Podcast
Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast
Hosted by John Wilson · EN
The Owned and Operated Podcast is the go-to show for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical business owners who want to grow faster, increase profits, and scale smarter.
Hosted by John Wilson and Jack Carr, real home service operators in the trenches. This podcast delivers 2x weekly, no-BS conversations on what’s actually working in the trades today. From lead generation and marketing to hiring top-tier talent and building scalable systems, every episode is packed with actionable strategies you can implement immediately.
If you're an HVAC contractor, plumber, or electrician looking to grow your business, improve operations, and stay ahead in a competitive market, this podcast is for you.
New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday.
Learn more at www.ownedandoperated.com
380episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Google Just Changed Local Services Ads (Here's What Contractors Need to Know)
3d ago00:26:27Summary readyGoogle is changing Local Services Ads again, and this one actually matters.In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Sam Preston of Service Scalers to break down Google's biggest LSA update yet. With Local Services Ads moving into Google Ads and Performance Max, contractors could see major changes to how budgets are spent, campaigns are managed, and leads are generated.John and Sam walk through what's changing, what could go wrong, and the simple checklist every contractor should work through before the rollout. If Google is an important lead source for your business, this is an episode you'll want to hear before the switch happens.In This Episode:Why Google is moving LSAs into Google AdsWhat Performance Max means for contractorsThe biggest risks during the migrationHow to think about budgets and campaign structureWhat data you need to save before it's goneWhy your Google Business Profile matters more than everWhat to watch for if your lead volume changes overnight━━━━━━━━━━━━━━John Wilson → https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbwilson1/Sam Preston → https://www.linkedin.com/in/sampreston/━━━━━━━━━━━━━━💰 SPONSORS━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Breaking $5M WorkshopJoin John Wilson and Jack Carr in Akron, OH for a hands on workshop built for home service owners ready to scale past $5M. Get the proven playbook, tour Wilson's operation, and connect with other growth minded contractors. Register here: https://www.ownedandoperated.com/upcoming-events/oao-workshop-breaking-5-million YelpLooking for more qualified leads beyond Google? See how contractors are using Yelp to reach homeowners who are ready to book and diversify their lead generation. Learn more: https://business.yelp.com/campaign/ownedandoperated/The Military Veteran (TMV)Hiring a VP, GM, or C-suite leader? The Military Veteran (TMV) specializes in executive search for home service businesses, connecting you with proven veteran leaders who know how to execute, build teams, and drive growth. Select Owned and Operated as your referral source when you schedule a consultation: https://themilvet.typeform.com/to/BDwkmCU0?typeform-source=www.themilvet.org━━━━━━━━━━━━━━CHAPTERS━━━━━━━━━━━━━━00:00 LSA Shakeup Preview01:02 Migration to Google Ads PMax09:20 What Stays Same vs Changes14:27 Budget Risks and Action Checklist26:31 Stats, Prep, and Final ThoughtsSend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&OJohn's Podcast YouTube ChannelOwned and Operated Newsletter Bonus Videos From JohnLeave a ReviewJohn Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.
SummaryWhy We Stopped Buying $60,000 Service Vans
5d ago00:39:47Summary readyThe fastest-growing home service companies don't scale by spending more. They scale by making smarter operational decisions.In this special compilation episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson and Jack Carr break down one of the biggest hidden expenses in home services: your fleet. They explain why they're moving away from expensive service vans, why the Ford Maverick has become their vehicle of choice, and how rethinking truck stock, inventory, and install trailers can save hundreds of thousands of dollars while making technicians more efficient.They also dive into the future of fleet strategy, from modular trailer systems and simplified inventory to why most branded truck wraps no longer create a competitive advantage. If you're looking for practical ways to lower costs without sacrificing growth, this episode is packed with ideas you can apply immediately.In This Episode:• Why expensive service vans may be hurting your business• How Ford Mavericks reduce fleet costs and fuel spend• Rethinking truck stock to improve inventory control• The trailer system that could replace traditional install trucks• How fleet decisions impact profitability and cash flow• Why most truck wraps no longer stand out• Building a brand that actually differentiates your company————————————————🔗 CONNECT————————————————John Wilson → https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbwilson1/Jack Carr → https://x.com/thehvacjackBreaking $5M Workshop → https://www.ownedandoperated.com/upcoming-events/oao-workshop-breaking-5-million————————————————💰 SPONSORS————————————————QuickStaffersHire trained HVAC and plumbing CSRs without the overhead of traditional hiring. Save $500 on your first placement with Quick Staffers: https://www.quickstaffers.com/ Breaking $5M WorkshopJoin John Wilson and Jack Carr in Akron, OH for a hands on workshop built for home service owners ready to scale past $5M. Get the proven playbook, tour Wilson's operation, and connect with other growth minded contractors. Register here: https://www.ownedandoperated.com/upcoming-events/oao-workshop-breaking-5-million YelpLooking for more qualified leads beyond Google? See how contractors are using Yelp to reach homeowners who are ready to book and diversify their lead generation. Learn more: https://business.yelp.com/campaign/ownedandoperated/Send Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&OJohn's Podcast YouTube ChannelOwned and Operated Newsletter Bonus Videos From JohnLeave a ReviewJohn Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.
