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- JackQuisitions: Cold Calls, Hot Deals
What’s up everyone,
Are you as excited to be here as me?
This is the first “JackQuisitions” focused newsletter—expect to receive a new edition every other Monday.
The first two episodes of the podcast went live this week.
My co-host, Jack Carr, is super passionate about acquisitions. So passionate that he decided to take on this new series. Future newsletters will include podcast breakdowns, service businesses for sale, and a lot more.
Now, a word from our partner, Appletree Business Services.
Appletree Business Services knows how to handle the back-end chaos that’s slowing your shop down.
Whether you're running HVAC, plumbing, or scaling through M&A, they’ve seen it all—and they speak your language (yes, even ServiceTitan and Housecall Pro).
Here’s what they do for busy operators like you:
Handle bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, and acquisition support in one place
Proactively manage your finances so you don’t get blindsided in April
Give you real answers, fast—no more disappearing CPAs
Bonus for our readers:
👉 Get a free financial + tax review or 10% off QOE work for your next acquisition.
Ask for Patrick. Tell him John Wilson sent you.
Cold Call Your Way to an Acquisition
You want to buy a business? Here’s a simple thing you can do.
Prepare yourself to dial. And prepare to get rejected.
Because most people say they want acquisitions, but very few are actually willing to do what it takes.
Here’s what it looks like when you’re serious:
1. Cold Calling Still Closes Deals
Elias made over 2,000 cold calls to land his first acquisition.
Not emails. Not LinkedIn DMs. Just raw outreach.
Here’s what happened:
He hit every HVAC operator from Long Island to California
Got told no 95% of the time
Landed one viable deal from hundreds of live conversations
The success? It’s in the work you’re avoiding.
2. When the Business Sucks—Structure Smarter
His first deal wasn’t even profitable.
The seller had mixed personal expenses with business spend. It looked like a mess.
So Elias did this:
Proposed a management services agreement (MSA)
Took over operations without buying the company
Gained full control of finances and bank accounts
Locked in the right to buy later at a pre-agreed number
Result?
Turned it profitable in less than 30 days.
3. This Isn’t Passive…
Elias was 24. No plumbing experience. No HVAC background.
But he knew two things:
This isn’t a business you run from a beach
You need real operators around you
So he built a team first—before he bought anything.
One partner ran a $60M shop.
Another? Former CEO of Costco.
They gave him credibility, confidence, and coaching.
4. Most Sellers Want a Million. Their Business Isn’t Worth $100K.
Here’s what you’ll find in the field:
Owners doing all the work themselves
No systems
No profit
Still asking for 7 figures
These aren’t businesses. They’re jobs with debt attached.
And if you don’t ask the right questions (or check the books), you’ll end up buying a paycheck instead of a company.
5. Sweat Equity > Real Equity (At Least Early On)
Elias went from zero to $4M in revenue with no money down.
How?
Used creative deal structures
Took over operations
Cleaned up the business
Shared upside with sellers burned out and desperate
Now he’s aiming for $10M by year’s end and $27M after that.
All by doing the thing nobody else wants to do:
Cold calling every day.
Final Word
You want to grow through acquisitions?
Here’s what to do:
Build a real operator team before you buy
Call, call, and call again—nobody’s handing you a deal
Be ready to step in and turn it around yourself
Don’t buy junk unless you know how to fix it
Use deal structures that give you control before risk
Here’s the entire episode ⬇️
Acquisition Opportunities
Ready to buy? Here are five home service companies on the market.
Listing | State | Asking Price |
|---|---|---|
Florida | $125k | |
Profitable HVAC Business with Stable Revenue and Growth Potential | New York | $725k |
Oklahoma | $600k | |
Minnesota | $367k | |
Texas | $499k |
Say Hello to First Internet Bank
Buying a Business? Start With the Right Lender.
First Internet Bank is a national Preferred SBA lender specializing in acquisitions in the skilled trades.
Whether you're a first-time buyer or expanding through acquisition, Alan Peterson and his team structure SBA 7a loans with up to 90% financing—plus optional lines of credit for future growth.
Best part? They take a “how can we” approach, not a “we can’t.”
🎁 Bonus for readers:
Mention the show for a reduced deposit and free deal review + prequal.
Thanks for reading. Forward it to a friend!
👊 John
Disclosure: This newsletter includes sponsored content. However, all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Want More Owned and Operated?
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