Buying Out Businesses at 28 | How He’s Building a Local Empire
Description
In this episode of the Solar Power Hour, William Grant sits down with Ben Wilson, owner of Wilson Services, to talk about what it really takes to build and sustain a business in Central Illinois. Together they dive into:
☀️ The realities of entrepreneurship — from mowing lawns at age nine to leading a 44-employee company.
☀️ How community involvement and long-term customer relationships fuel growth more than advertising ever could.
☀️ The business challenges facing service companies today — from labor shortages and employment gaps to skyrocketing material costs.
☀️ The process of business acquisitions, seller financing, and what it means to keep Peoria’s legacy companies local.
☀️ How strong community partnerships and people-first culture can future-proof any business.
This episode of Solar Power Hour blends business wisdom with local pride as William Grant and Ben Wilson unpack the intersection of entrepreneurship, community, and integrity.
It’s a grounded, eye-opening conversation about building teams, navigating costs, fighting misinformation, and keeping business in the hands of those who care about their community.
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