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 reference checks to compensation, coaching, and military leadership, this episode is a practical guide to building the team that takes your business from operator-led to professionally managed.

In This Episode:
• Why leadership becomes the biggest growth constraint
• How to identify and hire A-player operators
• The interview mistakes most owners make
• Building scorecards that drive accountability
• Coaching vs. replacing underperforming leaders
• Compensation, incentives, and equity for key hires
• The next executive hire growing businesses should make

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🔗 CONNECT
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John Wilson → https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbwilson1/

Jim Lose → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslose/

The Military Veteran → https://themilvet.org/

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💰 SPONSORS
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Breaking $5M Workshop

Join John Wilson and Jack Carr in Akron, OH for a hands on workshop built for home service owners ready to scale past $5M. Get the proven playbook, tour Wilson's operation, and connect with other growth minded contractors. Register here: https://www.ownedandoperated.com/upcoming-events/oao-workshop-breaking-5-million

FieldPulse

Ready to ditch the whiteboard and spreadsheets? See how FieldPulse helps home service companies simplify scheduling, dispatching, invoicing, and more. Book a free demo: https://landing.fieldpulse.com/owned_and_operated

Quick Staffers

Hire trained HVAC and plumbing CSRs without the overhead of traditional hiring. Save $500 on your first placement with Quick Staffers: https://www.quickstaffers.com/

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with O&O

• John's Podcast YouTube Channel
• 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.

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 the space.

From pumping and repairs to installations, route density, marketing, and franchising, they share the economics behind the business, the operational challenges unique to septic, and the systems they're using to grow across multiple markets. Whether you're looking to buy a septic company or simply want to understand why so many operators are bullish on the industry, this episode is a complete deep dive.

In This Episode:
• Why septic is one of the most attractive home service businesses
• The economics of pumping, repairs, and installations
• How pumping creates long-term customer value
• Why modern marketing is a competitive advantage in septic
• Pricing, route density, and improving profitability
• Scaling across multiple markets and states
• The infrastructure challenges every septic operator faces
• What buyers should know before acquiring a septic business

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🔗 CONNECT
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John Wilson → https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbwilson1/

Chad & Kyle (Epic Septic) → https://epicseptic.com/

Micah Findley (Homefield) → https://www.homefieldonsite.com/

Breaking $5M Workshop → https://www.ownedandoperated.com/upcoming-events/oao-workshop-breaking-5-million

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💰 SPONSORS
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Service Scalers

Get more high quality leads with marketing built for home service companies. Book a free strategy call with Service Scalers and see what's driving real jobs: https://os.servicescalers.com/go/oao_podcast/referral/podcast

Big Reputation

Get more from your Google Business Profile with Big Reputation. Automate reviews, improve local visibility, and turn more Google searches into inbound calls. Learn more: https://www.bigreputation.ai/oao?utm_source=oao&utm_medium=paid

FieldPulse

Ready to ditch the whiteboard and spreadsheets? See how FieldPulse helps home service companies simplify scheduling, dispatching, invoicing, and more. Book a free demo: https://landing.fieldpulse.com/owned_and_operated

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with O&O

• John's Podcast YouTube Channel
• 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.

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 plumbing, HVAC, and electrical businesses, why revenue and EBITDA rarely tell the whole story, and the common mistakes first-time buyers make when they become emotionally attached to a deal.

Sometimes the best acquisition is the one you don't make.

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In this episode, John covers:

→ The acquisition that looked perfect—but wasn't

→ The biggest red flags uncovered during due diligence

→ Why customer mix and company culture matter as much as financials

→ How to avoid becoming emotionally invested in a deal

→ What every first-time acquisition entrepreneur should know

→ Lessons learned from the deals John decided not to buy
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Watch this episode early on the John Wilson YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnWilsonOAO

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with O&O

• John's Podcast YouTube Channel
• 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.