SummaryWhy Growing Home Service Companies Can't Find Great Leaders
1w ago01:09:18Summary readyThe fastest-growing home service companies don't fail because they run out of demand. They fail because they run out of leaders.In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Jim Lose of The Military Veteran to discuss what separates great operators from average managers. They cover how to hire executive talent, build a structured interview process, identify red flags before making an offer, and create leadership systems that scale with your business.From scorecards and reference checks to compensation, coaching, and military leadership, this episode is a practical guide to building the team that takes your business from operator-led to professionally managed.In This Episode:• Why leadership becomes the biggest growth constraint• How to identify and hire A-player operators• The interview mistakes most owners make• Building scorecards that drive accountability• Coaching vs. replacing underperforming leaders• Compensation, incentives, and equity for key hires• The next executive hire growing businesses should make————————————————🔗 CONNECT————————————————John Wilson → https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbwilson1/Jim Lose → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslose/The Military Veteran → https://themilvet.org/————————————————💰 SPONSORS————————————————Breaking $5M WorkshopJoin John Wilson and Jack Carr in Akron, OH for a hands on workshop built for home service owners ready to scale past $5M. Get the proven playbook, tour Wilson's operation, and connect with other growth minded contractors. Register here: https://www.ownedandoperated.com/upcoming-events/oao-workshop-breaking-5-million FieldPulseReady to ditch the whiteboard and spreadsheets? See how FieldPulse helps home service companies simplify scheduling, dispatching, invoicing, and more. Book a free demo: https://landing.fieldpulse.com/owned_and_operatedQuick StaffersHire trained HVAC and plumbing CSRs without the overhead of traditional hiring. Save $500 on your first placement with Quick Staffers: https://www.quickstaffers.com/ Send Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&OJohn's Podcast YouTube ChannelOwned and Operated Newsletter Bonus Videos From JohnLeave a ReviewJohn Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.
SummaryWhy Septic Might Be the BEST Home Service Business to Own
2w ago00:46:06Summary readySeptic may be one of the most overlooked businesses in home services, but it might also be one of the best.In this special compilation episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson brings together two of the biggest conversations we've had on the septic industry, featuring Chad and Kyle from Epic Septic alongside Micah of Homefield. Together, they break down why septic has become one of the most compelling opportunities in home services and what it really takes to build a scalable business in the space.From pumping and repairs to installations, route density, marketing, and franchising, they share the economics behind the business, the operational challenges unique to septic, and the systems they're using to grow across multiple markets. Whether you're looking to buy a septic company or simply want to understand why so many operators are bullish on the industry, this episode is a complete deep dive.In This Episode:• Why septic is one of the most attractive home service businesses• The economics of pumping, repairs, and installations• How pumping creates long-term customer value• Why modern marketing is a competitive advantage in septic• Pricing, route density, and improving profitability• Scaling across multiple markets and states• The infrastructure challenges every septic operator faces• What buyers should know before acquiring a septic business————————————————🔗 CONNECT————————————————John Wilson → https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbwilson1/Chad & Kyle (Epic Septic) → https://epicseptic.com/Micah Findley (Homefield) → https://www.homefieldonsite.com/Breaking $5M Workshop → https://www.ownedandoperated.com/upcoming-events/oao-workshop-breaking-5-million————————————————💰 SPONSORS————————————————Service ScalersGet more high quality leads with marketing built for home service companies. Book a free strategy call with Service Scalers and see what's driving real jobs: https://os.servicescalers.com/go/oao_podcast/referral/podcastBig ReputationGet more from your Google Business Profile with Big Reputation. Automate reviews, improve local visibility, and turn more Google searches into inbound calls. Learn more: https://www.bigreputation.ai/oao?utm_source=oao&utm_medium=paidFieldPulseReady to ditch the whiteboard and spreadsheets? See how FieldPulse helps home service companies simplify scheduling, dispatching, invoicing, and more. Book a free demo: https://landing.fieldpulse.com/owned_and_operatedSend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&OJohn's Podcast YouTube ChannelOwned and Operated Newsletter Bonus Videos From JohnLeave a ReviewJohn Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.
