Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast
Episode #230: "Is Buying Businesses Overhyped? Why You Should Build Instead"
Release Date: August 5, 2025
Hosts: John Wilson and Jack Carr

1. Introduction to Growth Strategies for Home Service Businesses

In Episode #230 of Owned and Operated, hosts John Wilson and Jack Carr delve into the critical topic of business growth within the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC industries. The primary focus centers around evaluating the merits of acquiring existing businesses versus building and expanding organically. The conversation is timely, considering the upcoming multi-market expansion plans for 2026.

John Wilson opens the discussion by highlighting the dual approaches to growth:

"[00:00] John Wilson: 2026 is our multi market year that's coming up quick. There's two different ways that we're thinking about like growth right now."

2. Challenges in Hiring and Seasonality

The hosts address prevalent issues faced by home service businesses, particularly the struggle to balance an abundance of leads with insufficient staffing. Jack Carr shares his experiences with overstaffing during peak seasons, noting:

"[01:40] Jack Carr: ... we're going to finally be staffed up August 1st right when it hits 82 degrees. We missed the heat wave."

John Wilson echoes these challenges, especially emphasizing the difficulties in hiring and retaining staff during business fluctuations:

"[04:52] John Wilson: ... they have to hire like 400 people and then like 200 people like don't work out in the first month."

3. Acquisition Strategies vs. Organic Growth

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to contrasting acquisition strategies with organic growth. John Wilson shares his company's journey through multiple acquisitions:

"[07:27] John Wilson: ... we've acquired our way from 4 million to 10. ... using acquisitions as like a way to take share as fast as possible."

Conversely, Jack Carr discusses his preference for localized acquisitions that align closely with their main operations:

"[20:17] Jack Carr: ... we're still going to buy over 5 million that made sense. ... opposite strategy, like something localized to us where it will meaningfully move our top and bottom line."

4. Multi-Market Expansion and Leadership

The conversation shifts to multi-market expansion, with John Wilson outlining his company's strategic plan for 2026:

"[10:19] John Wilson: ... our vision is to be a hundred million dollar business. ... multi location, multi market ... the biggest companies in the industry are probably multi location."

Jack Carr emphasizes the importance of having a robust leadership team to manage growth across multiple locations:

"[17:17] Jack Carr: ... when do you have a C suite team or when is your top level management team? ... around that 20 to 30 [million dollars in revenue]."

5. The Silver Tsunami and Business Acquisitions

The hosts explore the concept of the "Silver Tsunami," referring to the anticipated transfer of wealth and business ownership from baby boomers to younger generations. John Wilson offers a critical perspective:

"[37:24] John Wilson: ... 94% of businesses listed for sale don't sell."

Jack Carr concurs, highlighting the challenges smaller businesses face in being viable acquisition targets:

"[38:15] Jack Carr: ... the vast majority of the Silver Tsunami is these unviable small businesses that are just going to close shop."

6. Future Outlook: Partnerships and Greenfield Strategies

Looking ahead, both hosts discuss innovative approaches to business growth. John Wilson introduces the idea of forming partnerships to leverage shared resources and expertise:

"[27:14] John Wilson: ... how do we create partnerships? ... bring in SOPs, expertise, buying power."

Jack Carr supports this strategy, noting the benefits of collaborative growth without the complexities of traditional acquisition:

"[29:04] Jack Carr: ... it's like the private equity playbook, but it has an extra step. ... assistance from actual business owners."

7. Conclusion and Call to Action

As the episode wraps up, John Wilson and Jack Carr encourage listeners to consider both acquisition and organic growth strategies while emphasizing the importance of having a solid team and strategic planning. They invite listeners to engage with their community and explore partnership opportunities.

"[47:10] Jack Carr: ... head on over to Owned and Operated, check out OAO Pro and sign up for the newsletter. Appreciate it, guys."

Key Takeaways

• Acquisitions vs. Organic Growth: Both strategies have distinct advantages and challenges. Acquisitions can rapidly increase market share, while organic growth ensures stability and leverages existing strengths.

• Hiring and Seasonality: Balancing staffing during peak and off-peak seasons remains a significant challenge for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical businesses.

• Multi-Market Expansion: Expanding into multiple markets requires robust leadership and a strategic approach to maintain growth across locations.

• Silver Tsunami: The anticipated transfer of business ownership presents opportunities but also highlights the difficulties small businesses face in being viable acquisition targets.

• Future Strategies: Forming partnerships and adopting greenfield strategies are emerging as effective methods for sustainable growth.

For more insights and to stay updated with the latest strategies in scaling your home service business, visit www.ownedandoperated.com and subscribe to their newsletter.