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.

In this episode of Jackquisitions, Jack sits down with Alan Peterson from First Internet Bank to demystify the world of SBA lending for business acquisitions.

Alan shares what most acquirers miss when evaluating loan options—including why gut instinct matters just as much as financials, how to approach deals with transparency, and when to prioritize prequalification over perfection. Whether you're exploring the 7(a), 504, or SBA Express, Alan breaks down the programs in clear terms—and how to use them to your advantage in today’s competitive acquisition market.

If you're planning to buy or expand a small business, this episode is your roadmap to leveraging SBA financing like a pro.

⚡ What You’ll Learn
How to choose between SBA 7(a), 504, and Express programs
Why being personable and transparent wins deals
The real impact of personal guarantees and collateralization
How to get prequalified—and why it gives you an edge
What “off-market” really means in a tight deal flow environment
How SBA loans can fuel both acquisitions and expansions
Why waiting for the perfect deal might cost you everything
The overlooked value of lender support throughout the buying process

💼 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

👤 Hosted by
Jack Carr

👤 Episode Guest
Alan Peterson

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 Barr—an aspiring business owner deep in the trenches of due diligence after signing an LOI to buy his dream company.

What follows is a transparent, tactical breakdown of the financial, legal, and operational hurdles Chris is facing. From recasting sketchy financials to prepping for a potential retrade, this episode strips away the romanticism of acquisition and lays bare the gritty work that goes into closing a deal.

If you're serious about buying a small business, this episode is your field guide.

⚡ What You’ll Learn

• What happens after you sign the LOI: Chris’s real-time playbook
  
  
• Navigating financial recasting and spotting red flags
  
  
• Legal and operational due diligence—what most acquirers overlook
  
  
• Why your deal team matters more than your deal size
  
  
• When retrading is necessary (and how to do it without killing trust)
  
  
• The biggest mindset shift Chris had during diligence
  
  
• How to stay optimistic when things get messy
  
  
  

Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a deal junkie, this episode will sharpen your edge and help you prep for the real work behind business acquisition.

💼 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 at [appletreebusiness.com] — tell Patrick Jack sent you.

💼 Buying Businesses?
Jackquisitions is the must-read newsletter for operators, acquirers, and deal junkies. It’s packed with real acquisition breakdowns, seller red flags, and proven strategies from the trenches.

📬 Join and get smarter on small biz M&A every week.
👉 Subscribe at https://www.jackquisitions.com/

👤 Hosted by
Jack Carr – https://x.com/TheHVACJack

👤 Episode 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 service business with the idea of passive income? In this episode of Jack Acquisitions, host Jack interviews Thomas Beebe, a financial advisor who stepped into ownership of his family’s HVAC company. What started as a hands-off investment quickly turned into a hands-on leadership journey.

From remote team management to turning around a messy acquisition, Thomas shares the tactical decisions, operational missteps, and growth strategies that shaped his perspective on what it really takes to own and run a trades business. This episode is packed with real-world insight—whether you're planning to buy, scale, or just survive in the world of home services.

⚡ What you’ll learn
Why Thomas initially underestimated the involvement required—and how he course-corrected
The operational systems needed for remote management (and where they fail)
How to set up accountability when you’re not on-site every day
Insights from a turnaround: A case study of a friend’s messy HVAC acquisition
The critical questions Thomas asks in due diligence after seeing both sides
When to diversify into adjacent verticals like plumbing—and when not to
How to build a business that’s both profitable and people-first

If you’re buying a local service business or building one to scale, this episode will challenge your assumptions and give you frameworks for sustainable growth—even when you’re managing from a distance.

💼 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 [https://alanfib.com/]

💼Buying businesses?

Jackquisitions is the must-read newsletter for operators, acquirers, and deal junkies. It’s packed with real acquisition breakdowns, seller red flags, and proven strategies from the trenches.
📬 Join and get smarter on small biz M&A every week.
👉 Subscribe at [jackquisitions.com]

[https://www.jackquisitions.com/]

👤 Hosted by:
Jack Carr
👤 Episode Guest
Thomas Beebe

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 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 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.