JackQuisitions - Small Business Acquisitions in Home Service – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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

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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.

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

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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 part two, Jack sits back down with Chris Cisneros of Diamond Plumbing—this time diving deep into acquisitions, market entry strategy, and leading seasoned techs as a 23-year-old service manager. Live from the Miami Meetup, they unpack how to decide between greenfield vs. acquisition, what it really takes to keep teams post-close, and how to think about radius, logistics, and install crews when you’re expanding into Palm Beach County from Miami–Broward.

They talk real risks (like “everyone quit in week one”), LOI-to-close learning, buying profit on day one vs. recruiting from scratch, and the sales-first approach Chris uses to win buy-in from techs in their 30s and 40s.

💡 What You’ll Learn

• Greenfield vs. Acquisition: When buying a book of business beats starting from zero—and when it doesn’t
• Team Retention Post-Close: Why size and maturity of the target matters for culture conversion
• Market Mapping: Using a 2-hour radius, jump points, and install-crew logistics to enter adjacent counties
• Recruiting Alternatives: When a dedicated recruiter outperforms an acquisition—for headcount only
• Change Management: A sales-led playbook for earning respect as a younger leader
• From LOI to Day 1: What to learn before you write the check (and how to avoid six years of trial-and-error)

💼 Shoutout to Appletree Business Services

HVAC and plumbing pros—ditch tax surprises and unresponsive accountants. Appletree handles your books, taxes, payroll, and acquisitions, and they know tools like ServiceTitan cold.
🎁 Get a free tax & financial review or 10% off a QOE report.
👉 Book a call HERE tell Patrick Jack sent you.

💼 Shoutout to Quick Staffers LLC

Hire trained HVAC & plumbing CSRs at a fraction of the cost.
🔥 $1,000 off your first placement 

💼 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  

🎙 Host & Guest

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

Guest: Chris Cisneros — Diamond Plumbing (IG & LinkedIn: Chris A. Cisneros)

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 down with Chris Cisneros of Diamond Plumbing live at the Miami Meetup. Chris shares his incredible journey from selling marketing services door-to-door at just 13 years old to building a fast-growing plumbing business alongside his father. What started with one truck and a thrift store breakroom office has now expanded into a multi-truck operation with a warehouse, a growing team, and lessons learned the hard way.

Chris opens up about the struggles of running a business without mentorship, the costly mistakes of ignoring office systems, and how mentorship, sales training, and overseas staffing transformed their business. From convincing his father to embrace modern sales practices to scaling with virtual CSRs, this conversation is packed with practical insights for operators navigating the messy middle of growth.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why mentorship can shorten years of painful trial-and-error
• How PPC and digital marketing fueled growth—even as a teenager
• Lessons from transitioning a one-man shop into a scalable business
• The importance of shifting focus from fieldwork to office systems
• How overseas CSRs and AI can create near 24/7 coverage
• Why emotional selling and sales training are game-changers in home services
  
  

💼 Business Modification Group —
 The go-to business brokers for trades companies. Whether you’re buying or selling HVAC, plumbing, or electrical businesses, we help you navigate valuations, find deals, and close successfully. Get a free valuation as a buyer or seller and join our exclusive distribution list for the best opportunities in the trades market.
 👉 Get Your Free Valuation Here
 For Sellers:
For Buyers:

💼 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 to get started 

🎙 Host: Jack Carr
🎙 Guest: Chris Cisneros

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 down in Akron, Ohio with Matt, who just closed on his very first acquisition: a 75-year-old HVAC and refrigeration company outside Pittsburgh. Fresh off the Breaking $5 Million workshop, Matt walks through the whirlwind of his first six weeks as an owner—what it’s like to take on a $2M deal, why he valued stability over chasing top-line growth, and how he’s transitioning from a career in big tech and Amazon Web Services to running a boots-on-the-ground service business.

From sourcing the deal through a broker, to navigating retrades when revenue dipped, to managing seller relationships and earnouts, Matt shares the hard realities behind closing his first SBA-backed acquisition. He explains how he de-risked the deal with real estate, why he insists on fixed legal pricing next time, and why building something steady for his family and community matters more than chasing 500% growth curves.

