In this episode of JackQuisitions, Jack breaks down why pressure washing is one of the most misunderstood businesses in America—and why the “low skill, low overhead, easy money” narrative is exactly what traps most operators in unscalable jobs.

Jack explains how pressure washing looks simple from the outside, but in reality is a sales, marketing, and operations business disguised as a trade. He walks through the real cost structure most people ignore, why underpricing kills otherwise busy operators, and why many pressure washing companies never scale past the owner.

You’ll hear why commercial and route-based pressure washing is the real prize, why pure residential pressure washing caps out quickly, and how successful operators increase ticket size by stacking services instead of chasing more leads. Jack also covers when buying a pressure washing business makes sense (and when it absolutely doesn’t), the systems you must see before acquiring one, and the hidden skills required to build a real company—not just buy a job.

This episode is a reality check for anyone thinking about starting or buying a pressure washing business—and a playbook for those who want to do it the right way.

🔍 What You’ll Learn

• Why pressure washing is not a low-skill business—and why most operators fail to scale
• The real cost structure behind pressure washing (fuel, chemicals, repairs, seasonality, callbacks)
• Why underpricing keeps operators busy but permanently unprofitable
• The difference between commercial route-based pressure washing and residential service

💼 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

Send us a text

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In this episode of JackQuisitions, Jack sits down with Collin Trimble of Alarm Masters and Entry & Exit to dig into what it really looks like to roll up commercial fire and security companies—and why recurring monthly revenue (RMR) can be a cheat code for ETA operators. Collin walks through his jump from petrochem finance to security sales, then into Salesforce and revenue consulting, and finally into buying his own alarm company with longtime friend and partner, Steven.

Collin breaks down why so many owner-operated alarm businesses stall out at $2–3M, how lifestyle creep and fear of reinvestment cap their growth, and why he and Steven saw a huge opportunity to professionalize sales, marketing, and process in an industry full of technician-founders. He shares how they think about project work, service, and RMR as three distinct revenue engines—and why they designed Alarm Masters to blend high-touch, “Chick-fil-A-level” service with scalable systems instead of giving that up as they grow.

You’ll hear Collin’s earlier entrepreneurial experiments (dumpster rentals and a CrossFit gym), how those reps prepared him to buy and scale a real platform, and why his roll-up strategy leans heavily on buying accounts, doing “coffee drops,” and cross-selling multiple scopes of work to commercial customers. They also dig into sourcing deals through brokers and vendors, what makes an ideal tuck-in vs platform, and Collin’s advice for first-time ETA operators who are grinding toward their first acquisition.

🔍 What You’ll Learn

• Why many security and alarm businesses stall out at $2–3M in revenue—and how Collin and Steven break through that ceiling.
• How Collin went from petrochem analyst → security sales → Salesforce → revenue consultant → alarm company owner.
• The three revenue streams in security: projects, service/inspections, and recurring monthly revenue (RMR)—and how they design around all three.
• Why they prioritize commercial fire and security over pure residential and how that changes ticket sizes, cross-sell, and churn.
  
  

💼 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

🔗 Connect

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

Collin Trimble — https://www.linkedin.com/in/collin-trimble-642a305a/

Entry & Exit — https://entryandexit

Send us a text

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

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📢 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 sits down with Nathan Lindley of Done Right to dig into what it really looks like to roll up small HVAC companies—and why acquisition can be the smartest growth channel in the trades. Nathan shares his jump from Christian book publishing to home services, the “HVAC is non-optional” thesis that pulled him from Oregon to Dallas in early 2020, and why he knew his first deal would be his worst.

They get into the gritty middle: buying tiny mom-and-pops out of “cowardice,” learning fast under SBA debt pressure, and discovering the multiple-expansion play that turns a handful of 2.5x shops into a 4x+ platform. Nathan breaks down his current machine—nine deals closed, two under LOI—plus what he actually buys when he acquires sub-$2M businesses: phone rings, not EBITDA. You’ll hear how he values active vs dormant customers, the outbound power-dialer strategy most sellers never use, and how acquisitions can outperform Google PPC CAC by 50% or more.

