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

In today's episode, we welcome Aizik Zimerman, a home service entrepreneur who owns a fast-growing plumbing company called J Blanton in Chicago. The conversation covers topics such as the success of their businesses, the use of marketing and recruitment strategies, the influence of private equity on the market, and how tailoring their businesses around marketing has led to success.

John and Aizik exchange insights about their recruitment processes and the role that competitive pay and a healthy work culture play in attracting and retaining top talent. Finally, they get into the importance of digital marketing and owning digital real estate.

Key Discussion Highlights:

1. The Power of Local Ownership: Being a local, owner-operated home service business can be a significant advantage in recruitment. 
2. Private Equity (PE) Ownership: The influence of private equity ownership on recruitment is discussed. Many technicians and employees may be wary of PE-owned companies, making it easier for owner-operated businesses to attract talent.
3. Recruitment Tailwinds: The recruitment landscape for home service businesses is improving due to various factors, including increased demand for services, the retirement of older companies, and technicians seeking more permanent positions.
4. High-Quality Recruitment: Hiring top talent requires adapting to their unique expectations. Skilled professionals want to understand lead flow, opportunities, and the inner workings of the business, leading to a different interview experience.
5. Lead Flow Importance: For commission-based employees, the quantity and quality of lead flow can be more critical than the commission percentage. It's crucial to provide a consistent flow of potential customers to keep salespeople motivated.
6. Generosity with Employees: Being generous with employees can have a positive impact on recruitment and retention. Employees who feel well-treated and fairly compensated are more likely to stay with a company.
7. Cultural Fit and Expectations: Managing employee expectations and ensuring cultural fit becomes crucial as the business grows. Holding employees to basic standards and expectations, even if it means parting with some legacy employees, is essential.
8. Decline in Lead Flow: Some PE-owned home service companies are experiencing a decline in lead flow, potentially due to mismanagement, bad integration, or unrealistic expectations. 

Episode Host

• John Wilson: @wilsoncompanies

Episode Guest

• Aizik Zimerman: @aizikzimerman

Special thanks to our sponsor: Service Scalers: Looking to scale your home service business? Service Scalers is a digital marketing agency that drives success in PPC and LSA. Discover more growth strategies by visiting Service Scalers.

Check out Owned and Operated Weekly Insights: a newsletter where John discusses topics ranging from recruiting and marketing to the growth of your home service business.  Subscribe to the newsletter here.

Contact us:

Youtube: @OwnedandOperatedPodcast

X: @ownedoperatedco

www.ownedandoperated.com

[email protected]

Send Us Mail!

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John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

In this episode, hosts John Wilson and Jack Carr discuss the art of recruiting top-tier talent that can help your home service business grow and thrive. 

The key? Build an organized, sales-like approach for recruiting top-tier talent. Tune in to see just how it's done! 

The discussion also includes when to bring in Human Resources or a recruitment hire, how to build an appealing business culture for potential hires, methods to identify and close on high-level candidates, and the benefits of consistent hiring practices. 

Discussion Highlights:

1. The Importance of Recruitment: Discover why recruiting the right talent is crucial for your home service business.
   
   
2. Creating a Recruitment Funnel: Learn how to build a robust recruitment pipeline to attract top candidates.
   
   
3. Identifying Technician Archetypes: Find out how defining specific technician archetypes can help you better understand your ideal hires.
   
   
4. Setting Clear Expectations: Understand why it's essential to set expectations for candidates and align them with your company's culture.
   
   
5. The Role of Recruiters: Explore the impact of having dedicated recruiters in your team and how they can improve your hiring process.
   
   
6. Selling Your Company: Shift your focus from selling the role to selling the company culture and vision.
   
   
7. Red Flags in Hiring: Discover warning signs and red flags when evaluating potential candidates.
   
   
8. The Snowball Effect: Understand how hiring the right people can lead to revenue growth and an additive company culture.

Episode Hosts:

• John Wilson: @WilsonCompanies
• Jack Carr: @thehvacjack 

Special thanks to our sponsor: Service Scalers: Looking to scale your home service business? Service Scalers is a digital marketing agency that drives success in PPC and LSA. Discover more growth strategies by visiting Service Scalers.

Check out Owned and Operated Weekly Insights: a newsletter where John discusses topics ranging from recruiting and marketing to the growth of your home service business.  Subscribe to the newsletter here.

Contact us:

Youtube: @OwnedandOperatedPodcast

X: @ownedoperatedco

www.ownedandoperated.com

[email protected]

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with OAO

• Start Here
• Owned and Operated Newsletter 
• Bonus Videos From John

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

In this episode of Owned and Operated, join hosts John Wilson and Jack Carr as they discuss the world of bidding software and pricing strategies tailored for home service companies. Drawing from their own experiences, they share insights about various CRM systems, with a particular emphasis on ServiceTitan. The discussion underscores the significance of streamlining your tech stack and the undeniable advantages of adopting a flat-rate pricing system.