💡 What You’ll Learn:
How to source and negotiate your first small business acquisition
Why stability and history can outweigh chasing the biggest revenue number
Creative ways to de-risk a deal through real estate and seller notes
Lessons in managing brokers, lawyers, and SBA lenders
Why leaving a W2 for business ownership is a bet on yourself
How to build a company that supports your family, team, and community

💼 Business Modification Group —
The go-to business brokers for trades companies. Whether you’re buying or selling HVAC, plumbing, or electrical businesses, we help you navigate valuations, find deals, and close successfully. Get a free valuation as a buyer or seller and join our exclusive distribution list for the best opportunities in the trades market.

👉 Get Your Free Valuation Here
For Sellers
For Buyers

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

🖊️ Sign up 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: Matt Wynne  — Winning Services, Pittsburgh PA

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 catches up with Chris Barr, who returns with a hard but valuable update: his most recent deal is officially dead. After months of diligence, capital invested, and a strong connection with the sellers, Chris made the tough call to walk away when the risk profile jumped too high. What could have been a dream business became a cautionary tale about what happens when books don’t line up, multiples stop making sense, and the juice just isn’t worth the squeeze.

Chris shares the emotional side of killing a deal, why it sometimes feels like “paying tuition” in the acquisitions school of hard knocks, and the critical lessons he’ll carry into his next LOI. From working capital debates to due diligence missteps, this conversation is a masterclass in knowing when to say no—without losing sight of the bigger goal.

💼 Business Modification Group —
 The go-to business brokers for trades companies. Whether you’re buying or selling HVAC, plumbing, or electrical businesses, we help you navigate valuations, find deals, and close successfully. Get a free valuation as a buyer or seller and join our exclusive distribution list for the best opportunities in the trades market.

👉 Get Your Free Valuation Here
 For Sellers: [https://businessmodificationgroup.com/jq/]
For Buyers: [https://businessmodificationgroup.com/listings/?statuses=ACTIVE]

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

🖊️ Sign up HERE for more insights 

💼 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 to get started 

🎙 Host: Jack Carr — https://x.com/thehvacjack
🎙 Guest: Chris Barr

📈 Keywords: small business acquisitions, dead deals, due diligence, working capital, risk mitigation, sunk cost lessons, acquisition strategy, ETA, service business growth

📌 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 o

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 down with Jeff Bates, a Michigan-based operator who went from running trucks in the heat to owning and growing multiple HVAC companies. After years at Lennox and a crash course in small business while working for his father-in-law’s trucking company, Jeff and his partner decided to jump into ownership themselves.

Their first deal came in 2022 with RNL Heating & Cooling, a legacy business with real estate included. But the story didn’t stop there—just a year later, they acquired Hurside Heating & Cooling through a broker connection. Along the way, Jeff shares the reality of SBA financing, why branding and location matter more than you think, and how “Day One calls” convinced him to buy vs. build.

From navigating tuck-ins to learning the power of the supply house counter as the ultimate networking hub, Jeff walks through what it really takes to expand through acquisition while keeping culture strong.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why Jeff chose buying over building—and the immediate payoff of legacy customers
• How to use supply houses and parts counters as a secret due diligence tool
• The tradeoffs of including real estate in an SBA-financed acquisition
• Branding pitfalls: when a company name works against you
• The importance of a no-asshole policy in preserving culture
• Why tuck-ins remain the best strategy for consistent HVAC growth

💼 Business Modification Group — 

The go-to business brokers for trades companies. Whether you’re buying or selling HVAC, plumbing, or electrical businesses, we help you navigate valuations, find deals, and close successfully. Get a free valuation as a buyer or seller and join our exclusive distribution list for the best opportunities in the trades market.