They also talk integration across Dallas and Austin, hiring remote CSRs (shoutout stay-at-home moms), transitioning customers after close, and the emotional reality of early-stage ownership—panic blankets, family capital on the line, and the hard truth that buying businesses isn’t passive income until you’ve survived the knife fight of years 0–5.

If you’re doing ETA in home services—or thinking about your first HVAC tuck-in—this one is a masterclass in how real operators build value through acquisition.

🔍 What You’ll Learn

• Why HVAC roll-ups are a customer acquisition strategy more than a profit-multiple game.
• Nathan’s path from book publishing to buying his first HVAC company right before COVID.
• Why your first acquisition will probably be your worst—and how to grow out of it fast.
• The multiple-expansion thesis: aggregating small shops into a higher-multiple platforms

💼 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

🔗 Connect

Jack Carr — https://www.x.com/thehvacjack
Nathan Lindley —

Send us a text

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

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📢 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 sits down with Stephen Olmon to unpack one of the spiciest ETA questions out there: should you buy a business or build one first? Stephen shares his non-traditional path into entrepreneurship—from a pastor/teacher household to telecom consulting, then into the world of software, NewCo businesses, and eventually acquisitions.

They dig into Stephen’s early failed independent sponsor deals, how those bruises shaped his approach, and why he ultimately went the SBA route to acquire and scale Alarm Masters, a Houston-based fire & life safety company now rolling up competitors across Texas. Along the way, you’ll hear what Stephen looks for in alarm/security acquisitions (RMR mix, attrition, commercial focus), how they balance organic vs acquisition growth, and why self-awareness is the most underrated skill in buying businesses.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re actually built to buy a company—or if you should build first, buy later—this one’s for you.

🔍 What You’ll Learn

• Why “buy vs build” isn’t a strategy question—it’s a self-awareness question.
• Stephen’s path from NewCo entrepreneurship to acquisitions (and what changed his mind).
• A clear breakdown of the independent sponsor model and why most deals die in diligence.

💼 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: [https://alanfib.com/]

🔗 Connect
Jack Carr — X (Twitter): https://www.x.com/thehvacjack

Stephen Olmon — https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenolmon/

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.

In this episode of JackQuisitions, Jack sits back down with Chris Barr to talk about what real leverage looks like in a self-funded search: building systems instead of just refreshing BizBuySell, working your broker network, and turning your geo + niche into an actual acquisition brand.

They break down how Chris is rebuilding his search infrastructure after round one, why tech leverage (CRM, scraping, cold outbound) matters more than you think, and how conferences, LinkedIn, and local presence (hello, West Palm Beach) quietly generate real deal flow. They also dig into ETA conferences like Harvard’s, the value of boards and mentors, and why most first deals go wrong when searchers are desperate to escape the slog.

If you’re a year into a search, stuck in a niche or geography, or wondering if you should start a business instead of buying one… this one’s for you.

🔍 What You’ll Learn

• How Chris rebuilt his search with tech leverage: CRM, scraping, and cold outreach running in the background.
• Why broker relationships still matter—and how to use them for both first look and “last look” on older listings.
• How to use LinkedIn, conferences, and DMs without feeling like a guru—and still generate real opportunities.
  
  

💼 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

Host

Jack Carr

Guest

Chris Barr

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.

Buying a septic company is one of the highest-ROI moves in home-service M&A… if you know where to look.

In this episode of JackQuisitions, Jack breaks down exactly where real septic deals come from — from the obvious online marketplaces to the off-market gold mines almost no one talks about. If you’re serious about buying your first septic business (or adding one as a high-margin tuck-in), this roadmap will save you weeks of searching and tens of thousands of dollars.

Jack covers why septic is one of his favorite industries to acquire, why so many buyers overlook it, and the simple outreach strategy that consistently uncovers motivated sellers long before they hit BizBuySell.

Whether you're running an SBA search, building a route-based portfolio, or just trying to get into home-service acquisitions in 2026, this one gives you the playbook.

What You’ll Learn

• The 3 real channels for finding septic companies for sale (and which one beats the others every time).
• How deal aggregator sites really work—and why the “clean books” come with a premium price tag.
• Why local business brokers can be useful… and why they rarely have septic deals ready to go.

💼 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

🔗 Connect

Jack Carr

Keywords:

JackQuisitions, septic acquisition, route-based business, home service acquisition, off-market deal sourcing, SBA acquisition, residential service, trades entrepreneurship, business brokers, BizBuySell, deal flow, customer lists, route-based valuation, environmental services, well drilling, state permit lookup

Hashtags:

#JackQuisitions #HomeServices #BusinessAcquisition #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Trades #HVAC #Plumbing #Septic #ServiceTitan #Nexstar #GrossMargin #RouteBasedBusiness #OffMarketDeals

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.

Buying a company is hard. Buying a job by accident is worse.
In this roundtable, John Wilson (Owned & Operated) and Jack Carr break down the biggest red flags they’ve seen across nine-plus home-service acquisitions—from septic and trash routes to HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. They dig into the “is it a business or a gig?” test, how to sniff out customer concentration that’s hiding in plain sight, why low gross margin is the one warning sign you should never ignore, and the leadership tells (like owners who insist on staying) that can turn a deal into a grind.

If you’re scanning BizBuySell, courting a tuck-in, or prepping your first SBA deal, this one will save you time, cash, and headaches.

What you’ll learn

• A simple gut-check to tell business vs. gig (and how price & diligence can de-risk tiny acquisitions).
• The sneaky ways customer concentration hides (home warranties, PMs with many LLCs) and how to uncover it.
• Why unverified numbers and box-of-receipts “financials” demand either a deep discount—or a pass.

💼 Special Thanks to AppleTree Business Services!

One of the most common and expensive mistakes in acquisitions is not getting serious about accounting. Whether you’re buying a business or running one, you need the right financial partner. That’s why we’ve partnered with AppleTree Business Services — a one-stop shop fluent in tools like ServiceTitan and Housecall Pro.

👉 Listeners get a free tax & financial review, plus 10% off quality of earnings when buying a business.

Visit https://appletreebusiness.com and tell Patrick Owned and Operated sent you!

💼 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

John Wilson

Keywords: JackQuisitions, Owned and Operated, plumbing acquisition, home service acquisition, SBA acquisition, residential service, trades entrepreneurship, route-based business, customer concentration, gross margin, ServiceTitan, Nexstar, open-book management, profit sharing (debated), brand & culture

Hashtags:
#JackQuisitions #OwnedAndOperated #HomeServices #BusinessAcquisition #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Trades #HVAC #Plumbing #Septic #ServiceTitan #Nexstar #OpenBookManagement #Branding #GrossMargin

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.

Today on JackQuisitions, Jack talks with Dustin Marx, founder of Mother (Modern Plumbing) — the Texas-based plumbing company that went from $15K a month to an $8M run rate in just 14 months.

Dustin isn’t your typical plumbing entrepreneur — he’s a former tech founder who turned a small, two-person shop into a fast-scaling, culture-first powerhouse. In this episode, he breaks down how he found his first acquisition through a podcast, why brand and mission matter more than ever, and how a 50% profit-sharing model built unshakable buy-in from his team.

If you’re thinking about buying your first business or scaling your home service company the right way, this episode is a must-watch.

💼 Shoutout to PayPerCall.io

Stop paying for leads that don’t convert. With PayPerCall.io, you only pay when your phone rings with a qualified customer. Real calls. Real results.

👉 Book your free call

💼 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 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

💡 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• How to find your first acquisition through real relationships
• Turning a small acquisition into a multimillion-dollar business
• Why employee incentives and ownership drive faster growth
• How to build a brand that stands out in a “sea of sameness”
• The structure behind open-book management and forecasting
• Long-term thinking: building a business that lasts generations

🔗 CONNECT

Jack Carr

Dustin Marx

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.