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
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.
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.
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.
Oct 14, 2025 • 58min
Start or Buy a Business? One Founder’s Surprising Answer
In this insightful chat, Tyler Griffin, the founder of Swift Pro Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, shares his journey of building a thriving HVAC and plumbing startup in Washington, D.C. After selling his previous business, he took a six-month break before launching from scratch. Tyler discusses why starting fresh can outpace expensive acquisitions, emphasizes the importance of vendor partnerships, and reveals his strategies for scaling quickly, including prioritizing reviews and leveraging Angie Ads. He also explains how to cultivate a winning culture and promote talent from within.
11 snips
Oct 9, 2025 • 59min
#249 How to Build a National Septic Pumping Empire (The 2025 Playbook)
Micah Findley, co-founder of HomeField and expert in scaling field-service businesses, dives into the often-overlooked septic pumping industry. He discusses how to build a national brand, the impact of COVID on market dynamics, and the importance of service agreements for stabilizing cash flow. Micah shares insights on pricing strategies, operational challenges like dump waits, and how technology transforms the industry. He emphasizes the need for multiple service lines beyond pumping and the role of marketing in capturing local visibility. This is a deep dive into thriving in a niche business!
Oct 8, 2025 • 52min
How to Build, Scale, and Sell a Security or Fire Protection Business
Collin Trimble and Steven Ullman, co-founders of Alarm Masters, share their journey of scaling their security firm from under $2M to over $6M. They delve into the three revenue pillars—install, service, and recurring revenue—and discuss the significance of acquiring monitoring accounts for future projects. Tips like the coffee/taco drop strategy reveal innovative ways to enhance customer loyalty and cross-sell services. They also explore M&A strategies, hiring operations leaders, and the competitive landscape of the security industry.
10 snips
Oct 7, 2025 • 22min
#248 Inside the $150M Operator Playbook: How Sierra Scaled Fast
RJ Magee, an executive at Sierra, shares insights on scaling trades businesses through strategic acquisitions. He reveals how Sierra grew to six companies across five states and discusses the centralization of shared services while allowing localized control. Tyson Chen from Avoca AI elaborates on their AI technology, revolutionizing call centers by booking jobs and integrating seamlessly with ServiceTitan. Together, they explore the importance of embracing technology in the trades, overcoming AI anxiety, and driving cultural change within teams.
Oct 2, 2025 • 1h 25min
#247 LEGENDS | The $1.2B Contractor: How Kelso Built a Billion-Dollar Empire
Steve Carroll, Founder and CEO of Kelso Industries, shares his journey of scaling the company to a massive $1.1–$1.2B by leveraging acquisitions and a decentralized model. He explains the strategic Kelso flywheel that starts with construction and expands into maintenance and service. Topics include how to balance centralization with empowering local leaders, the importance of leadership pipelines, and adapting to market demands, particularly in data centers. Carroll emphasizes a partnership approach that respects local teams while driving growth.
Sep 30, 2025 • 23min
#246 From $700K to $30 Million With Multiple Locations!
Rich Jordan, founder and operator, shares his journey of scaling a trades business from $700K to over $30M in just five years. He discusses the challenges of multi-location integration, revealing how they changed strategies on call center centralization. Rich highlights the importance of leadership development and cultural alignment post-acquisition, emphasizing rapid feedback and frontline engagement. He also shares insights on recruiting leaders from the trades and military, as well as the balance between speed and risk in operations.
