• 13: The Michael Kaplan Episode

  • Mar 31 2025
  • Duración: 35 m
  • Podcast

13: The Michael Kaplan Episode

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  • In this episode of the Huge Transformations Podcast, Gabe Torres interviews home service veteran Michael Kaplan, who scaled a failing three-truck carpet cleaning company into a multi-state, 200-employee enterprise generating over 17 million in revenue. Kaplan shares how he stumbled into home services after exploring other business opportunities (including franchising Jimmy John’s!), and how leaning into “low-reputation” industries can pay off big when you focus on professionalism and customer service. He explains the evolution of company culture—starting with a “frat house” vibe, then formalizing values as the business grew—and how protecting culture and nurturing genuine relationships were critical to long-term success. Kaplan also highlights how recessions reward lean, scrappy operators, and offers practical wisdom on scaling, culture-building, and the power of investing in relationships. Show Notes Guest: Michael Kaplan – Home service entrepreneur, formerly owner of a 17M+ multi-state carpet cleaning business. Key Topics Discussed: Accidental Entry into Home Services: Transition from exploring Jimmy John’s franchises to buying a struggling carpet cleaning business.Rapid Growth & Recession Strategy: Doubling down on marketing spend during the economic downturn to outcompete bloated rivals.Culture & Values: Starting as a small, close-knit “frat house” environment, then formalizing core values to scale effectively across multiple states.Relationship Capital: Why building genuine relationships matters more than short-term gains—key partnerships and mentors can change your trajectory.Operating Lean: Avoiding costly overhead and vanity warehousing; how lean operations can unlock bigger marketing budgets and faster growth. References & Mentions: Jimmy John’sStanley SteemerPatrick Lencioni (culture and leadership resources): https://www.tablegroup.com/pat-lencioniWarren Buffett Resources: The Huge Insider newsletter signupThe Huge Insider podcast downloadable action guideThe Foundations platform trial offerThe Huge Mastermind info pageFacebook Transcrip [Sid Graef]: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Huge Transformations Podcast. I'm Sid Graef out of Montana. [Gabe Torres]: I'm Gabe Torres here in Nashville, Tennessee. [Sheila Smeltzer]: And I'm Sheila Smeltzer from North Carolina. We're your hosts and guides through the landscape of growing a successful home service business. We do this by interviewing the best home service business builders in the industry, folks that have already built seven- and eight-figure businesses, and they want to help you succeed. [Gabe Torres]: Yep. No fake gurus on this show—just real-life owners that have been in the trenches and can help show you the way to grow profitably. We get insights and truths from successful business builders, and every episode is 100 percent experience, zero percent theory. [Sheila Smeltzer]: We're going to dig deep and reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly. Our guests will share with you the pitfalls to avoid and the keys to winning. In short, our guests will show you how to transform your home service business into a masterpiece. [Sid Graef]: Thanks for joining us on the wild journey of entrepreneurship. Let's dive in. [Gabe Torres]: Hey, what's up, everybody. It's Gabe Torres with the Huge Transformations Podcast. We have an incredible guest today who is a home service legend that most of you probably already know by the name of Michael Kaplan. But if you don't, you're going to be really, really happy after this episode because there's going to be so much value in it. So, Michael, thank you so much for joining us. What's up? [Michael Kaplan]: Thanks for having me—legend, that's a big word. No pressure, right? [Gabe Torres]: The one that was weird for me was to call you Michael, because I always call you Kaplan. And so, um, I think I'm going to stick with Kaplan, but to everybody else, it could be Michael Kaplan. [Michael Kaplan]: My mom gets my name wrong, so it doesn't matter. [Gabe Torres]: Where are you at currently? Are you home? [Michael Kaplan]: I'm just outside of Minneapolis, in Minnesota. [Gabe Torres]: And that's home base for you, right? [Michael Kaplan]: Yep, we're digging out from about ten inches yesterday, so we got a little bit of snow and sludge and all that crap before the home service boom in a couple of weeks. [Gabe Torres]: Yeah, before busy season. So, for those of you who don't know Michael Kaplan, give us the quick backstory rundown: how'd you get into the home service space? What did you get into specifically in home service? [Michael Kaplan]: You know, it was not on purpose; it was kind of by accident. I think that happens to a lot of home service entrepreneurs. But in 2006, I was looking at starting a business or buying a business, had run across plenty of opportunities, and really couldn't come up with a business plan that made sense with any of them. I hadn't looked at service at all. ...
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