Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast

In this episode of Owned and Operated, Jack brings a business to the table that provides passive income with minimal maintenance: Hydroelectric Plants. This unique and niche business breakdown explores the challenges and benefits of owning these facilities. From regulatory hurdles to potential synergies with solar and wind energy, this type of business is definitely one that John is now keeping on...

In this episode, experience John and Jack's journey as they explore two unique business opportunities in the home services sector: chimney sweeping and generator service and installation. They also share some key factors like cost per click, labor acquisition, and overall business viability. Additionally, they discuss the challenges they've faced dealing with unexpected issues in their d...

Welcome to 'Owned and Operated' – the podcast that dives deep into the world of home service entrepreneurship. Hosted by John Wilson, a third-generation home service entrepreneur and CEO of The Wilson Companies, this podcast was launched in 2021 to bridge the gap between industry experts and listeners. Join us every Tuesday and Thursday for topical conversations that unlock the potential...

Navigating the challenges of scaling a business beyond $3 million, John and Jack emphasize the importance of additional resources and share personal experiences. They advocate for strategic company acquisitions to streamline growth, covering topics such as debt management and the value of learning from challenges. Curious to learn from these seasoned entrepreneurs and unlock the secrets to scaling...

Join John and Jack in this episode as they share practical strategies for thriving in the home services industry's shoulder seasons. From tech tips to customer connections, learn how to boost your business year-round with proactive and strategic marketing methods. Ready to up your home service game? Tune in now for actionable tips to enhance your business during shoulder seasons and master st...

In this episode of Owned and Operated, Jack and John kick off with a positive update on Jack’s flourishing plumbing department—it's doing really well, and they talk about what's been working. They also share insights on using US Census data for precise list curation in targeted marketing. Emphasizing the significance of strategic list formation, they detail how it positively impacts conv...

In this episode, John dives into the unexpected challenges faced by Jack while managing his plumbing business during an exceptionally tough week. Rather than shying away from setbacks, the episode explores how these experiences paved the way for strategic decisions, including the bold move to transition their home service business into a seven-day operation. Listen and learn about the bold transit...

In this episode, John Wilson and Jack Carr sit down with Rick Vazza as he shares his experience acquiring a second Zoom Drain franchise location. Rick sheds light on his journey, tackling challenges from leases to managing operations remotely.  Discover the details of franchise growth, learning about the strategies and lessons alongside Rick. Tune in for a clear exploration of the ups and downs in...

In this episode, John Wilson is joined by Rick Vazza, an owner and operator of plumbing companies in the San Diego area. Rick Vazza discusses his journey of purchasing and launching a drain franchise, Zoom Drain in San Diego, as part of his existing plumbing business. He highlights the positive impact it had on his business.  Additionally, they look at essential growth strategies involving B2B bus...

In today's episode, John Wilson is joined by Aizik Zimmerman to discuss strategies for home service businesses, particularly focusing on membership programs, marketing, and reviews. They emphasize the importance of providing value to customers and owning the customer relationship. The conversation touches on various marketing approaches, including digital marketing, reviews, and guerrilla mar...

In today's episode, we welcome Aizik Zimerman, a home service entrepreneur who owns a fast-growing plumbing company called J Blanton in Chicago. The conversation covers topics such as the success of their businesses, the use of marketing and recruitment strategies, the influence of private equity on the market, and how tailoring their businesses around marketing has led to success. John and A...

In this episode, hosts John Wilson and Jack Carr discuss the art of recruiting top-tier talent that can help your home service business grow and thrive.  The key? Build an organized, sales-like approach for recruiting top-tier talent. Tune in to see just how it's done!  The discussion also includes when to bring in Human Resources or a recruitment hire, how to build an appealing business cult...

In this episode of Owned and Operated, join hosts John Wilson and Jack Carr as they discuss the world of bidding software and pricing strategies tailored for home service companies. Drawing from their own experiences, they share insights about various CRM systems, with a particular emphasis on ServiceTitan. The discussion underscores the significance of streamlining your tech stack and the undenia...

