JackQuisitions - Small Business Acquisitions in Home Service

In this episode of JackQuisitions , Jack flips the mic to bring on seasoned operator, investor, and podcast host Michael Crow . From beating stage four cancer in his 20s to building a 5,000-unit real estate portfolio and then diving headfirst into HVAC and plumbing, Michael shares a frank, field-tested playbook: compounding > flipping, shoulder seasons test your soul, and “permanent equity” wor...

In this episode of JackQuisitions , Jack flips the mic to bring on… JackQuisitions favorite and Owned & Operated’s own John Wilson . Together they break down two real deals in Ohio: a premium pool service route in Northeast Ohio and a 221-ATM route in Franklin County (Columbus). They dig into seasonality, margins, route density, and the very real difference between buying a cash-flowing job vs...

In this episode of JackQuisitions , Jack sits down with Patrick Lange of Business Modification Group to unpack what really drives (and drags down) HVAC and plumbing valuations. Patrick has sold 149+ trades companies and shares straight-talk on multiples, owner bottlenecks, service vs. construction mix, and how buyer profiles—and the June SBA SOP changes—are reshaping deals. If you’re eyeing an exi...

In this part two, Jack sits back down with Chris Cisneros of Diamond Plumbing —this time diving deep into acquisitions, market entry strategy, and leading seasoned techs as a 23-year-old service manager. Live from the Miami Meetup, they unpack how to decide between greenfield vs. acquisition , what it really takes to keep teams post-close, and how to think about radius, logistics, and install crew...

In this episode of JackQuisitions, Jack sits down with Chris Cisneros of Diamond Plumbing live at the Miami Meetup. Chris shares his incredible journey from selling marketing services door-to-door at just 13 years old to building a fast-growing plumbing business alongside his father. What started with one truck and a thrift store breakroom office has now expanded into a multi-truck operation with...

In this episode of JackQuisitions, Jack sits down in Akron, Ohio with Matt, who just closed on his very first acquisition: a 75-year-old HVAC and refrigeration company outside Pittsburgh. Fresh off the Breaking $5 Million workshop, Matt walks through the whirlwind of his first six weeks as an owner—what it’s like to take on a $2M deal, why he valued stability over chasing top-line growth, and how...

In this episode of JackQuisitions, Jack catches up with Chris Barr, who returns with a hard but valuable update: his most recent deal is officially dead. After months of diligence, capital invested, and a strong connection with the sellers, Chris made the tough call to walk away when the risk profile jumped too high. What could have been a dream business became a cautionary tale about what happens...

In this episode of JackQuisitions , Jack sits down with Jeff Bates, a Michigan-based operator who went from running trucks in the heat to owning and growing multiple HVAC companies. After years at Lennox and a crash course in small business while working for his father-in-law’s trucking company, Jeff and his partner decided to jump into ownership themselves. Their first deal came in 2022 with RNL...

In this episode of JackQuisitions, Jack sits down with Matthew Railla, a former wine industry operator turned termite company owner. After years running his family’s winery, Matt discovered business brokerage through his brother-in-law—and eventually listed a highly profitable termite inspection company. When buyers kept passing due to its relationship-driven, project-based model, Matt had a reali...

In this revealing episode of JackQuisitions, Jack sits down with his good friend Scott Horman, who attempted to build an HVAC business from the ground up. Just ten months later, the doors closed for good. Scott opens up about the hard truths—misaligned partners, poor service quality, and unpredictable lead flow—that ultimately sank the venture. If you’ve ever wondered whether to start a trades bus...

📉 Lessons From the Trenches: The Real Cost of a $1.9M Plumbing Acquisition  In this brutally honest episode of Owned and Operated , John sits down with Jameson Wildwood, who bought Sweetwater Plumbing in North Carolina for $1.9 million. Six months post-close, Jameson reveals what actually happened—from bad deals and cultural clashes to scaling a service division 5X in half a year. If you're...

