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Owned and Operated Growth

If I Had to Start Over, I’d Pick THIS Trade

📅 June 23, 2026 ⏱️ 42:38 🎤 John Wilson, Jack Carr

Chapters

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  • 0:00
    Starting Over in Home Services
    John and Jack discuss the premise of the episode: if they had to start over today, which home service business would they choose.
  • 0:38
    Key Attributes for Success
    The hosts break down what makes a great home service business, including profit, recurring revenue, ease of hiring/selling, and cash flow vs. enterprise value.
  • 0:58
    B2C vs. B2B and Profit
    Jack expresses a preference for B2C businesses with B2B options and prioritizes profit over pure revenue, citing pest control as an example.
  • 2:08
    Recurring vs. High-Ticket Revenue
    The discussion focuses on the benefits of recurring revenue for stability and scalability, contrasting it with high-ticket, one-time jobs.
  • 2:30
    Ease of Selling vs. Hiring
    Both hosts agree that businesses with easier sales processes are preferable due to the challenge of customer acquisition, even if labor is difficult.
  • 2:45
    Cash Flow vs. Enterprise Value
    The hosts debate the merits of cash flow versus enterprise value, acknowledging that the best choice depends on individual life stages and goals.
  • 3:38
    Top Contenders: Landscaping & Restoration
    Beyond traditional HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, landscaping and restoration are highlighted as strong choices, with restoration showing impressive growth.
  • 4:56
    Roofing and Pest Control
    The hosts discuss roofing and pest control, noting roofing's simplicity for sales-driven entrepreneurs and pest control's higher competition but recurring revenue.
  • 5:19
    Septic and Trash Services
    Septic pumping is highly recommended for its dirty business nature, route-based model, and increasing demand, while trash pickup offers sticky recurring revenue despite potential public perception challenges.
  • 6:06
    Foundation and Honorable Mentions
    Foundation repair and waterproofing are praised for their high average tickets and integration with other home services, with duct cleaning and insulation also mentioned as good branch-out options.

Speakers

J
John Wilson
Host
J
Jack Carr
Host — Podcast Acquisitions

Key Takeaways

✦

Prioritize businesses with high profit margins, even if revenue is lower, as profit is what truly drives financial utility.

✦

Seek out businesses with a strong recurring revenue base, ideally with options for high-ticket upsells, to ensure stable cash flow and easier budgeting.

✦

Choose businesses where selling is easier than hiring, as customer acquisition is often the most significant challenge, and a strong sales process offers more control.

✦

Consider the long-term goal of enterprise value versus immediate cash flow, understanding that focusing on EV can lead to faster wealth accumulation through multiples.

✦

Explore trades like restoration and septic pumping, which offer high margins, route-based potential, and less competition from established players.

✦

Evaluate businesses like landscaping for their combination of recurring maintenance contracts and opportunities for large, high-value projects.

✦

Don't overlook niches like foundation repair and waterproofing, which boast high average ticket prices and can integrate with or steal business from other home service sectors.

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