Stop Losing Money in 2026: The Profit Plan for Higher EBITDA

We’re heading into 2026 with one goal: stop losing money.Not “grow at all costs.” Not “try harder.” Just: build a healthy business that actually cash flows.In this episode, John Wilson and Jack Carr break down what they’re cutting, tightening, and renegotiating in 2026 to go from ~13% EBITDA to 20% EBITDA—and why they’re also targeting 10% net profit after realizing how big the gap can be between EBITDA and real take-home profit.They walk through the exact planning process they used this year (operational inputs → revenue → profit plan), then share the unsexy truth: most of the gains don’t come from some magic tactic… they come from relentless efficiency—marketing discipline, killing bloated software, renegotiating vendor terms, tightening material spend, and finding hidden leaks everywhere.If you run a home service business (at any size), this is your 2026 playbook for getting healthy first—then scaling from strength.In this episode, we cover:“Just Don’t Lose Money” Mindset: Why refusing to lose changes everythingProfit Planning for 2026: Planning off the P&L (not vibes)EBITDA Isn’t a Light Switch: Why profitability is an on-ramp (and takes time)Marketing Discipline: Cutting inconsistent channels + tracking cancellation rateSoftware Bloat: The hidden $10K–$50K/month leak almost everyone has🚀 What You’ll Learn:Why “growth” doesn’t matter if you aren’t net profitableThe fastest way to find 5–10% savings without cutting core staffHow to audit marketing beyond ROI (book rate, cancels, demo rate, ticket)What to renegotiate with vendors (and how early to start)How to tighten materials spend from 25% → 23% without heroicsWhy consistent wins beat “one big lucky month” every time🎙️ Hosts:John Wilson: https://x.com/WilsonCompaniesJack Carr: https://x.com/theHVACJack ⏱️Brought to you by The Military VeteranIf you’re running a home service business and hiring feels slow, risky, or you’re just not seeing the leadership talent you need, TMV can help. They connect companies like yours with exceptional military veteran leaders, people who’ve already proven they can execute, adapt, and lead under pressure. And they do it fast, with a white-glove process that saves you weeks and avoids costly mis-hires.Want to see who’s out there? Book a Free Coaching session HERE 📞 Sponsored by Quo — The Modern Business Phone for Service ProsMissed calls mean missed business. Quo (formerly OpenPhone) is the AI-powered phone system that logs calls, creates summaries, and automates follow-ups — keeping your team connected and customers happy.?Send Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&O John's YouTube Channel Weekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a Review John Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 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.

We break down how we tripled our HVAC average ticket—from $5,000 to $12,500+—and finally made sales profitable. In this episode, we walk through the painful mistakes, system overhauls, and process changes that turned HVAC from a money-loser into a real growth engine.If you run a home service business, this episode is a masterclass in why “selling harder” doesn’t work—but selling better systems, earlier financing, and structured options does. We unpack how repair-first thinking killed profitability, why discount-driven comfort advising nearly sunk us, and how process—not unicorn salespeople—changed everything.In this episode, we cover:The $5K → $12.5K Jump: How our HVAC average ticket actually scaled (and why it failed at first).Repair vs. Replacement: Why “fixing everything” was a disservice to homeowners and the business.Sales Process Evolution: From selling techs → comfort advisors → systemized selling.Software & Systems: How structured options unlocked premium equipment and IAQ sales.Financing Strategy: Why introducing financing early boosted close rates by 13% and added ~$6K per job.🚀 What You’ll Learn:Why higher average ticket doesn’t automatically mean higher profit.How offering full systems (instead of single components) changes everything.Why premium equipment sells when it’s presented correctly.The biggest mistake contractors make with financing conversations.How process beats talent in HVAC sales—every time.📞 Sponsored by Quo — The Modern Business Phone for Service ProsMissed calls mean missed business. Quo (formerly OpenPhone) is the AI-powered phone system that logs calls, creates summaries, and automates follow-ups — keeping your team connected and customers happy.?🎁 Start your 7-day free trial and get 20% off your first six months at 💼 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🎙️ Hosts:John Wilson: https://x.com/WilsonCompaniesBrandon Niro: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-niro-957b86196/ Send Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&O John's YouTube Channel Weekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a Review John Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 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.