Additional Topics Covered in This Episode: 

• Avoid Niche Solutions
• Transitioning to One App
• Google Drive for Documentation
• Pricing Philosophy 
• John and Jack both ❤️ ServiceTitan
• Build for the Future Team

Episode Hosts:

• John Wilson: @WilsonCompanies
• Jack Carr: @thehvacjack 

Special thanks to our sponsor: Service Scalers: Looking to scale your home service business? Service Scalers is a digital marketing agency that drives success in PPC and LSA. Discover more growth strategies by visiting Service Scalers.

Check out Owned and Operated Weekly Insights: a newsletter where John discusses topics ranging from recruiting and marketing to the growth of your home service business.  Subscribe to the newsletter here.

Contact us:

Youtube: @OwnedandOperatedPodcast

X: @ownedoperatedco

www.ownedandoperated.com

[email protected]

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with OAO

• Start Here
• Owned and Operated Newsletter 
• Bonus Videos From John

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

Special thanks to our sponsor: Service Scalers:
Looking to scale your home service business? Service Scalers is a digital marketing agency that drives success in PPC and LSA. Discover more growth strategies by visiting Service Scalers. 

In this episode of Owned and Operated, John and Jack dive into optimizing home service call centers. Key takeaways include:

1. Prioritize Quality: Customer feedback highlights areas for improvement.
   
   
2. Reduce Wait Times: Shorter waits boost customer satisfaction.
   
   
3. Accept Turnover: Focus on training and accountability to tackle high turnover.
   
   
4. In-House vs. Remote: Evaluate roles for the best fit.
   
   
5. Maintain Brand Consistency: Consider separate phone lines during mergers.
   
   
6. Evolve Continuously: Stay flexible with software, training, and quality control.
   
   
7. Unique Challenges: High volume, unpredictable calls, and employee dynamics define call centers.

Tune in to Owned and Operated for more insights into the world of home service entrepreneurship. Subscribe and stay connected for valuable discussions on various aspects of running a successful home service business.


Episode Hosts:

• John Wilson: @WilsonCompanies
• Jack Carr: @thehvacjack 

Special thanks to our sponsor: Service Scalers: Looking to scale your home service business? Service Scalers is a digital marketing agency that drives success in PPC and LSA. Discover more growth strategies by visiting Service Scalers.

Check out Owned and Operated Weekly Insights: a newsletter where John discusses topics ranging from recruiting and marketing to the growth of your home service business.  Subscribe to the newsletter here.

Contact us:

Youtube: @OwnedandOperatedPodcast

X: @ownedoperatedco

www.ownedandoperated.com

[email protected]

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with OAO

• Start Here
• Owned and Operated Newsletter 
• Bonus Videos From John

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

Are you a home service entrepreneur looking to scale your business efficiently? In this episode of "Owned and Operated," we delve into the intricacies of middle management, scaling, and the challenges faced by home service companies as they grow. Join us as we explore valuable insights shared by industry experts.

Discussion Highlights:

1. Recruitment Strategy: Finding the right talent to manage different business pillars, such as plumbing, HVAC, and roofing, requires assessing their prior experience and team size management skills.
   
   
2. Transition Challenges: Adapting employees from cost-saving to revenue-generating mindsets can be a significant hurdle, especially when bringing individuals from other industries.
   
   
3. Organizational Structure: The importance of defining roles and structures as your business grows, including trade managers, field managers, and service managers.
   
   
4. Scaling Call Centers: The growth of call centers is a critical aspect, with the need to adapt to increasing leads and adjust staffing to handle peak call times effectively.
   
   
5. Challenges at $10 Million Mark: Crossing the $10 million mark often leads to operational challenges due to rapid scaling and limited infrastructure, especially in HR and accounting.
   
   
6. Maintaining Momentum: Challenges at $20 million are different but exciting as you have momentum and resources to address issues creatively.
   
   
7. Handling Extreme Events: Managing the call center during extreme weather events or high call volumes requires careful planning and real-time adjustments.
   
   
8. Versatile Call Center: The call center can handle a wide range of home service industries, making it a vital component for comprehensive customer support.

Episode Hosts:

• John Wilson: @WilsonCompanies
• Jack Carr: @thehvacjack 

Special thanks to our sponsor: Service Scalers: Looking to scale your home service business? Service Scalers is a digital marketing agency that drives success in PPC and LSA. Discover more growth strategies by visiting Service Scalers.

Check out Owned and Operated Weekly Insights: a newsletter where John discusses topics ranging from recruiting and marketing to the growth of your home service business.  Subscribe to the newsletter here.

