In this insightful conversation, Thomas Beebe, a former financial advisor turned HVAC entrepreneur from Blair, Nebraska, shares his journey of stepping into his family's business. He reveals the unexpected challenges of active management versus his initial plans for passive income. Thomas discusses the importance of remote leadership, the strategies that helped grow his company's revenue from $400,000 to over $1 million, and valuable lessons from a friend's messy acquisition. Gain insights into building a profitable, people-first business while navigating the complex service industry terrain.
41:41
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
From Passive to Active Owner
Thomas Beebe bought his family's HVAC business expecting passive income but found it demanding.
He nearly gave up but became actively involved and learned to manage it remotely.
insights INSIGHT
Remote Ownership Demands Systems
Remote business ownership forces the creation of strong systems for day-to-day operations.
Although harder, remote ownership can improve life balance despite slower growth.
question_answer ANECDOTE
From $400K to $1 Million Revenue
After buying the HVAC business, Thomas grew revenue from $400K to over $1 million in a few years.
He attributes growth to adopting systems, hiring better employees, and increased personal involvement.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Buying a service business with the idea of passive income? In this episode of Jack Acquisitions, host Jack interviews Thomas Beebe, a financial advisor who stepped into ownership of his family’s HVAC company. What started as a hands-off investment quickly turned into a hands-on leadership journey.
From remote team management to turning around a messy acquisition, Thomas shares the tactical decisions, operational missteps, and growth strategies that shaped his perspective on what it really takes to own and run a trades business. This episode is packed with real-world insight—whether you're planning to buy, scale, or just survive in the world of home services.
⚡ What you’ll learn Why Thomas initially underestimated the involvement required—and how he course-corrected The operational systems needed for remote management (and where they fail) How to set up accountability when you’re not on-site every day Insights from a turnaround: A case study of a friend’s messy HVAC acquisition The critical questions Thomas asks in due diligence after seeing both sides When to diversify into adjacent verticals like plumbing—and when not to How to build a business that’s both profitable and people-first
If you’re buying a local service business or building one to scale, this episode will challenge your assumptions and give you frameworks for sustainable growth—even when you’re managing from a distance.
💼 Special Thanks to First Internet Bank!
Looking to buy or expand a business? First Internet Bank is a National Preferred SBA lender specializing in acquisitions for the skilled trades. Their SBA loan program offers up to 90% financing for business acquisitions, partner buyouts, and commercial real estate—plus optional lines of credit to fuel future growth. Unlike traditional lenders, they take a “how can we” approach, making deals happen for both first-time buyers and experienced operators.
👉 Special Offer: Mention Owned and Operated for a reduced good faith deposit and a complimentary deal review + buyside prequalification. Connect with Alan Peterson from First Internet Bank here to get started [https://alanfib.com/]
💼Buying businesses?
Jackquisitions is the must-read newsletter for operators, acquirers, and deal junkies. It’s packed with real acquisition breakdowns, seller red flags, and proven strategies from the trenches. 📬 Join and get smarter on small biz M&A every week. 👉 Subscribe at [jackquisitions.com]
📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters for tracking. Episodes may feature paid sponsors, but all opinions are our own. Always do your own research before making business decisions.
Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast