Should Home Service Companies Stop Buying Vans?

In this episode bonus feed dropped episode 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 decisions.

With service vans now costing $60,000+ and fuel and repair costs climbing, John and Jack make the case for a radical shift:

Ford Mavericks for service… and trailers for installs.

They unpack why the Maverick may be the most capital-efficient vehicle for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical businesses, how truck stock changes operational discipline, and whether modular install trailers could replace box trucks altogether.

If you’re scaling a trades business and trying to protect cash flow, this episode offers a practical framework for building a leaner, smarter fleet.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why service vans have become a drag on the balance sheet
• The real economics of Maverick vs high-roof Transit vans
• Fuel savings, lower capital costs, and fleet scalability
• Truck stock limits in HVAC compared to plumbing and electrical
• The “install trailer” system: modular packouts for equipment installs
  
  

💼 Extra Special Thanks to Service Scalers!

We’ve been partnering with Service Scalers to maximize our Local Service Ads (LSAs) and optimize our Google My Business profiles, and the results have been incredible. With hundreds of thousands in sales and 900+ calls in a single week, GMBs are now our top-performing organic lead channel.
Want to learn how Service Scalers can do the same for you?

🔗Check Them Out Here

💼Shoutout to Avoca AI!

Looking to train your call center and improve technician performance? Avoca AI helps teams identify issues, improve call quality, and drive results from start to finish.

🔗 Schedule a demo

Shout Out to FieldPulse 🚀

FieldPulse is an incredible Field Service Management platform that helps you save hours each week while keeping your operations running smoothly. If you're looking to streamline your processes, stay competitive, and focus on what truly matters, FieldPulse is a game-changer!

📅 Book your demo

Connect:

John Wilson - https://x.com/WilsonCompanies
Jack Carr - https://x.com/thehvacjack

Send a text

Jackquisitions Newsletter — Your favorite source for how to buy small businesses. Real insights, smart strategies, zero gurus.

🖊️ Sign up HERE for more insights


📢 Enjoyed the episode?
✅ Like, Comment & Subscribe for weekly insights on business acquisitions, deal flow, marketing, and growth strategies!

📌 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 JackQuisitions, Jack breaks down one of the most important acquisition questions heading into 2026:

What industries should you avoid… and which ones have the biggest tailwinds?

Jack walks through his framework for evaluating businesses through an acquisition lens — not as a lifestyle operator, but as a buyer looking for scalable enterprise value and an eventual exit.

He explains why some industries that look “hot” on paper can become absolute landmines once you layer in debt, external dependency, labor constraints, and demand volatility.

From construction downturn risk… to solar’s subsidy collapse… to storm-chasing roofers getting squeezed by regulation — Jack lays out the 3 worst businesses to buy in 2026.

Then, he flips the script and shares the 3 best acquisition targets heading into the new year — including recurring-service models, fear-based moats, and the most underserved trade opportunity in home services today.

If you’re buying a business in 2026, this episode is a must-watch.

🔍 What You’ll Learn

• The acquisition lens that matters most: lifestyle vs scalable enterprise value
• Why urgency of demand is everything in home services
• The hidden danger of external dependency when you’re carrying SBA debt
• Why construction businesses can wipe buyers out during downturns
• The biggest headwinds crushing solar in 2026 (subsidies, rates, bankruptcies)

💼 Special Thanks to First Internet Bank!

Looking to buy or expand a business? First Internet Bank is a National Preferred SBA lender specializing in acquisitions for the skilled trades. Their SBA loan program offers up to 90% financing for business acquisitions, partner buyouts, and commercial real estate—plus optional lines of credit to fuel future growth. Unlike traditional lenders, they take a “how can we” approach, making deals happen for both first-time buyers and experienced operators.

👉 Special Offer: Mention Owned and Operated for a reduced good faith deposit and a complimentary deal review + buyside prequalification.

Connect with Alan Peterson from First Internet Bank here

💼 Big Reputation — Stop chasing reviews and watching competitors outrank you. Big Reputation is the AI-powered review + SEO platform built for home service pros. Automate review generation, respond with AI, track local SEO, and integrate with your CRM. Setup is free, and your first month’s on the house.

👉 Book your demo

💼 Shoutout to Quick Staffers LLC
Need trained HVAC & plumbing CSRs at a fraction of the cost? Quick Staffers LLC specializes in placing top-tier global talent with the best SOPs and scripts.
🔥 Get $1,000 off your first placement here

🔗 Connect

Jack Carr – https://www.x.com/thehvacjack

Send us a text

Jackquisitions Newsletter — Your favorite source for how to buy small businesses. Real insights, smart strategies, zero gurus.

🖊️ Sign up HERE for more insights


📢 Enjoyed the episode?
✅ Like, Comment & Subscribe for weekly insights on business acquisitions, deal flow, marketing, and growth strategies!

📌 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.

Most first-time buyers take more than a year to close their first acquisition—and rushing the process is how people wash out.

In this episode of JackQuisitions, Jack welcomes back Chris Barr for a 1-year search update and a realistic breakdown of what it takes to buy a business the right way. They discuss why “perfect deals” don’t exist, how to choose the problems you’re willing to own, and why community-based sourcing can beat cold outreach.

Chris shares his hyper-local strategy in Palm Beach County through the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, and nonprofit board work, plus what he’s seeing across tree service, fencing, landscaping, and other on-market opportunities.

You’ll learn:

• Why most deals take 12–18+ months
• How Chris is sourcing locally (and killing deals faster)
• What categories are heating up in 2026
• Why search communities matter more than ever

💼 Shoutout to Quick Staffers LLC

Need trained HVAC & plumbing CSRs at a fraction of the cost? Quick Staffers LLC specializes in placing top-tier global talent with the best SOPs and scripts.

🔥 Get $1,000 off your first placement here

💼 Special Thanks to First Internet Bank!

Looking to buy or expand a business? First Internet Bank is a National Preferred SBA lender specializing in acquisitions for the skilled trades. Their SBA loan program offers up to 90% financing for business acquisitions, partner buyouts, and commercial real estate—plus optional lines of credit to fuel future growth. Unlike traditional lenders, they take a “how can we” approach, making deals happen for both first-time buyers and experienced operators.

👉 Special Offer: Mention Owned and Operated for a reduced good faith deposit and a complimentary deal review + buyside prequalification.

Connect with Alan Peterson from First Internet Bank here

💼 Extra Special Thanks to Service Scalers!

We’ve been partnering with Service Scalers to maximize our Local Service Ads (LSAs) and optimize our Google My Business profiles, and the results have been incredible. With hundreds of thousands in sales and 900+ calls in a single week, GMBs are now our top-performing organic lead channel.
Want to learn how Service Scalers can do the same for you?

🔗Check Them Out Here

Connect

Jack Carr

Send us a text

Jackquisitions Newsletter — Your favorite source for how to buy small businesses. Real insights, smart strategies, zero gurus.

🖊️ Sign up HERE for more insights


📢 Enjoyed the episode?
✅ Like, Comment & Subscribe for weekly insights on business acquisitions, deal flow, marketing, and growth strategies!

📌 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.