Contact us:

Youtube: @OwnedandOperatedPodcast

X: @ownedoperatedco

www.ownedandoperated.com

[email protected]

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with OAO

• Start Here
• Owned and Operated Newsletter 
• Bonus Videos From John

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

Summary:

In this episode of "Owned and Operated," the John and Jack explore key strategies to drive growth in the home service industry. They discuss the immense potential of utilizing a call center and establishing an inside sales team, highlighting the success of membership sales and a range of marketing avenues beyond pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Call Center Advantage: The hosts reveal how shifting membership sales to the call center led to a remarkable spike in sales and significantly higher conversion rates. They discuss the scalability, monitoring, and coaching aspects that make call centers an invaluable asset.
   
   
2. Inside Sales Team: Establishing an inside sales team can be pivotal for driving leads and sales when relying solely on search engine marketing. They emphasize the role of such teams in reaching out to customers for repeat business, lead generation, and a personal touch.
   
   
3. Diversified Marketing Strategies: Beyond PPC advertising, the hosts advocate for diversifying marketing efforts to maintain consistent lead generation. This includes branding, door-to-door outreach, email campaigns, SMS promotions, and postcard campaigns. The goal is to broaden the marketing funnel.
   
   
4. Leveraging Existing Customer Base: Utilize your existing customer base by implementing outreach campaigns to retain and engage them. By increasing customer touchpoints, it's possible to drive repeat business and referrals.
   
   
5. Measuring Success: The hosts plan to explore the impact of their marketing and inside sales strategies on their plumbing services. Stay tuned for results and data as they delve into these new strategies.
   
   

Episode Hosts:

• John Wilson: @WilsonCompanies
• Jack Carr: @thehvacjack 

Special thanks to our sponsor: Service Scalers: Looking to scale your home service business? Service Scalers is a digital marketing agency that drives success in PPC and LSA. Discover more growth strategies by visiting Service Scalers.

Check out Owned and Operated Weekly Insights: a newsletter where John discusses topics ranging from recruiting and marketing to the growth of your home service business.  Subscribe to the newsletter here.

Contact us:

Youtube: @OwnedandOperatedPodcast

X: @ownedoperatedco

www.ownedandoperated.com

[email protected]

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with OAO

• Start Here
• Owned and Operated Newsletter 
• Bonus Videos From John

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

Are you a home service entrepreneur looking to scale your business to new heights? In this episode of "Owned and Operated," we delve into a candid conversation between two experienced entrepreneurs, discussing their strategies, challenges, and insights. From pricing to growth plans and the pitfalls of expanding services, this discussion provides valuable nuggets of wisdom for those navigating the home service industry.

Discussion Highlights:

1. Stability in Home Service: Jack and John kick off with comparing home service stability to the roller-coaster ride of HVAC.
2. Expanding Beyond HVAC: The hosts explore growth possibilities beyond HVAC, including pool and appliance repair services.
3. Pay-Per-Click Costs: Dive into the world of advertising costs, where they discuss the varying prices of Pay-Per-Click ads, especially when compared to appliance repair.
4. Scaling Marketing: Emphasizing the importance of cost-effective lead generation, the hosts share insights into scalable marketing efforts in competitive markets.
5. Challenges of New Services: Insights into launching new services and navigating Google's backend rating system for Local Services Ads (LSAs).
6. Pricing Complexities: Discussion on the intricacies of pricing services in a competitive market and researching market rates and competitors.
7. Future Growth Plans: Jack and John reveal their vision for expanding their plumbing division and discuss their growth plans.
8. Working Capital & Drain Services: The hosts touch on the significant capital needed for drain services and the considerations before venturing into this area.

Episode Hosts:

• John Wilson: @WilsonCompanies
• Jack Carr: @thehvacjack 

Special thanks to our sponsor: Service Scalers: Looking to scale your home service business? Service Scalers is a digital marketing agency that drives success in PPC and LSA. Discover more growth strategies by visiting Service Scalers.

Check out Owned and Operated Weekly Insights: a newsletter where John discusses topics ranging from recruiting and marketing to the growth of your home service business.  Subscribe to the newsletter here.

Contact us:

Youtube: @OwnedandOperatedPodcast

X: @ownedoperatedco

www.ownedandoperated.com

[email protected]

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with OAO

• Start Here
• Owned and Operated Newsletter 
• Bonus Videos From John

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

In this episode of “Owned and Operated”, hosts Jack and John catch up on their recent activities and dive into the topic of service businesses. They talk about the problems and chances that come with growing service businesses, especially when it comes to plateaus and the need for more infrastructure and management. The hosts also talk about how traditional business models are changing and how roles within organizations might be able to overlap. They look at appliance repair as an example of a possible new service line and think about how it can use their existing leads and add to their current businesses. These and more topics are discussed during the episode. Listen to learn more!

