Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast
John Wilson
The Owned and Operated electrical, HVAC, and plumbing business growth podcast is hosted by John Wilson and Jack Carr. These two Home Service Business owners bring you weekly podcasts and daily content with multiple perspectives, actionable advice, and info on an ever-changing industry revolving around advertising, lead generation, and more. Join us every Tuesday for topical conversations that unlock the potential for your business growth. Covering topics from top-tier talent recruitment to mastering marketing strategies and scaling your home service business, the podcast aims to be your guide on the path to entrepreneurial success.For more information, visit www.ownedandoperated.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
8 snips
Nov 13, 2025 • 31min
How to Scale Beyond Yourself and Build a Real Company
John and Jack explore the critical transition from owner to operator in home services. They discuss identifying bottlenecks that hinder growth and knowing when to hire your first manager. The duo debates the merits of promoting internally versus hiring externally and emphasizes effective delegation. With insights from successful companies scaling from $1M to $40M+, they highlight the importance of accountability systems and revenue-focused management. Listeners will gain practical advice on building leadership layers and prioritizing sales to boost growth.
Nov 11, 2025 • 38min
How to Future-Proof Your Home Service Business in 2025
Explore how home-service businesses can thrive in 2025 by flattening organizational structures and leveraging AI to reduce overhead costs. Discover strategies for balancing automation with the human touch and the importance of adaptable teams. Learn about key financial metrics like gross margin, EBITDA, and the impact of interest rates on business health. Gain insights on competing against larger players and the necessity of understanding your break-even point for future success.
Nov 6, 2025 • 53min
How This Operator Turned a Viral Laundromat Video into a $20M Roofing Company
Brandon Schlicter, known as Investment Joy, is a serial operator and investor with a diverse portfolio including laundromats and roofing businesses. He shares how a viral laundromat video sparked his journey into a $20M commercial roofing company. Brandon discusses the critical shift from small to large investments, the significance of social media in attracting capital, and the complexities of union commercial roofing. He also emphasizes the importance of accurate estimating, managing cash flow, and the drive to create impactful content that inspires aspiring entrepreneurs.
Nov 4, 2025 • 39min
The Consumer Always Wins: Building the Business They Actually Want
A deep dive into consumer-centric strategies in home services takes center stage. Discover how a shift from lead generation to a full-funnel platform enhances customer experiences. Learn about answer engine optimization and its impact on search, providing fast tactics for businesses to improve visibility. The discussion highlights competitive dynamics, revealing how nimble operators can outperform larger players. Jamie and John share insights on prioritizing technology wisely and the significance of seamless financing solutions to close more jobs.
Oct 30, 2025 • 52min
$170M in 2 Years: Premier Home Pros’ Playbook for Scaling Without Debt
Discover how AJ and Noah transformed six new locations into a powerhouse generating over $170M without accumulating debt. They reveal their innovative strategies, including removing unnecessary management layers, and launching effective Zoom-based sales training. Learn about their 'never stop recruiting' approach, which helps maintain top talent, and the unique compensation structures that keep performance high. Their journey highlights the importance of agility and culture in scaling a home-service brand successfully.
Oct 28, 2025 • 57min
Zero to $86M in 24 Months: The Home Service Growth Blueprint
Discover how Premier Home Pros skyrocketed from an idea at a dining-room table to $86M in just 24 months! Hear about their impressive 91% demo rate and why they switched to engineered stone to boost average ticket prices. Learn the secrets behind their rapid expansion, including a unique greenfield playbook and a lean P&L structure. They share insights on effective hiring, the value of a solid sales process, and strategies for scaling organizations while keeping a close eye on numbers. Ideal for entrepreneurs in the home service industry!
9 snips
Oct 24, 2025 • 33min
How Regular People Get Rich Buying Boring Businesses - JackQuisitions Feed Drop
In this insightful discussion, Chris Barr, an entrepreneur focused on business acquisitions in Palm Beach, delves into strategies for refining his acquisition criteria. He explores the pros and cons of B2B versus residential services, with a keen interest in government contracting, particularly janitorial contracts. Chris shares innovative sourcing methods, including cost-effective list scraping and the careful use of AI for outreach. The conversation emphasizes building a tight buy box to attract broker attention and the significance of personalized outreach in a competitive market.
Oct 23, 2025 • 43min
How One Inspection Company Scaled to $20M Without Private Equity
Harmony Brownwood, the CEO and founder of GreenWorks Inspections & Engineering, shares her incredible journey from a broke student to leading a multi-state company generating ~$15-20M annually. She discusses the key to her success: a focus on exceptional client experiences and building strong SOPs. Harmony reveals how she navigated the challenges of a flat market, emphasizing the importance of engineering and environmental services for expansion. Plus, she highlights metrics for measuring client satisfaction and the culture of earning every customer.
7 snips
Oct 21, 2025 • 42min
From $10M to $100M: How Home Service Companies Scale Sales Fast
Zach Dearing, founder of Mantel, specializes in transforming how contractors sell home services. He discusses the shift from traditional proposals to interactive shopping experiences that empower homeowners to make confident choices. Key insights include the importance of response time and 'eyeball time' in closing deals, and how a 10-point increase in proposal strength significantly boosts ticket size. Dearing also highlights the need for pricing transparency, the growth of remote selling, and the contrasting strategies between $10M and $100M businesses.
9 snips
Oct 16, 2025 • 1h 13min
How He Built a $40M Home Service Business from the Ground Up
In this conversation with Christian Rattin, CEO of Five Star Home Services, listeners discover how he transformed a small HVAC business into a $40M powerhouse across multiple markets. He shares insights on the 'profit on purpose' philosophy, revealing how they donate 10% of revenue while focusing on sustainable growth. Christian emphasizes the importance of leadership development for all employees, even those without traditional backgrounds. He discusses the impact of adopting the Scaling Up system and the challenges of scaling with integrity and community support.