👉 Get Your Free Valuation Here 

For Sellers

For Buyers

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

🖊️ Sign up HERE for more insights

💼 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 to get started 

🎙 Host: Jack Carr
🎙 Guest: Jeff Bates 

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 down with Matthew Railla, a former wine industry operator turned termite company owner. After years running his family’s winery, Matt discovered business brokerage through his brother-in-law—and eventually listed a highly profitable termite inspection company. When buyers kept passing due to its relationship-driven, project-based model, Matt had a realization: What if I bought it myself?

From that October 2023 “aha” moment to closing in June 2024, Matt navigated creative SBA financing, licensing requirements, and a stubborn seller’s attorney to acquire Top Termite. Now, he’s growing the business, expanding service areas, and exploring new B2B offerings—all while sharing lessons for first-time buyers.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• How an industry outsider found and bought a business through brokerage work
• Why some profitable companies still struggle to find the right buyer\
• How to structure a partial buyout with only 5% down (under 2024 SBA rules)
• The role of trust, relationships, and reputation in non-recurring revenue trades
• Key team members every first-time buyer should have on their side
• The mindset shift from “doing it all yourself” to leaning on experts
  
  🎙 Host: Jack Carr — [https://x.com/thehvacjack]
  🎙 Guest: Matthew Railla — matt@toptermiteco.com | LinkedIn: Matthew Railla

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

🖊️ Sign up HERE for more insights

💼 Business Modification Group — The go-to business brokers for trades companies. Whether you’re buying or selling HVAC, plumbing, or electrical businesses, we help you navigate valuations, find deals, and close successfully. Get a free valuation as a buyer or seller and join our exclusive distribution list for the best opportunities in the trades market.
💼 Business Modification Group —
The go-to business brokers for trades companies. Whether you’re buying or selling HVAC, plumbing, or electrical businesses, we help you navigate valuations, find deals, and close successfully. Get a free valuation as a buyer or seller and join our exclusive distribution list for the best opportunities in the trades market.

👉 Get Your Free Valuation Here
For Sellers
For Buyers

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 revealing episode of JackQuisitions, Jack sits down with his good friend Scott Horman, who attempted to build an HVAC business from the ground up. Just ten months later, the doors closed for good. Scott opens up about the hard truths—misaligned partners, poor service quality, and unpredictable lead flow—that ultimately sank the venture. If you’ve ever wondered whether to start a trades business from scratch or buy an existing one, this is a must-watch.

💡 What You’ll Learn:
Why choosing the wrong partners can doom your business from day one
The hidden risks of relying on inconsistent lead generation
How poor service quality impacts growth and reputation
Key differences between building a business from scratch vs. buying one
The value of patience, industry networking, and knowing your strengths
What Scott would do differently if he started again today

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

💼 Shoutout to Quick Staffers LLC

Hire trained HVAC & plumbing CSRs at a fraction of the cost.
🔥 $1,000 off your first placement


🎙️ Host:
 Jack Carr   

🎙️ Guest:
Scott Horman

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.

📉 Lessons From the Trenches: The Real Cost of a $1.9M Plumbing Acquisition
 In this brutally honest episode of Owned and Operated, John sits down with Jameson Wildwood, who bought Sweetwater Plumbing in North Carolina for $1.9 million. Six months post-close, Jameson reveals what actually happened—from bad deals and cultural clashes to scaling a service division 5X in half a year. If you're eyeing a plumbing or trades acquisition, this one’s a must-watch.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• The hidden overhead costs of running a new construction plumbing business
• Why service and construction are two separate businesses under one roof
• How culture clashes can sabotage post-acquisition transitions
• Jameson’s hard-earned lessons about brokers, sellers, and negotiation power
• What it really takes to build a profitable service division from scratch
• The role of marketing, CRMs, and quality-of-earnings in avoiding post-close regret

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

🖊️ Sign up HERE for more insights

💼 Shoutout to Quick Staffers LLC
 Hire trained HVAC & plumbing CSRs at a fraction of the cost.
 🔥 $1,000 off your first placement

🎙️ Host:
Jack Carr

🎙️ Guest:
 Jameson Wildwood 

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.