SummaryThe Biggest Acquisition I Walked Away From
2w ago00:08:25Summary readyNot every acquisition is worth making.In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson shares the story of one of the biggest acquisitions he chose to walk away from, even though it had the potential to double the size of his business. What looked like an incredible opportunity on paper quickly unraveled as the due diligence process exposed problems with customer concentration, company culture, cash flow, and the financials.John explains the acquisition framework he uses to evaluate plumbing, HVAC, and electrical businesses, why revenue and EBITDA rarely tell the whole story, and the common mistakes first-time buyers make when they become emotionally attached to a deal.Sometimes the best acquisition is the one you don't make.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━In this episode, John covers:→ The acquisition that looked perfect—but wasn't→ The biggest red flags uncovered during due diligence→ Why customer mix and company culture matter as much as financials→ How to avoid becoming emotionally invested in a deal→ What every first-time acquisition entrepreneur should know→ Lessons learned from the deals John decided not to buy━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Watch this episode early on the John Wilson YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@JohnWilsonOAOSend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&OJohn's Podcast YouTube ChannelOwned and Operated Newsletter Bonus Videos From JohnLeave a ReviewJohn Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.
SummaryStop Tracking Cost Per Lead (Track This Instead)
2w ago00:39:04Summary readyMost home service companies think they're tracking marketing. They're actually tracking the wrong metrics.In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson and Jack Carr break down how to measure marketing ROI the right way. They explain why cost per lead is often a misleading metric, how to build a marketing scorecard that actually helps you make better decisions, and the attribution systems they use to understand what's driving revenue across a growing home service business.They also discuss why blended marketing ROI matters more than individual lead costs, how to separate new customer revenue from recurring customers, the importance of clean CRM data, and why every owner—not their agency—is ultimately responsible for marketing performance.In This Episode:• Why cost per lead can lead you to the wrong decisions• The marketing KPIs every home service business should track• How to measure true ROI across every marketing channel• Building an attribution system that actually works• Why clean CRM data is the foundation of good marketing• How to separate new customer revenue from repeat business• The pitfalls of using lifetime value (LTV) to justify marketing spend• Why every owner should own their company's marketing scorecard————————————————🔗 CONNECT————————————————John Wilson → https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbwilson1/Jack Carr → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-carr-770b84117/Breaking $5M Workshop → https://www.ownedandoperated.com/upcoming-events/oao-workshop-breaking-5-million————————————————💰 SPONSORS————————————————Big ReputationGet more from your Google Business Profile with Big Reputation. Automate reviews, improve local visibility, and turn more Google searches into inbound calls. Learn more: https://www.bigreputation.ai/oao?utm_source=oao&utm_medium=paidService ScalersGet more high quality leads with marketing built for home service companies. Book a free strategy call with Service Scalers and see what's driving real jobs: https://os.servicescalers.com/go/oao_podcast/referral/podcastSend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&OJohn's Podcast YouTube ChannelOwned and Operated Newsletter Bonus Videos From JohnLeave a ReviewJohn Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.
SummaryHow We're Using AI to Scale towards a $70M Home Service Business
3w ago00:35:17Summary readyMost home service businesses are using AI the wrong way.In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson and Jack Carr break down how AI is actually changing the trades and why the biggest opportunity isn't replacing technicians, but removing the operational friction that slows growing companies down. They share how they're using AI across acquisitions, accounting, purchasing, reporting, dispatch, and marketing while keeping the human experience at the center of the business.They also discuss why venture capital is pouring money into home services, how AI is creating a new wave of EBITDA expansion, the software they're replacing with custom-built AI tools, and why the companies that embrace AI as a force multiplier, not a replacement for people, will have the biggest advantage over the next decade.In This Episode:• Why home services has become an AI "safe haven" for investors• What AI should never replace inside your business• Using AI to reduce friction instead of cutting headcount• Replacing expensive SaaS tools with custom AI solutions• How AI is transforming acquisitions and multi-location growth• Why accounting is the biggest bottleneck in scaling through M&A• The balance between automation and human customer experience————————————————🔗 CONNECT————————————————John Wilson → https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbwilson1/Jack Carr → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-carr-770b84117/Breaking $5M Workshop → https://www.ownedandoperated.com/upcoming-events/oao-workshop-breaking-5-million————————————————💰 SPONSORS————————————————AvocaSee how Avoca helps home service companies book more jobs with AI that handles calls, texts, follow ups, and dispatching without adding more chaos. Book a demo: https://www.avoca.ai/partners/oao QuoKeep every customer conversation in one place with Quo. Calls, texts, and voicemails are shared across your team so nothing slips through the cracks and no opportunities are missed. Learn more: https://quo.com/ownedSend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&OJohn's Podcast YouTube ChannelOwned and Operated Newsletter Bonus Videos From JohnLeave a ReviewJohn Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.