We reveal the real cost of running a home service business in 2025. In this full debrief, we open our books to show why plumbing business growth exploded while HVAC stalled, and exactly how we navigated the hardest summer in years.If you run a contractor business, you know 2025 was volatile. HVAC shipments cratered 49% YoY, forcing operators to face a brutal reality. In this episode, we break down the massive gap between our plumbing wins and HVAC headwinds, why "Always Be Recruiting" became our #1 survival rule, and how total financial transparency saved our bottom line.In this episode, we cover:The Industry Reality: Why mild weather and refrigerant transitions crushed HVAC demand.The Recruiting Crisis: Why we lost key techs mid-summer and how we fixed our hiring pipeline.P&L Transparency: The actual impact of overhead, margins, and "fixed" costs on a trades business.2026 Strategy: Our plan for a "Lean & Lethal" operation and new acquisitions.🚀 What You’ll Learn:Why 2025 was a wake-up call for the home service industry (and how to adapt).The danger of high overhead when revenue misses the mark.Why recruiting is your biggest constraint—even when leads are flowing.How to use daily huddles and "War Rooms" to fix operational drag.Why Gross Margin is the only lever that matters for 2026.💼 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💼 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💼 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 🎙️ Hosts:John WilsonJack CarrSend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&O John's YouTube Channel Weekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a Review John Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 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 Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Sam Preston, CEO of Service Scalers, to break down one of the most overlooked (and misunderstood) marketing channels in home services: Nextdoor.They unpack why Nextdoor feels annoying—but works incredibly well when used the right way. From neighborhood recommendation posts to organic storytelling, this platform behaves less like Google Ads and more like a digital referral engine.John and Sam discuss why salesy ads and coupons usually flop, while real-world job photos, personal narratives, and community-driven content quietly generate high-intent leads. They also explore how small operators are winning big by treating Nextdoor like a mix of Google Business Profile + Facebook Groups, and why larger companies struggle to replicate that authenticity.The conversation covers the three ways to win on Nextdoor (ads, organic posting, and commenting), common mistakes contractors make, and how operators can turn technicians into content creators to scale neighborhood trust—without blowing up their marketing budget.If you’re looking for more phone calls, higher close rates, and marketing that actually feels like referrals—this episode breaks down how to think about Nextdoor the right way.What You’ll LearnWhy Nextdoor behaves more like referrals than traditional lead genThe three ways to market on Nextdoor (and which ones actually work)Why organic, narrative posts outperform coupons and adsHow small, local operators beat larger brands on trustThe role of social proof in neighborhood-driven platformsHow to turn field techs into authentic content creatorsThe biggest mistakes that get contractors ignored—or kicked offHost: John WilsonGuest: Sam Preston💼 Shoutout to PayPerCall.ioStop 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 💼  Shoutout to ReferProMost home service businesses rely on referrals, but without a system, a lot of that revenue gets left on the table. ReferPro helps automate referral reminders, attribution, and rewards so referrals actually turn into booked jobs.Owned and Operated listeners get 20% off plus discounted onboarding Send Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&O John's YouTube Channel Weekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a Review John Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 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 Owned and Operated, John Wilson and Jack break down what “smart investing” actually looks like for home service operators—starting with the truth most owners miss: if you run a business, you’re already an investor. You’re investing money, attention, and people every day.They start with a practical framework for P&L investing (software, headcount, SG&A): if your business sells for a multiple, then any new expense should produce a return that justifies that multiple—otherwise, you may be quietly reducing enterprise value.From there, they unpack the difference between balance sheet investments (trucks, equipment, inventory) vs P&L investments, why banks and buyers mostly care about EBITDA, and how focusing on fewer initiatives can drive more profitable growth.Then they shift into the “outside the business” conversation: when diversification helps, when it’s a distraction, and how operators can think in two buckets—cash-flow assets that fund life, and enterprise-value assets that build wealth.If you’re adding software, hiring leaders, buying equipment, or debating real estate vs reinvesting in the core business—this episode gives you a clean way to think about ROI, focus, and capital allocation.What You’ll LearnWhy every operator is an investor (capital, people, and attention allocation)A simple rule for P&L expenses: should this generate a 3x+ return based on your business multiple?The difference between investing on the balance sheet vs the P&L🎙️ HostsHost: John Wilson — https://x.com/WilsonCompaniesCo-host: Jack - https://x.com/thehvacjack 💼 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  💼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💼 Shoutout to PayPerCall.ioStop 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 callSend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&O John's YouTube Channel Weekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a Review John Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 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 Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Aizik Zimerman of Jay Blanton Plumbing (Chicago) to break down the remote staffing playbook that most home service operators still aren’t using.John and Aizik start with a real-world story from a contractor event—how one company allegedly went from $0 to $6M using yard signs, and how Aizik tested it immediately (including the “don’t put them on every corner” lesson).Then they go deep on what actually drives scale: building a remote-first, offshore-heavy team that works in the real world. Aizik shares how his business grew to 140 employees with 50+ overseas team members, and how he structures offshore hiring across accounting, install coordination, marketing, recruiting, dispatch, and fleet coordination.They break down the “hub and spoke” model: keep your US leaders focused on thinking and decision-making, then build specialized offshore roles to handle execution—so your business moves faster without bloating payroll.If you’re trying to expand coverage, build specialization early, or you’ve wondered whether recruiting + dispatch + ops coordination can really be offshored, this episode is the blueprint.What You’ll LearnWhy “if it can be done remote, it can be done from anywhere”The hub & spoke model: US leaders + offshore execution podsHow Aizik offshores technician recruiting (and why it’s a massive unlock)Which roles are easiest vs hardest to offshore (CSR vs dispatch/install coordination)How to reduce “overemployment” risk with real systems (Zoom rooms, accountability layers)Why you should default to remote-first hiring at any size—even at $500K/year🎙️ Hosts & Guest Host: John Wilson Guest: Aizik Zimerman 💼 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📞 Sponsored by Quo — The Modern Business Phone for Service ProsMissed calls mean missed business. Quo (formerly OpenPhone) is the AI-powered phone system that logs calls, creates summaries, and automates follow-ups — keeping your team connected and customers happy.?🎁 Start your 7-day free trial and get 20% off your first six months 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 hSend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&O John's YouTube Channel Weekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a Review John Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 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 Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Sam Preston — CEO of Service Scalers — to talk about the marketing asset that still quietly outperforms everything else in home services: your Google Business Profile (GBP). John and Sam break down why AI hasn’t disrupted GBP the way people expected, how Google reviews are now getting pulled directly into AI search results, and why “map pack visibility” remains the cheapest, highest-intent lead source in the game.They get tactical on what actually drives rankings and calls in 2026. Sam lays out the three biggest needle-movers — proximity, category/keyword strength, and reviews — and John shows how Wilson Companies invests roughly $10K/month into GBP because it drives roughly $500K/month in sales. They go deep on why location is a marketing decision, how to scale multiple profiles without overlapping service areas, and why most owners waste time optimizing tiny details before locking in the fundamentals.If your LSA performance is lagging, your organic lead volume feels capped, or you’re planning multi-location growth next year, this episode is the blueprint for turning GBP into a compounding growth engine.What You’ll LearnThe 3 ranking drivers that matter most: proximity, primary category, review cadenceWhy location is a marketing decision (and how it changes growth overnight)How to scale multi-trade businesses without confusing Google’s category systemThe real review strategy: frequency, volume, quality, and photos🎙️ Hosts & Guest Host: John Wilson  Guest: Sam Preston 📞 Sponsored by Quo — The Modern Business Phone for Service ProsMissed calls mean missed business. Quo (formerly OpenPhone) is the AI-powered phone system that logs calls, creates summaries, and automates follow-ups — keeping your team connected and customers happy.?🎁 Start your 7-day free trial and get 20% off your first six months HERE⏱️Brought to you by The Military VeteranIf you’re running a home service business and hiring feels slow, risky, or you’re just not seeing the leadership talent you need, TMV can help. They connect companies like yours with exceptional military veteran leaders, people who’ve already proven they can execute, adapt, and lead under pressure. And they do it fast, with a white-glove process that saves you weeks and avoids costly mis-hires.Want to see who’s out there? Book a Free Coaching session HEREShout Out to FieldPulse 🚀FieldPulse is an incredible Field Service Management platform Send Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&O John's YouTube Channel Weekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a Review John Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 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 Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Ken Goodrich — legendary home services operator, turnaround specialist, and former CEO/Chairman of Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing — to unpack what it really takes to build, scale, and successfully exit a home service business.Ken shares the origin story that shaped his entire career: buying his first HVAC business at 25, getting crushed by payroll tax mistakes, and discovering The E-Myth at the exact moment everything fell apart. That wake-up call turned into a repeatable business-building playbook — one he’s used to build and sell six home service companies, including taking Goettl from $11M in revenue and losing $3M to $250M across 11 locations and 1,000+ employees.John and Ken dig into the real mechanics of multi-location growth: why most owners hit a wall, how daily scoreboards and call-by-call discipline keep branches aligned, and what changes before you have a full senior leadership bench. Ken also lays out his view on the “sweet spot” for exits, when to bring on capital, and why operators should treat every growth phase like a 1,000-day value creation sprint.If you’re thinking about acquisitions, preparing for multi-market expansion, or asking “when is the right time to take chips off the table?” — this episode is the blueprint.What You’ll LearnHow Ken used E-Myth systems to go from tech-owner chaos to scalable processThe multi-branch management cadence that keeps remote locations on-trackWhy “easy lead years” create sloppy habits — and how to run with a scarcity mindsetThe real EBITDA thresholds that change your exit options and multiples🎙️ Hosts & GuestHost: John Wilson Guest: Ken Goodrich 💼 Modernize is how smart contractors scale.With inbound calls, live transfers, and branded programs, Modernize connects you to ready-to-buy homeowners. Over 9M leads delivered and $4B+ in revenue generated.👉 Start growing 🔨Sponsored by WeSupplyTrades — Thousands of Plumbing, HVAC, and Hydronics parts shipped fast. Sign up free, save big, and get 20% off your first order with code OWNED20 HERE Send Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&O John's YouTube Channel Weekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a Review John Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 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, John Wilson sits down with Patrick Dichter, owner of AppleTree Business Services, to break down what “good accounting” actually looks like inside a growing home service business — and why financial clarity becomes a competitive advantage as you scale.John opens up about a hard truth: he didn’t get his first clean month-end close until last year, and it made almost a decade of decision-making harder than it needed to be. Patrick walks through the real stages most home service operators go through — from “Checkbook Charlie” to outsourced bookkeeping to in-house controllers — and the exact problems that show up at each stage.They dig into why growth eats cash even when the business is “doing everything right,” how bad accruals and broken CRM/accounting integrations quietly destroy margins, and what a simple cash forecast can do to keep you out of trouble. John also shares the painful lesson he learned in 2025: you can run a strong P&L and still get smoked on cash if you’re not thinking about the balance sheet.If you’ve ever asked “where’s my money?” while growing, struggled to trust your gross margin, or felt like your business is flying blind month-to-month — this one is for you.💼 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 💼 Modernize is how smart contractors scale.With inbound calls, live transfers, and branded programs, Modernize connects you to ready-to-buy homeowners. Over 9M leads delivered and $4B+ in revenue generated.👉 Start growing   🚀 Huge Shoutout to SupplyHouse!When it comes to fast turnaround times, SupplyHouse has our back! With 250,000+ SKUs covering plumbing, HVAC, and electrical, they make sure we get the right materials—fast and hassle-free.💡Their Trademaster program offers free shipping, returns, and discounts, all with no membership fee. Use promo code SH5 for five percent off your first order— Code is valid through 9/30/2025.🔗 Check them out & level up your supply game here  🎙️ Hosts & GuestHost: John Wilson — x.com/@WilsonCompaniesGuest: Patrick Dichter — AppleTree Business Services Website: appletreebusiness.com Socials: @PatrickDichter (Twitter/X), LinkedInSend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&O John's YouTube Channel Weekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a Review John Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 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, John Wilson is on-site in Chicago with Aizik Zimerman, owner of J.Blanton Plumbing, to break down how one of the fastest-growing plumbing companies in the country built a sewer and drain growth engine. Since buying the $6M Jay Blanton business at the end of 2022, Aizik has scaled it to ~$25M this year and a $30M run rate — and nearly half that growth is coming from sewers. They unpack the investments, the operational build-out, and the marketing + sales system that turned trenchless lining into a repeatable, high-volume profit center. Aizik shares the exact playbook behind his “Unclogs for Dogs” offer, why they send salespeople with cameras first (no junior drain tech flip), and how they price lining as the cheaper alternative to excavation to beat inertia and win the market. If you’re trying to add $5–$10M of revenue through drains, improve close rates, or build a trenchless division that actually scales, this episode is a must-listen.What You’ll LearnThe 2022 → 2025 growth story: $6M to $25M+ and what changed operationallyWhy Aizik bet big on sewers while competitors stayed HVAC-heavyThe economics of lining vs. digging: pricing, margins, and why “cheaper lining” winsHow a $1M+ CapEx investment (UV curing trailers, jetting, prep teams) unlocked volume🔨Sponsored by WeSupplyTrades — Thousands of Plumbing, HVAC, and Hydronics parts shipped fast. Sign up free, save big, and get 20% off your first order with code OWNED20 Shout Out to FieldPulse 🚀FieldPulse is an incredible Field Service Management platform that helps you save hours each week while keeping your operations running smoothly. If you're looking to streamline your processes, stay competitive, and focus on what truly matters, FieldPulse is a game-changer!📅 Book your demo💼 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 🎙️ Hosts & GuestHost John Wilson Guest Aizik ZimermanSend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&O John's YouTube Channel Weekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a Review John Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC📌 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.