In this episode of JackQuisitions, Jack sits back down with Chris Barr to talk about what real leverage looks like in a self-funded search: building systems instead of just refreshing BizBuySell, working your broker network, and turning your geo + niche into an actual acquisition brand.

They break down how Chris is rebuilding his search infrastructure after round one, why tech leverage (CRM, scraping, cold outbound) matters more than you think, and how conferences, LinkedIn, and local presence (hello, West Palm Beach) quietly generate real deal flow. They also dig into ETA conferences like Harvard’s, the value of boards and mentors, and why most first deals go wrong when searchers are desperate to escape the slog.

If you’re a year into a search, stuck in a niche or geography, or wondering if you should start a business instead of buying one… this one’s for you.

🔍 What You’ll Learn

• How Chris rebuilt his search with tech leverage: CRM, scraping, and cold outreach running in the background.
• Why broker relationships still matter—and how to use them for both first look and “last look” on older listings.
• How to use LinkedIn, conferences, and DMs without feeling like a guru—and still generate real opportunities.
  
  

💼 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

💼 Special Thanks to First Internet Bank!

Looking to buy or expand a business? First Internet Bank is a National Preferred SBA lender specializing in acquisitions for the skilled trades. Their SBA loan program offers up to 90% financing for business acquisitions, partner buyouts, and commercial real estate—plus optional lines of credit to fuel future growth. Unlike traditional lenders, they take a “how can we” approach, making deals happen for both first-time buyers and experienced operators.

👉 Special Offer: Mention Owned and Operated for a reduced good faith deposit and a complimentary deal review + buyside prequalification.

Connect with Alan Peterson from First Internet Bank here

Host

Jack Carr

Guest

Chris Barr

Send us a text

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.

Buying a septic company is one of the highest-ROI moves in home-service M&A… if you know where to look.

In this episode of JackQuisitions, Jack breaks down exactly where real septic deals come from — from the obvious online marketplaces to the off-market gold mines almost no one talks about. If you’re serious about buying your first septic business (or adding one as a high-margin tuck-in), this roadmap will save you weeks of searching and tens of thousands of dollars.

Jack covers why septic is one of his favorite industries to acquire, why so many buyers overlook it, and the simple outreach strategy that consistently uncovers motivated sellers long before they hit BizBuySell.

Whether you're running an SBA search, building a route-based portfolio, or just trying to get into home-service acquisitions in 2026, this one gives you the playbook.

What You’ll Learn

• The 3 real channels for finding septic companies for sale (and which one beats the others every time).
• How deal aggregator sites really work—and why the “clean books” come with a premium price tag.
• Why local business brokers can be useful… and why they rarely have septic deals ready to go.

💼 Special Thanks to First Internet Bank!

Looking to buy or expand a business? First Internet Bank is a National Preferred SBA lender specializing in acquisitions for the skilled trades. Their SBA loan program offers up to 90% financing for business acquisitions, partner buyouts, and commercial real estate—plus optional lines of credit to fuel future growth. Unlike traditional lenders, they take a “how can we” approach, making deals happen for both first-time buyers and experienced operators.

👉 Special Offer: Mention Owned and Operated for a reduced good faith deposit and a complimentary deal review + buyside prequalification.
Connect with Alan Peterson from First Internet Bank here

🔗 Connect

Jack Carr

Keywords:

JackQuisitions, septic acquisition, route-based business, home service acquisition, off-market deal sourcing, SBA acquisition, residential service, trades entrepreneurship, business brokers, BizBuySell, deal flow, customer lists, route-based valuation, environmental services, well drilling, state permit lookup

Hashtags:

#JackQuisitions #HomeServices #BusinessAcquisition #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Trades #HVAC #Plumbing #Septic #ServiceTitan #Nexstar #GrossMargin #RouteBasedBusiness #OffMarketDeals

Send us a text

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.

Buying a company is hard. Buying a job by accident is worse.
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

Jack Carr

John Wilson

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

Send us a text

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.