Special thanks to our sponsor: Service Scalers : Looking to scale your home service business? Service Scalers is a digital marketing agency that drives success in PPC and LSA. Discover more growth strategies by visiting Service Scalers .  In this episode of Owned and Operated, John and Jack dive into optimizing home service call centers. Key takeaways include: Prioritize Quality: Customer feedback...

Are you a home service entrepreneur looking to scale your business efficiently? In this episode of "Owned and Operated," we delve into the intricacies of middle management, scaling, and the challenges faced by home service companies as they grow. Join us as we explore valuable insights shared by industry experts. Discussion Highlights: Recruitment Strategy: Finding the right talent to ma...

Summary: In this episode of "Owned and Operated," the John and Jack explore key strategies to drive growth in the home service industry. They discuss the immense potential of utilizing a call center and establishing an inside sales team, highlighting the success of membership sales and a range of marketing avenues beyond pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. Key Takeaways: The Call Center Adv...

Are you a home service entrepreneur looking to scale your business to new heights? In this episode of "Owned and Operated," we delve into a candid conversation between two experienced entrepreneurs, discussing their strategies, challenges, and insights. From pricing to growth plans and the pitfalls of expanding services, this discussion provides valuable nuggets of wisdom for those navig...

In this episode of “Owned and Operated”, hosts Jack and John catch up on their recent activities and dive into the topic of service businesses. They talk about the problems and chances that come with growing service businesses, especially when it comes to plateaus and the need for more infrastructure and management. The hosts also talk about how traditional business models are changing and how rol...

In this episode of “Owned and Operated”, John Wilson and Jack Carr discuss a lot of interesting topics including the concept of a mobile tire and oil change service. Get to know why Handyman Business is a special niche!  With the convenience of having a professional come to you, it's a no-brainer for homeowners and fleet companies alike. The profit margins are better for homeowners, but fleet...

In this episode of Owned and Operated, the hosts discuss the business model of water trucking, specifically potable water delivery services. They investigate the difficulties and the costs that are associated with it, such as complying with the regulations and the high costs of equipment and tires. Even though there are problems, they emphasize how profitable the business is.  For example, one int...

In this pilot episode of “Owned and Operated”, John Wilson and Jack Carr discuss their recent business transitions and exciting changes, including moving to a new location, adopting Service Titan, hiring a comfort consultant, and surviving the slow season. They also explore a unique niche business called Gum Busters, a specialized pressure-washing company that removes gum and graffiti from public...

In this pilot episode of “Owned and Operated”, John Wilson is talking to Jack Carr about his history and how interesting his life adventure was that led him to a residential HVAC commercial company in Nashville. We will get to know his strategies for building his team, and we will see how Jack considers revenue generation if he’s not bringing people in. Why did Jack buy this business if they had n...

Today, Kelcey Lehrich and John will be jumping into an interesting conversation. This will revolve around a conference happening in Cleveland and how it came to be, what it is, what to expect, and where to find out more information.  We hope to see you there. Enjoy! Send Us Mail! More Ways To Connect with O&O John's Podcast YouTube Channel Owned and Operated Newsletter  John's Long F...

The SMBesties are back as John and Reg Zellers hop on to cover a few topics on today’s show. They’ll jump into economics and how low demand even in the home services industry has forced some strategy changes. Business to Business is still doing well, but John talks about the struggles of Business to Consumer during Q1.  Reg talks about how his businesses are starting to get busier. He touches on h...

It’s SMBesties time again! John, Kelsey Lehrich, and Reg Zellers are joined this time around by Joshua Schultz as they will cover a few topics along the way. They will mention their Q1 struggles and successes, how they occasionally have to wear multiple hats and what can happen when this occurs. The guys touch briefly on mental health with the ups and downs of Small Business.  The big topic is the...