SummaryHe Bought a $1.5M HVAC Business. Here's 18 Months Later...
3w ago01:05:34Summary readyMost home service businesses aren't sold for what they're capable of being worth.In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson and Will Schryver reveal what separates a business that sells for a premium from one that gets discounted. From leadership and systems to pricing, technology, and operational maturity, they explain what buyers actually look for and why preparing for an exit should start years before you plan to sell.They also dive into the current acquisition market, the influx of private equity and family office capital, why AI is accelerating investment into the trades, and the lessons Will has learned since leaving investment banking to buy and grow his own HVAC business.In This Episode:Why EBITDA alone doesn't determine your business valueThe biggest mistakes owners make before sellingInvestment banker vs. business broker: what's the difference?Growing an HVAC company from $1.5M to $3M in 18 monthsWhy private equity is investing heavily in home servicesHow AI is making the trades even more valuable———————————————— 🔗 CONNECT ———————————————— John Wilson → https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbwilson1/Will Schryver → https://x.com/Will_Schryver Breaking $5 Workshop → https://www.ownedandoperated.com/upcoming-events/oao-workshop-breaking-5-million———————————————— 💰 SPONSORS ————————————————AvocaSee how Avoca helps home service companies book more jobs with AI that handles calls, texts, follow ups, and dispatching without adding more chaos.Book a demo: https://www.avoca.ai/partners/oao QuoKeep every customer conversation in one place with Quo. Calls, texts, and voicemails are shared across your team so nothing slips through the cracks and no opportunities are missed. Learn more: https://quo.com/owned Send Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&OJohn's Podcast YouTube ChannelOwned and Operated Newsletter John's Long Form Channel Leave a ReviewJohn Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.
Summary
How They're Building a $9M HVAC Business
4w ago00:57:54Summary readyWhat does it really take to build a home service business from the ground up?In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Ryan and Aaron Osterkamp of Quality Comfort Home Services to unpack the journey from one technician working out of a house to a company targeting more than $9 million in annual revenue.They discuss the early years of wearing every hat, the decision to bring on an in-house marketing leader years before most companies their size would, why investing in leadership accelerated growth, and the challenges that come with letting go as the business scales. They also share how they've built a strong company culture, approached hiring, and continue reinvesting in the business for the next stage of growth.In This Episode:Building an HVAC business from one truck to a $9M goalWhy they hired an in-house marketing director earlyThe leadership hires that unlocked growthCreating a culture that retains great employeesWhen to reinvest versus take money out of the businessThe hardest parts of delegating as an ownerDeciding between growing HVAC or expanding plumbing————————————————🔗 CONNECT————————————————John Wilson → https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbwilson1/Ryan + Erin Osterkamp → https://myqualitycomfort.com/about-us/ Breaking $5 Workshop → https://www.ownedandoperated.com/upcoming-events/oao-workshop-breaking-5-million————————————————💰 SPONSORS————————————————Contractor CommerceYour website should do more than generate leads. Contractor Commerce lets homeowners shop, compare options, and book online so they choose your business before they contact the competition. Learn more: https://www.contractorcommerce.com/?utm_source=oao&utm_medium=podcastYelpLooking for more qualified leads beyond Google? See how contractors are using Yelp to reach homeowners who are ready to book and diversify their lead generation. Learn more: https://business.yelp.com/campaign/ownedandoperated/Send Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&OJohn's Podcast YouTube ChannelOwned and Operated Newsletter John's Long Form Channel Leave a ReviewJohn Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.
Summary10 years as CEO has taught me every owner struggles with this.
Jul 300:08:39Summary readyManaging the leadership challenges that come with being a CEO can be surprisingly lonely.In this solo episode, John Wilson reflects on the last decade of leading Wilson Companies from a team of seven employees to more than 220. He shares the lessons that only come with experience, including imposter syndrome, difficult decisions, the weight of responsibility, and why leadership often feels different than people expect.If you're leading a growing company or stepping into a leadership role, this episode offers an honest look at what it really takes to grow as a CEO.In this episode: Why you never really feel ready to be a CEO How leadership challenges change as your business grows The hidden cost of difficult decisions Why success often feels different than expected How to avoid becoming the bottleneck Why your business can only grow as fast as you do Watch this episode early on the John Wilson YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@JohnWilsonOAOSend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&OJohn's YouTube ChannelWeekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a ReviewJohn Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.
Summary