complexities of ServiceTitan and the importance of knowing what to do with all that data. Do your employees know how to effectively use KPIs and the data you’re gaining f...
Owned and Operated continues its new Legends series, focusing on the stories of the home service industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. John Wilson and Jack Carr are joined by special guest Chad Peterman, President and CEO of Peterman Brothers–a $120M home service empire with over 700 employees and eight locations. Follow along as Chad discusses how a centralized operation opened the door for expansion, the realities of recruiting and marketing for a large organization, and the power of po...
Owned and Operated continues its new LEGENDS series, focusing on the stories of the home service industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. John Wilson is joined by special guest Matt Ballard of Sunrise Mechanical, a $55M HVAC and plumbing company that works in small residential, commercial, and new construction. Matt discusses the balance between working in the two worlds of new construction and residential home services and how it led to being in over 6,000 homes in one year while also spend...
Owned and Operated kicks off its new LEGENDS series, focusing on the stories of the home service industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. John Wilson and Jack Carr are joined by special guest Tommy Mello, founder and CEO of A1 Garage, which operates in over 20 states, with over 50 locations. The talk with Tommy covers his insistence on a strong company culture, how partnerships drove his company to new milestones, and the reasons why networking in the home service space is so important to co...
Are you focused on business leads in your home service company when the seasons change? This week, Jack and John talk about weak months during peak HVAC season, big victories coming from major talent hires, and the power of specialty equipment paying for itself almost immediately. However, the big topic of conversation covers home service business leads, generating those leads when times get quiet, and the various avenues an owner has available to source customers.Episode Hosts: 🎤John Wilson:...
Even vacation can’t stop John from talking about the new, heavy equipment for his drainage excavation business doubling as a marketing strategy! He and Jack talk about the nature of working in HVAC, drains, and excavation, why pipelining is great, and just how much a machine for drain cleaning can cost a business–and how much it makes back when you start to tie upsells into your sales practices. Do you know the difference between the excavation and pipelining business? Find out.Episode Hosts:...
John joins the show this week from the middle of the woods as he and Jack discuss creating your home service business organizational structure, org charts, and the issues with hiring leaders. It’s also peak HVAC business season and that means an inevitable downturn. Are Jack and John prepared for an HVAC shoulder season? Will John find his way out of the woods? Give a listen to this week’s show, hear about organizational structure for small business owners, and get a massive knowledge level-u...
July heat got you down? Then you must not work in the HVAC business, because things are hotter than ever for Jack and John, as they talk about trying to keep up with the massive summertime HVAC rush, the stretch of record-breaking home service sales records, and growth all around. But that begs the question: When you’re making summer hay what are the best moves to make in regards to expansion, future plans, and increasing your place in the market? Join Owned and Operated this week as the show...
It’s June Q&A time, as John tackles strategies for increasing revenue per plumber and HVAC technician, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), and tips for managing warehouse inventory and consignment. He’ll also get into hiring team leads, implementing incentive-based compensation plans, rebranding strategies after acquisitions, and navigating successful business models like new construction. Want to make sure you’re live for the next livestream? Learn more about John’s exclusive Fac...
Join John Wilson and Jack Carr on 'Owned and Operated' as they look into the cutting-edge world of AI-powered call centers for home service businesses with Tyson from Avoca AI. Discover how AI is transforming the efficiency and effectiveness of call centers in the trades, optimizing everything from after-hours calls to specialized CSR allocation. Tyson shares his extensive background in AI, his journey into the trades, and the groundbreaking features of Avoca's platform. Learn about best prac...