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

Episódios

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  The Complete Home Service Marketing Playbook 04.08.2026 44min

  Home service marketing strategy isn't one-size-fits-all. In this Owned and Operated compilation, John Wilson sits down with Lisa Appleby and Ethan Wright of Service Scalers to break down the marketing systems, lead generation strategies, SEO, Google Ads, Local Services Ads, reviews, AI, and growth playbooks that help contractors scale from $1M to $10M+. Whether you own an HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, or other home service business, this episode explains where your next marketing dolla...
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  Google Just Changed Local Services Ads (Here's What Contractors Need to Know) 30.07.2026 26min

  Google 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 cont...
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  Why We Stopped Buying $60,000 Service Vans 28.07.2026 39min

  The 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 th...
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  Why Growing Home Service Companies Can't Find Great Leaders 23.07.2026 1h 9min

  The 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 r...
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  Why Septic Might Be the BEST Home Service Business to Own 21.07.2026 46min

  Septic 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 t...
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  The Biggest Acquisition I Walked Away From 17.07.2026 8min

  Not 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 plumb...
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  Stop Tracking Cost Per Lead (Track This Instead) 16.07.2026 39min

  Most 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 dis...
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  How We're Using AI to Scale towards a $70M Home Service Business 14.07.2026 35min

  Most 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 dis...
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  He Bought a $1.5M HVAC Business. Here's 18 Months Later... 09.07.2026 1h 5min

  Most 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 ...
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  How They're Building a $9M HVAC Business 07.07.2026 57min

  What 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...
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  10 years as CEO has taught me every owner struggles with this. 03.07.2026 8min

  Managing 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, t...
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  The Ultimate HVAC Marketing Guide for 2026 02.07.2026 41min

  Google search is changing. AI is changing how homeowners find contractors. And the marketing strategies that worked just two years ago aren't enough anymore. In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Service Scalers CEO Sam Preston to break down what's actually working in HVAC marketing in 2026. From AI search and Google Business Profile optimization to Meta, Reddit, Yelp, and content marketing, they discuss where home service companies should be investing and where th...
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  How We'd Build a $10M Home Service Business Today 30.06.2026 29min

  If We Had to Start Over, We'd Do This Instead If John Wilson and Jack Carr lost everything tomorrow, how would they rebuild? In this episode of Owned and Operated, they tackle one of the biggest questions every entrepreneur eventually asks: would you buy a business, build one from scratch, or take a completely different path? John argues that acquiring a small home service business is still the fastest way to create wealth, while Jack makes the case for starting lean with a service business t...
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  Good Service Isn't Enough to Grow Your Company 26.06.2026 8min

  Stop relying on quality work alone to grow your home service business. Learn why prioritizing marketing and sales is the real key to small business growth. Many tradespeople and contractors believe that doing good work will naturally bring in more clients. That strategy often fails. Why? Because your business needs a steady flow of leads to survive. We break down why the phone needs to ring before you can worry about the quality of the service provided. Watch this episode early on the John ...
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  After the Acquisition: Rebrand or Leave It Alone? 25.06.2026 35min

  When should you rebrand an acquisition, and when should you leave it alone? In this episode, John Wilson and Jack Carr break down how they think about branding after acquisitions. They discuss the operational tradeoffs, marketing benefits, cultural impact, and why many of the largest home service companies take completely different approaches. The conversation covers lessons learned from dozens of acquisitions, what customers actually care about, and why building a unified company may matter ...
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  If We Started Over Today, These Are the Businesses We'd Buy 23.06.2026 42min

  If We Started Over Today, These Are the Businesses We'd Buy What’s the best home service business to start in 2026? In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson and Jack Carr break down the industries they'd bet on if they had to start over from scratch today. From HVAC, plumbing, and electrical to restoration, landscaping, roofing, septic, and even trash collection, they debate which businesses offer the best combination of recurring revenue, profitability, scalability, and long-term...
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  The 5 KPI's that show problems before they happen 19.06.2026 8min

  Many small business owners struggle with identifying core issues, often guessing at problems instead of relying on concrete data. This video emphasizes the importance of focusing on measurable key metrics within a home services business. By tracking performance metrics like leads, booking rates, and closing rates, owners can significantly improve their business management and gain clear insights into their operational health. Watch this episode early on the John Wilson YouTube channel: https...
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  He Left Tesla to Buy a Plumbing Company. Here's What Happened Next. 18.06.2026 49min

  How do you go from Tesla to owning a plumbing company? In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Jared Worthen to discuss buying a plumbing business, transitioning from tech into the trades, and what it's really like to acquire and operate a home service company. After building his career at Tesla and ServiceTitan, Jared spent years searching for the right acquisition before purchasing Drain Doctors, a plumbing and drain cleaning company on California's Central Coast. ...
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  Why We're Building Our Own Software for Home Service Businesses with AI 16.06.2026 38min

  Most contractors are using AI to save time. John Wilson and Service Scalers CEO Sam Preston argue the real opportunity is much bigger: using AI to replace software, automate workflows, and build custom tools that drive growth. In this episode, John and Sam break down how home service companies are using "vibe coding" to build websites, internal software, dashboards, and automation systems without hiring developers. They share practical ways contractors can reduce costs, improve operations, an...
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  How Top Contractors Convert More Leads Without Spending More on Marketing 11.06.2026 57min

  How Speed to Lead Unlocks More Revenue From Every Lead Source Most contractors think they need more leads. According to Tyson Chen, co-founder of Avoca, most home service companies actually need a better system for capturing, contacting, and converting the leads they already have. In this episode, John Wilson sits down with Tyson Chen to break down the speed-to-lead systems that are helping home service companies double revenue, improve booking rates, and make channels like Angi, Yelp, Meta, ...