Buying a small business? In this episode of Jackquisitions, we follow Chris Barr’s journey to acquiring a pressure washing company using smart financing—combining cash, earnouts, and trusted advisors. From submitting the LOI to executing deep-dive due diligence, Chris shares what it really takes to close a successful acquisition.

You’ll learn how to build the right team, evaluate financials and legal risks, and structure a deal that fits your vision. Whether you're just exploring acquisitions or in the weeds of a deal, this episode offers an insider’s look at getting a service business acquisition across the finish line.

⚡ What you’ll learn

• What Chris looked for in an ideal pressure washing business—and how he sourced it
• The creative structure behind his LOI and financing approach
• Why specialization matters: How Chris leveraged his real estate pros for M&A success
• The step-by-step due diligence checklist across financial, legal, and operational domains
• How to avoid major pitfalls in banking and legal negotiations
• The must-have advisors you need on speed dial when buying a business
• How to evaluate seller-provided info and spot red flags before it’s too late
  
  
  

If you’re buying a local service business or scaling your portfolio, this episode gives you a framework to approach acquisitions confidently—with the right strategy and team in place.

👤 Hosted by:

Jack Carr

👤Episode Guest:

Chris Barr

💼 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.

💼 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

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with O&O

• John's YouTube Channel
• Weekly Newsletter

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer:
Some links may include UTM parameters for tracking. Episodes may feature paid sponsors, but all opinions are our own. Always do your own research before making business decisions.

In this episode of Owned and Operated, John and Jack unpack what leadership looks like inside a $20–40 million home service business—and why that size still feels small. They explore how companies in this range often remain personality-driven, even with impressive revenue, and what it really takes to level up. From forming HR and marketing departments to structuring a true senior leadership team, they dig into the growing pains and leadership gaps most businesses face on the way to maturity.

The conversation dives deep into leadership development, internal promotions, and when to hire key external roles like controllers. John and Jack share why the sophistication of a business doesn’t always match the revenue—and how building the right team early creates long-term stability and growth. If you're scaling past $10 million and thinking about what’s next, this episode lays out a real-world playbook for building a well-rounded, leadership-driven operation.

🔹 In This Episode, We Cover:

What leadership looks like at $20–40M in revenue
Why revenue doesn’t always equal business sophistication
The challenges of building a senior leadership team
Promoting internally vs. hiring externally
When to build HR, marketing, and finance departments
How leadership development programs drive retention and growth
Creating a stable, mature business beyond personality-driven leadership

🌐 More resources

💼 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


👤 Hosted by:

John Wilson

Jack Carr

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with O&O

• John's YouTube Channel
• Weekly Newsletter

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer:
Some links may include UTM parameters for tracking. Episodes may feature paid sponsors, but all opinions are our own. Always do your own research before making business decisions.

Want to buy a small business using smart deal structures like earnouts, seller financing, and low-risk offers? In this episode of Jackquisitions, host Jack Carr sits down with Chris Barr, a first-time buyer navigating the ups and downs of business acquisitions—from walking away from bad fits to crafting a $900K cash-plus-earnout offer for a pressure washing company.

Learn how Chris is sourcing off-market deals, avoiding shady broker tactics, and building a personal brand that attracts sellers. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how new acquirers can finance service businesses, evaluate seller terms, and structure deals that actually close. If you're buying a business or scaling through acquisition, this episode is packed with actionable insight.

⚡ What you’ll learn

• Why Chris walked away from an art-framing shop that didn’t fit his criteria
• How a pool-route deal fell through—and the red flags you should watch for with brokers
• The numbers behind a $900 K cash-at-close + earnout offer for a thriving pressure-washing business
• Proven frameworks for earnouts, seller notes, and revenue-share agreements that reduce risk and align incentives
• Tips for building a credible personal brand (see his Quick Staffers journey) to source off-market deals
• Step-by-step due-diligence tactics, valuation shortcuts, and negotiation language you can use today
• When to pivot, when to persist, and how to decide if a deal really moves the needle
  
  
  

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, an operator expanding a portfolio, or a service-business owner curious about exits, this conversation is packed with actionable M&A strategy, deal structuring hacks, and outreach scripts that close.

👤 Hosted by:

Jack Carr

👤Episode Guest

Chris Barr

💼 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 prequalifi

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with O&O

• John's YouTube Channel
• Weekly Newsletter

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer:
Some links may include UTM parameters for tracking. Episodes may feature paid sponsors, but all opinions are our own. Always do your own research before making business decisions.

In this episode of Owned and Operated, we’re exploring how to grow your career inside a home service company. From internal promotions to mindset shifts, John and Brandon Niro break down what it really takes to move up and lead.

Brandon shares how 30–40% of the Wilson team has been promoted from within—and what separates those who grow fast from those who stall. They dig into Wilson’s 52-week Emerging Leaders program, the role of emotional intelligence and financial literacy, and how team members can take initiative to become future leaders.

