Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Jack (https://x.com/@thehvacjack) on Niknomics!

We dive into the surprisingly "sexy" world of home services, specifically HVAC and plumbing. Hear Jack's story of leaving a comfortable corporate job managing operations for nine different wineries to acquire a sub $1 million HVAC company in Middle Tennessee in 2022.

He shares the wild ride of growing from a lean operation to a business slated to do $5-6 million this year with around 20 employees, navigating unexpected challenges like everyone quitting on day one!

We also touch upon his entrepreneurial past, including an agricultural repair company and even a Bitcoin mining farm in Reno. Discover how he's leveraged both organic growth and strategic tuck-in acquisitions to rapidly scale his business and his insights on using overseas talent.

Questions This Episode Answers:

What's your company's current size and scope in the HVAC and plumbing industry?

When did you decide to jump into owning this HVAC company?

Considering you had a background in operations at wineries, why choose the HVAC space specifically?

How much did you initially pay for the business you acquired?

What was your immediate reaction when almost all the employees quit the day before you took over?

Enjoy the conversation!

__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

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This week we covered:

00:00 Highlights & Introduction

00:35 Jack's HVAC Business Overview

01:18 Jack's Entrepreneurial Journey

02:49 Bitcoin Mining Ventures

07:31 Challenges in HVAC Business

15:11 Growth Through Acquisitions

18:38 Reinvesting in Business Growth

19:10 Acquisition Strategies and Challenges

20:05 Learning the Business Inside Out

24:01 Scaling with Overseas Talent

29:44 Advice for Hiring Overseas Talent

34:20 Reflecting on the Journey

Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Thomas Rudy (https://x.com/@rudythesnowman)!

We dive deep into Thomas's fascinating entrepreneurial journey, starting way back with some rule-breaking mystery boxes on eBay in the early days of online business. We explore how he transitioned from that to the world of retail arbitrage, his surprising detour through college basketball (and almost becoming an accountant!), and ultimately his path into web development and the building of a successful performance marketing agency, 1020, which he eventually sold to Benzinga.

We also uncover the inner workings of performance marketing, the incredible growth he spearheaded at Benzinga, and his insights on the ever-evolving landscape of SEO and affiliate revenue.

Finally, we delve into his latest venture, Data Shopper, a company tackling data in a whole new way, moving beyond reliance on giants like Google and Meta. It's a story of hustle, scrappiness, and constant evolution in the world of business.

Questions This Episode Answers:

What was your very first online business ventureHow did you transition from basic programming to building and selling a marketing agency?

What exactly is performance marketing?

How did your performance marketing strategies contribute to Benzinga's rapid growth?

How does your new company, Data Shopper, help businesses target customers without solely relying on Google and Meta?

Enjoy the conversation!

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.
Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or send me an email at Nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.
__________________________

MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y
Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

___________________________

This week we covered:

00:00 Highlights

00:30 Introduction to the Entrepreneur's Journey

00:52 The eBay Mystery Box Venture

04:41 Transition to Software Development

06:58 Building and Selling an Agency

07:34 Performance Marketing Explained

10:02 Success with Benzinga

19:31 Challenges in SEO and Marketing

22:06 Introduction to Data Shopper

23:50 How Data Shopper Works

28:06 Legal and Ethical Considerations

31:05 Conclusion and Future Plans

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In this episode, we feature Tyler, a listener who acted on our B2B stump grinding idea after hearing it on a previous episode, which led him to quit his 9-to-5 job. Tyler shares how he followed our advice word-for-word, testing the concept in Boise before launching in Provo. By implementing our strategies, he achieved impressive results, with $23,000 in September alone. He provides key insights into building relationships with tree trimming companies, his pricing strategy, and cold outreach techniques and more.

Share your ideas with us:

• Nik@cofounders.com
• Chris@cofounders.com

Enjoy the conversation!
__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.
Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or send me an email at Nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.
__________________________

MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y
Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT
___________________________

This week we covered:

00:00 Highlights
00:37 Tyler's Journey: From B2B Sales to Stump Grinding
01:13 The Initial Spark: Discovering Stump Grinding
01:41 Building the Business: Early Challenges and Successes
02:27 The B2B Sales Connection
04:41 Testing the Market: Boise vs. Provo
06:03 First Jobs and Early Experiences
12:38 Overcoming Hurdles: Mistakes and Lessons Learned
15:44 Revenue Growth and Scaling the Business
18:18 Financing the Stump Grinder
18:13 Monthly Earnings Breakdown
20:38 Building Business Relationships
22:19 Pricing and Payment Structure
23:55 Marketing Strategies
30:10 Future Business Prospects
33:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts