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 Learn <ul><li>How Ken used E-Myth systems to go from tech-owner chaos to scalable process</li><li>The multi-branch management cadence that keeps remote locations on-track</li><li>Why “easy lead years” create sloppy habits — and how to run with a scarcity mindset</li><li>The real EBITDA thresholds that change your exit options and multiples</li></ul> 🎙️ Hosts & Guest Host: <a href='https://x.com/WilsonCompanies'> John Wilson</a> Guest: <a href='https://www.kengoodrich.com/'> Ken Goodrich </a> 💼 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.<a href='https://www.modernize.com/pros/leads/wilson'>👉 Start growing </a> 🔨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 <a href='https://www.wesupplytrades.com/owned-and-operated]'>HERE </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1679509/open_sms">Send Us Mail!</a>More Ways To Connect with O&O <ul> <li><a href='https://www.youtube.com/@john_wilsonco'>John's YouTube Channel</a></li> <li><a href='https://www.ownedandoperated.com'>Weekly Newsletter </a></li> <li><a href='https://www.ownedandoperated.com/'>Owned and Operated </a></li> </ul> <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/owned-and-operated-a-plumbing-electrical-and/id1560999545'>Leave a Review</a> <a href='https://www.wilsonplumbingandheating.com'>John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies</a> <a href='https://rapidhvactn.com'>Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC</a> 📌 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.

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He Lost Everything at 25: Then Built a $250M Home Service Empire

Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast

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