If you’re looking to grow your role or build leadership in your team, this one’s packed with real, actionable advice.

🔹 In This Episode, We Cover:
How to get promoted inside a home service business
What Wilson looks for in future leaders
The Emerging Leaders program: structure and impact
Why a growth mindset and proactivity matter
How communication and responsibility open doors
Transparency around career progression at Wilson

🌐 More resources: ownedandoperated.com

👤 Hosted by:
John Wilson

👤 Guest:
Brandon Niro

💼 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

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

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with O&O

• John's YouTube Channel
• Weekly Newsletter

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer:
Some links may include UTM parameters for tracking. Episodes may feature paid sponsors, but all opinions are our own. Always do your own research before making business decisions.

In this episode of Owned and Operated, we're digging into what it really takes to lead a growing home service business. From SOPs to scaling strategies, we’re spotlighting the habits and leadership traits that drive operational clarity and empower teams.

We’re joined by Brandon Niro, who shares how his role evolved since joining the company in 2019—navigating growth from 30 to over 60 employees, integrating acquisitions, and shifting from tactical execution to strategic coaching and development.

Whether you're a team lead or an operator scaling fast, this episode offers actionable insights into building systems, coaching talent, and creating autonomy inside a service business.

🔹 In This Episode, We Cover:
How SOPs streamline operations and unlock autonomy
Coaching vs. doing: leadership in a growing team
Transitioning from tactical roles to strategic leadership
Navigating the growth curve—from 30 to 60+ employees
Open-book management and building a transparent culture
Why documenting processes fuels long-term scale

🌐 More resources: https://www.ownedandoperated.com

👤 Hosted by:
John Wilson

👤 Guest:
Brandon Niro

💼 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!

💡 Shoutout to Avoca AI!

Avoca is helping home service companies level up with 24/7 AI call handling, performance insights, and targeted coaching.

🔗 Book a demo

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with O&O

• John's YouTube Channel
• Weekly Newsletter

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer:
Some links may include UTM parameters for tracking. Episodes may feature paid sponsors, but all opinions are our own. Always do your own research before making business decisions.

In this episode of Owned and Operated, we’re diving into real-world strategies for sourcing and securing small business acquisitions. From outreach to private equity firms to using freelancers for off-market deals, we break down how acquisition entrepreneurs are getting creative and staying competitive.
We explore how personal branding can help attract brokers, how to craft a buyer persona that actually stands out, and how Chris Barr is navigating live negotiations for niche businesses—including pool services and a high-end art framing company.

Whether you're just starting your acquisition journey or already mid-process, this episode is packed with practical insights for sourcing deals and building a compelling presence in the marketplace.

🔹 In This Episode, We Cover:
Strategies for off-market deal sourcing using freelancers
How personal branding attracts brokers and deal flow
The value of a credible buyer persona in competitive markets
Updates on two live deals: pool services and art framing
How Chris is approaching broker and seller interactions

🌐 More resources

👤 Hosted by:
Jack Carr

👤 Guest:
Chris Barr

💼 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


💸Sponsored by CFO Made Easy

Built a strong trades business? Let’s take it to $10M and beyond. CFO Made Easy offers part-time CFO services for home and trade service businesses—helping you boost cash flow, maximize profit per tech, and make clear growth decisions.

📈 Free Offer: Book a 45-min Financial Insight Session to uncover growth blockers.

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with O&O

• John's YouTube Channel
• Weekly Newsletter

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer:
Some links may include UTM parameters for tracking. Episodes may feature paid sponsors, but all opinions are our own. Always do your own research before making business decisions.

In this episode of Owned and Operated, we’re diving into innovative lead generation strategies that are reshaping how home service companies attract local customers. From niche local newsletters to AI-powered tools, we cover real-world tactics that are working right now.

We explore how hyperlocal publications in places like Annapolis, Maryland and suburban New York are driving leads for services like power washing and home inspections—and why owning your communication channels (email lists, Facebook groups) is a game-changer.

Whether you're just starting or scaling up, this episode will give you actionable insights on using community engagement, AI tools like Avoca, and Facebook group sponsorships to fill your pipeline and take control of your local market.

🔹 In This Episode, We Cover:

• Real examples of local newsletters driving leads for home services
• Why owning your audience (email + groups) beats renting attention
• How AI tools like Avoca help manage leads and customer service
• Facebook groups as high-conversion lead generation platforms
• Community sponsorships as a brand-building strategy
• An upcoming workshop for local lead domination

🌐 More resources here

👤 Hosted by:
Jack Carr
John Wilson

💼 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 here!

💼 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

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with O&O

• John's YouTube Channel
• Weekly Newsletter

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer:
Some links may include UTM parameters for tracking. Episodes may feature paid sponsors, but all opinions are our own. Always do your own research before making business decisions.