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
373 episodes
He Bought a $1.5M HVAC Business. Here's 18 Months Later...
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 ...
How They're Building a $9M HVAC Business
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 on...
10 years as CEO has taught me every owner struggles with this.
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 Ultimate HVAC Marketing Guide for 2026
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...
How We'd Build a $10M Home Service Business Today
If We Had to Start Over, We'd Do This InsteadIf 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 e...
Good Service Isn't Enough to Grow Your Company
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 bri...
After the Acquisition: Rebrand or Leave It Alone?
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...
If We Started Over Today, These Are the Businesses We'd Buy
If We Started Over Today, These Are the Businesses We'd BuyWhat’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 ...
The 5 KPI's that show problems before they happen
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 tra...
He Left Tesla to Buy a Plumbing Company. Here's What Happened Next.
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 wha...
Why We're Building Our Own Software for Home Service Businesses with AI
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 epi...
How Top Contractors Convert More Leads Without Spending More on Marketing
How Speed to Lead Unlocks More Revenue From Every Lead SourceMost 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, ...
Dirty Jobs, Big Profits: Inside the Poop Scooping Business
Most people think pet waste removal is a side hustle. Erica Krupin built a real business around it.In this episode, John Wilson sits down with Erica Krupin, founder of Kroopin's Poopin' Scoopin', to break down the surprisingly scalable w...
10 Books That Scaled My Business to $44M
This week, I’m sharing the books that shaped the way I think about business and helped me scale my family’s company from $1 million to $44 million in revenue.These are more than popular business books sitting on a shelf. Each one solved ...
The Biggest Lead Source Most Home Service Companies Are Ignoring
Most contractors wrote off Yelp years ago. But the platform has quietly become one of the most powerful lead-generation engines in the home service space, powered by AI partnerships with OpenAI and Perplexity that are funneling search tra...
How We Built a 30+ Person Offshore Team (And Why It Changed Everything)
Most contractors think offshoring is about saving money. It's actually about creating leverage.John Wilson and Jack Carr break down how offshore teams helped them scale faster, build better systems, and free up key leaders to focus on gr...
We Replaced 40 Service Vans with Ford Mavericks and Saved Thousands
We swapped 40 Ford Mavericks into our home service fleet — and the results changed the way we think about fleet management.Most home service companies are overspending on vehicles without realizing it. A new service van can cost $50,000...
The REAL Systems That Take You From $1M to $10M
Most contractors who can't scale their home service business aren't failing — they're solving the wrong problems at the wrong time.John Wilson sits down with FieldPulse
Why Most Home Service Companies Scale Too Early
Most home service companies don’t fail because they scale too slowly — they fail because they scale too early.In this episode, John Wilson and Jack Carr break down the biggest scaling mistakes contractors make between $2M–$5M, including ...
I Bought 15 HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Companies — Here’s What Actually Happens After Closing
Having acquired 15 businesses in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical services, John Wilson breaks down what really happens after the acquisition closes. Learn practical strategies for how to buy a business, including sourcing off-market deals, busin...
The 2026 Google Strategy for Home Service Companies
What separates the fastest-growing home service companies from everyone else?In this episode, John Wilson sits down with Julie from Big Reputation to break down what’s actually working in local SEO, Google Business Profiles (GBP), and on...
How We Doubled a Plumbing Business in 90 Days | Cash Flow, Sales & Buying Businesses Explained
What actually drives growth in home services?In this compilation episode, John Wilson shares the systems and strategies behind scaling a $40M home service company — including how his team doubled a plumbing business in 90 days, im...
Buy vs Build: The Fastest Way to Grow a Home Service Business
Most entrepreneurs think starting a business from scratch is the best way to grow. John Wilson disagrees.In this episode, John breaks down why buying an existing business can dramatically accelerate growth, reduce startup friction, and c...
Most Home Service Companies Are Wasting Their Best Leads (Referral Marketing Blueprint)
Home service companies are leaving serious money on the table when it comes to referrals. In this episode, John Wilson sits down with Murphy Nadauld from
High-Ticket Sales in Home Services: What Actually Works
High ticket sales in home services aren’t about being pushy — they’re about giving customers the right options.In this episode, John Wilson and Jack Carr break down the systems behind bigger tickets, better close rates, and stronger sale...