In this roundtable, John Wilson (Owned & Operated) and Jack Carr break down the biggest red flags they’ve seen across nine-plus home-service acquisitions—from septic and trash routes to HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. They dig into the “is it a business or a gig?” test, how to sniff out customer concentration that’s hiding in plain sight, why low gross margin is the one warning sign you should never ignore, and the leadership tells (like owners who insist on staying) that can turn a deal into a grind.
If you’re scanning BizBuySell, courting a tuck-in, or prepping your first SBA deal, this one will save you time, cash, and headaches.
What you’ll learn
- A simple gut-check to tell business vs. gig (and how price & diligence can de-risk tiny acquisitions).
- The sneaky ways customer concentration hides (home warranties, PMs with many LLCs) and how to uncover it.
- Why unverified numbers and box-of-receipts “financials” demand either a deep discount—or a pass.
💼 Special Thanks to AppleTree Business Services!
One of the most common and expensive mistakes in acquisitions is not getting serious about accounting. Whether you’re buying a business or running one, you need the right financial partner. That’s why we’ve partnered with AppleTree Business Services — a one-stop shop fluent in tools like ServiceTitan and Housecall Pro.
👉 Listeners get a free tax & financial review, plus 10% off quality of earnings when buying a business.
Visit https://appletreebusiness.com and tell Patrick Owned and Operated 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
🔗 Connect
Keywords: JackQuisitions, Owned and Operated, plumbing acquisition, home service acquisition, SBA acquisition, residential service, trades entrepreneurship, route-based business, customer concentration, gross margin, ServiceTitan, Nexstar, open-book management, profit sharing (debated), brand & culture
Hashtags:
#JackQuisitions #OwnedAndOperated #HomeServices #BusinessAcquisition #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Trades #HVAC #Plumbing #Septic #ServiceTitan #Nexstar #OpenBookManagement #Branding #GrossMargin
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.