Here are some additional topics we talked about: 

●     The joy of exploring new businesses

●     Success and growth of our team

●     What did we do to Arizona?

●     Focusing on scaling a specific vertical within the business

●     What are our milestones in business growth and the challenges faced

●     Organizational change and role mixing

●     Increasing team sizes and the need for support and technology

●     Investigating the appliance repair business

●     Assessing new service lines for scalability and resource allocation

●     Assessing business potential with the BCG Growth-Share Matrix

●     Buying new verticals vs. green fielding

●     Leveraging strengths and generating leads for others

●     Appliance repair with other trades

●     The company's ecosystem collaborates and refers

Episode Hosts:

• John Wilson: @WilsonCompanies
• Jack Carr: @thehvacjack 

Special thanks to our sponsor: Service Scalers: Looking to scale your home service business? Service Scalers is a digital marketing agency that drives success in PPC and LSA. Discover more growth strategies by visiting Service Scalers.

Check out Owned and Operated Weekly Insights: a newsletter where John discusses topics ranging from recruiting and marketing to the growth of your home service business.  Subscribe to the newsletter here.

Contact us:

Youtube: @OwnedandOperatedPodcast

X: @ownedoperatedco

www.ownedandoperated.com

[email protected]

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with OAO

• Start Here
• Owned and Operated Newsletter 
• Bonus Videos From John

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

In this episode of “Owned and Operated”, John Wilson and Jack Carr discuss a lot of interesting topics including the concept of a mobile tire and oil change service. Get to know why Handyman Business is a special niche! 

With the convenience of having a professional come to you, it's a no-brainer for homeowners and fleet companies alike. The profit margins are better for homeowners, but fleets provide a more stable and regular source of income. This business model can be a sure thing in the business-to-business market because it saves money and keeps cars on the road longer. 

For B2C, partnering with existing mechanics or tire shops can open up new distribution channels. Do you think this business could be successful if it uses the right marketing strategy and goes after the right customers? Do low costs and high demand make it a good opportunity? Learn more as you listen to the episode!

Here are some additional topics we talked about:

• The hosts' respective businesses and recent developments
• News about a deal under LOI 
• The property maintenance business
• The company's clientele
• The company's value to property management firms
• Reference to 200 weekly work orders
• Accurate pricing structure and hourly rates
• Consideration of inventory management challenges
• Company wages and hiring strategy
• The importance of scheduling and routing
• The variety of market saturation

Episode Hosts:

• John Wilson: @WilsonCompanies
• Jack Carr: @thehvacjack 

Special thanks to our sponsor: Service Scalers: Looking to scale your home service business? Service Scalers is a digital marketing agency that drives success in PPC and LSA. Discover more growth strategies by visiting Service Scalers.

Check out Owned and Operated Weekly Insights: a newsletter where John discusses topics ranging from recruiting and marketing to the growth of your home service business.  Subscribe to the newsletter here.

Contact us:

Youtube: @OwnedandOperatedPodcast

X: @ownedoperatedco

www.ownedandoperated.com

[email protected]

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with OAO

• Start Here
• Owned and Operated Newsletter 
• Bonus Videos From John

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

In this episode of Owned and Operated, the hosts discuss the business model of water trucking, specifically potable water delivery services. They investigate the difficulties and the costs that are associated with it, such as complying with the regulations and the high costs of equipment and tires. Even though there are problems, they emphasize how profitable the business is. 

For example, one interviewee said that each truck was making between $500,000 and $600,000 per year. Jack and John show interest in the industry because they think it could be profitable and help them build long-term customer relationships. These and many more topics will be discussed as you listen to the episode!

Here are some additional topics we talked about:

●     Rising demand for renewable energy

●     Impact of climate change on agriculture

●     Importance of mental health awareness

●     Benefits of remote work policies

●     Role of technology in healthcare

●     Municipality drain scoping and cleaning franchise

●     The importance of inspecting sewers

●     Driving a remote-controlled car through sewers

●     Recording and scanning sewer walls with laser

Episode Hosts:

• John Wilson: @wilsoncompanies
• Jack Carr: @thehvacjack

Special thanks to our sponsor: Service Scalers

Looking to scale your home service business? Service Scalers is a digital marketing agency that drives success in PPC and LSA.  Discover more growth strategies by visiting Service Scalers. 

Check out Owned and Operated Weekly Insights: a newsletter where John discusses topics ranging from recruiting and marketing to the growth of your home service business. Subscribe to the newsletter here.

Contact us:
Youtube: @OwnedandOperatedPodcast
X: @ownedoperatedco
www.ownedandoperated.com
[email protected]

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with OAO

• Start Here
• Owned and Operated Newsletter 
• Bonus Videos From John

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.