Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast
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
Episodes
339 episodes
Do Yard Signs ACTUALLY Work for Home Service Businesses?
Do Yard Signs Actually Work for Home Service Businesses?In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson is joined by Sam Preston, CEO of Service Scalers, to break down one of the simplest—and most debated—marketing channels in ...
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Season 1
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Episode 302
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29:06
The Strategy That Doubled My Plumbing Sales in 90 Days
How do you double a plumbing business in just 90 days after buying it?In this episode, John Wilson breaks down the exact moves that led to nearly 100% growth immediately post-acquisition. From simple operational fixes to high-impact deci...
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Season 1
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Episode 301
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8:37
I Bought 3 Home Service Businesses in 90 Days — Here’s What Happened
I Bought 3 Home Service Businesses in 90 Days… Here’s What HappenedIn this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with co-host Jack Carr (CEO of Rapid HVAC) to break down what actually happens when you aggre...
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Season 1
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Episode 301
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44:57
Weird Marketing That Actually Works ($1M from Home Shows, Newspaper Leads, & Toilet Ads)
Is “weird” marketing actually working in home services… or are contractors missing massive opportunities?In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson is joined by Sam Preston (CEO of Service Scalers) to break down unconven...
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Season 1
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Episode 300
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35:05
If I Had to Start a Home Service Business From $0, Here’s Exactly What I'd Do
If you’re starting a home service business in 2026… you’re probably focusing on the wrong things.Most people waste months on logos, websites, and branding—before they ever get a single customer.In this solo episode, John breaks do...
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Season 1
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Episode 299
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12:30
AI Is Creating a MASSIVE Gap Between Contractors
Is AI actually changing home services… or just hype?In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Tyson Chen (Founder of Avoca) to break down how AI is actually being deployed inside home serv...
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Season 1
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Episode 299
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48:07
The REAL Future of Home Services: Chick-fil-A, Handyman Businesses, and Industry Consolidation
Is Chick-fil-A entering home services… and what does that mean for contractors?At first glance, it sounds like a joke — but it’s real. A Chick-fil-A–backed venture has launched a home service brand focused on handyman work, and it...
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Season 1
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Episode 298
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36:51
The HVAC Marketing System That Will Dominate 2026
If you’re trying to win in HVAC in 2026… most of what you’ve been told about marketing is wrong.Contractors are wasting thousands on agencies, chasing “leads,” and relying on channels they don’t actually control.In this solo episo...
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Season 1
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Episode 297
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12:23
You're Tracking Your Ad Spend Wrong (Here’s What to Do Instead)
Is your home service marketing actually working — or is Google getting all the credit? In this episode John Wilson and returning guest Tony Castelucci (Wanamaker Advertising) explain why cost‑per‑lead (CPL) often misleads, how attribution and d...
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Season 1
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Episode 297
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53:02
AI Isn’t Killing SEO—It’s Killing Bad Traffic (What Actually Works in 2026)
Is AI killing SEO—or just changing how it works?In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Lisa from Service Scalers to talk about what SEO actually looks like in 2026. They break down why AI isn’t replacing...
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Season 1
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Episode 296
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41:38
The 3 Stages of Building a Home Service Business From $1M to $20M and Beyond
I was obsessed with hitting $10M.And when we finally got there… everything broke.In this solo episode, John breaks down what it actually looks like to scale a trades business from $1M to $40M over the last decade — includ...
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Season 1
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Episode 295
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19:37
Building a Billion-Dollar Septic Business
What does it actually take to build a billion-dollar septic company?In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with the founders of Epic Septic to break down one of the most overlooked—and profitable—home service...
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Season 1
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Episode 295
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1:30:01
The $50K Truck Wrap Mistake Home Service Companies Make
Do truck wraps actually drive leads, or are most home service companies wasting money to look like everyone else?In this episode, John Wilson and Sam Preston break down branding, truck wraps, and why many HVAC, plumbing, and elect...
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Season 1
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Episode 294
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36:03
The Marketing Stack for Home Service Businesses: $1M to $10M
The Marketing Stack for Home Service Businesses: From $1M to $10MWhat should home service companies actually spend on marketing at $1 million, $5 million, and $10 million?In this episode, John Wilson sits down with Ethan Wr...
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Season 1
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Episode 293
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49:19
Billboards for Home Service Businesses: When They Work (and When They’re a Waste)
Are Billboards Worth It for Home Service Businesses? (Or Just an Expensive Ego Boost?)Billboards can feel like a milestone for a growing home service company—your name on the highway, customers saying they saw your brand, friends ...
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Season 1
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Episode 292
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44:26
How to Hire a GM or Operator for Your Home Service Business
How to Hire a GM or Operator for Your Home Service Business (and Avoid a $100K Hiring Mistake)Scaling past $10M can expose a brutal truth: the leadership team that got you here might not be the team that gets you to $25M+. In this episod...
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Season 1
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Episode 291
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38:07
The One Hire That Unlocks Growth
If you’ve ever felt stuck because your business outgrew your leadership team — or rushed a key hire just to relieve the pressure — this episode is for you.In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Brenda...
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Season 1
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Episode 290
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37:27
Our Biggest Business Failures (And What They Cost Us)
Every home service operator has a failure story.In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Jack Carr (CEO of Rapid Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric in Nashville) to break down the biggest business m...
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Season 1
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Episode 289
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31:44
HVAC vs. Security: If You Had $5M, Where Would You Invest?
If someone handed you $5 million… would you buy an HVAC business or a security/alarm business?In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson is joined by Stephen and Collin from the Entry Exit Podcast
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Season 1
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Episode 288
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55:06
How to Fire Employees Fairly (Without Ruining Your Culture)
Firing employees is one of the worst parts of owning a home service business — and the bigger you get, the more often it happens.In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson is joined by Jack Carr (Jack Acquisi...
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Season 1
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Episode 287
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41:50
Is Direct Mail Back? The 2026 Growth Strategy for Service Businesses
Is direct mail actually back in 2026 — or is it a dinosaur channel that should stay extinct?In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Sam Preston (CEO of Service Scalers) to break down how the best home ...
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Season 1
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Episode 286
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45:08
Why We Stopped Buying Service Vans — And You Should Too
Should Home Service Companies Stop Buying Vans?In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson is joined by Nashville operator Jack Carr to break down one of the most overlooked expenses in home services:Fleet ...
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Season 1
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Episode 285
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27:58
Google PPC Isn’t Dead — You’re Just Running It Wrong
Does Google PPC still work for home service businesses—or is it just an expensive mistake?In this Clicks to Calls episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Service Scalers CEO Sam Pres...
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Season 1
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Episode 284
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33:04
How to Scale to $100M Without Breaking Your Business
How do you keep growing fast without breaking your business?In this Owned and Operated supercut, John Wilson pulls together his favorite moments from recent conversations on what actually snaps when you scale: cash...
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Season 1
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Episode 283
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36:03
Under $5M? Marketing Isn’t Complicated (Here’s the Playbook)
How do you stop wasting money on marketing… and start building a lead engine that actually scales?In this episode of Click to Calls, John Wilson sits down with Service Scalers CEO Sam Preston to break down one of t...
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Season 1
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Episode 282
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39:15