If you’re a technician dreaming of ownership, this is what ownership actually feels like when the house is on the line, the team is watching, and quitting is no longer an option.
You don’t accidentally build a $20 million business.
You earn it — through pressure, sacrifice, hard conversations, and decisions most people avoid.
In this episode, I sit down with Patrick Somers of General Air Conditioning, a former technician who climbed the ladder, bought the company he worked for, and is now on pace to do $20M this year. But this conversation isn’t about HVAC… it’s about what ownership actually demands.
We talk about buying a business with seller financing, the stress of payroll before you even fully own the company, and why choosing the right business partner matters more than choosing a spouse when lives, families, and dozens of employees are counting on you.
This is a real conversation about leadership, fear, loyalty, pressure — and why most people simply aren’t built for this level of responsibility.
-How Patrick went from technician → GM → owner of a 40-year-old company
-Buying a business with a seller note (and the stress nobody talks about)
-Why business partnerships are more serious than marriage
-The weight of payroll, benefits, and leadership when everything is on the line
-Sleepless nights, anxiety, and the moment you realize you can’t “just walk away”
🔥🔥 The biggest decision you’ll ever make as an entrepreneur isn’t the business you buy…
It’s who you build it with, who you listen to, and who you’re willing to leave behind.
Listen closely. This one matters!
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Exit Rich: Home Service Secrets with Lance Bachmann
Hey awesome listeners! My podcast is getting a facelift soon with an all new look and podcast name! So stay tuned for these changes.
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