In this episode of Jackquisitions, Jack sits down with Alan Peterson from First Internet Bank to demystify the world of SBA lending for business acquisitions. Alan shares what most acquirers miss when evaluating loan options—including why gut instinct matters just as much as financials, how to approach deals with transparency, and when to prioritize prequalification over perfection. Whether you&ap...

 In this episode of Jackquisitions, Jack sits down with Chris Barr—an aspiring business owner deep in the trenches of due diligence after signing an LOI to buy his dream company. What follows is a transparent, tactical breakdown of the financial, legal, and operational hurdles Chris is facing. From recasting sketchy financials to prepping for a potential retrade, this episode strips away the roman...

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 decisio...

Want to buy a small business using smart deal structures like earnouts, seller financing, and low-risk offers? In this episode of Jackquisitions, host Jack Carr sits down with Chris Barr, a first-time buyer navigating the ups and downs of business acquisitions—from walking away from bad fits to crafting a $900K cash-plus-earnout offer for a pressure washing company. Learn how Chris is sourcing off...

Buying a small business? In this episode of Jackquisitions, we follow Chris Barr’s journey to acquiring a pressure washing company using smart financing—combining cash, earnouts, and trusted advisors. From submitting the LOI to executing deep-dive due diligence, Chris shares what it really takes to close a successful acquisition. You’ll learn how to build the right team, evaluate financials and le...

In this episode of Owned and Operated, we’re diving into real-world strategies for sourcing and securing small business acquisitions. From outreach to private equity firms to using freelancers for off-market deals, we break down how acquisition entrepreneurs are getting creative and staying competitive. We explore how personal branding can help attract brokers, how to craft a buyer persona that ac...

In this episode of Jackcquisitions, we explore profitable small business acquisition strategies with Peter De Baptiste, owner of Joe Cole Plumbing in Florida. Peter shares his entrepreneurial journey—starting in banking, then leading a delivery service startup, and ultimately acquiring a plumbing company. Now, he's setting his sights on HVAC and turf installation businesses, uncovering high-p...

In this episode of Jackquisitions, we break down the essential expert team every acquisition entrepreneur must build before buying a business. Whether you’re acquiring your first HVAC company or scaling into multiple service businesses, assembling the right support system can make or break your deal. From legal frameworks to SBA loan processing, we cover the professionals who will help you move qu...

Thinking about buying a home service business with an SBA loan? This episode is your go-to guide. Jackquisitions sits down with Alan Peterson—who closed over $70 million in SBA acquisition financing last year—to break down how to structure high-leverage deals, navigate the latest SBA loan rule changes, and avoid the costly mistakes many first-time buyers make. If you're serious about acquirin...

 In this episode we’re back with part two of the Chris Barr series on Jackquisitions. Chris is three months into his journey to acquire a business in Florida, and he’s bringing real updates from the trenches. From opportunity cost and deal dynamics to cold outreach and broker networks, this episode is packed with hard-won insights from an active business searcher.  We dive into the pros and cons o...

Don’t Fall for the Buyer’s Trap: Why No-Marketing Businesses Aren’t Easy Wins  In this episode of Jackquisitions, we dive into a common pitfall many first-time buyers fall for—the belief that a business with little or no marketing is a “goldmine” just waiting to be unlocked. Spoiler: it’s not that simple. Using the tongue-in-cheek example of an underwater basket weaving business, we break down the...

Looking to break into the home service industry through business acquisitions? In this episode of Jackquisitions , we sit down with Elias Yusef, a 24-year-old entrepreneur who’s quickly making a name for himself by acquiring and scaling blue-collar service businesses. Based in Denver, Colorado, Elias shares how he transitioned from selling appliances to owning a fast-growing plumbing company, usin...

The Ultimate Playbook to Buy & Scale Small Businesses Want to grow your business through smart acquisitions, direct outreach, and personal branding? In this episode of JackQuisitions , we dive deep into the art of buying small businesses and building relationships that close deals. Host Jack sits down with an experienced operator to explore what it really takes to acquire businesses, from cold...