Go the Distance

How to Build and Sell a Home Service Business to Private Equity

Bob, from CertainPath, breaks down how the company helps HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and roofing contractors scale through training, operational systems, and leadership development. He dives into the impact of private equity, what buyers are looking for, and why clean operations are critical for a successful exit. Bob also shares hard-earned insights on lead generation, client retention, and workforce shifts from his two decades in the industry. —------------------------------ Show notes: 01:36 Career Journey and Early Experiences 04:44 The Evolution of the Home Service Business 06:22 Impact of Private Equity in the Industry 14:28 Challenges and Opportunities for Small Business Owners 19:13 The Importance of Showing Profitability 21:00 Due Diligence Process in Business Sales 22:12 Challenges and Risks in Selling to PE Groups 23:41 Client Retention Post-Acquisition 24:45 Expanding into New Markets 26:47 Growing Independently vs. With PE Money 28:53 Current Business Priorities and Challenges 31:25 Labor Shortages and Industry Trends —------------------------------ Go the Distance brings you top contractors, disruptors, and investors redefining home services. Stay ahead with cutting-edge insights on business strategy and technology built to fuel your growth. Hosted by entrepreneurs and investors Nick Durbano and Ethan Song, Go the Distance is where the future of the trades takes shape. —------------------------------ Powered by Distance. Distance is a sales automation software that provides powerful tools and AI agents like Miles to help you grow faster while cutting costs. We’re built to help business owners scale efficiently while gaining more freedom and control over their success. https://distance.so/

Tapping into the $80 Billion Restoration Boom

Vlad, founder of Restoration Inbound, shares how he went from starting his first business at 17 to building Logic Inbound and moving into the restoration industry. He breaks down the unique dynamics of the restoration industry, why he chose the sector, and how marketing and AI are shaping its future. —------------------------------ Connect with Vlad and Restoration Inbound Vlad Mkrtumyan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladimir-mkrtumyan/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladimir-mkrtumyan/] Restoration Inbound website: https://restorationinbound.com/ [https://restorationinbound.com/] Restoration Inbound LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/restoration-inbound/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/restoration-inbound/] —------------------------------ Show Notes: 01:26 Founding Logic Inbound 02:01 Why Focus on Restoration? 04:38 Challenges in the Restoration Industry 08:41 Restoration Industry Overview 16:05 Competitive Landscape and Business Advice 19:29 The Importance of Google Reviews 21:35 Local Service Ads and Their Impact 23:14 The Value of Small Details in Home Services 25:53 Challenges and Solutions in Managing a Restoration Business 28:02 Franchising in the Restoration Industry 35:19 The Role of AI in Home Services —------------------------------ Go the Distance brings you top contractors, disruptors, and investors redefining home services. Stay ahead with cutting-edge insights on business strategy and technology built to fuel your growth. Hosted by entrepreneurs and investors Nick Durbano and Ethan Song, Go the Distance is where the future of the trades takes shape. —------------------------------ Powered by Distance. Distance is a sales automation software that provides powerful tools and AI agents like Miles to help you grow faster while cutting costs. We’re built to help business owners scale efficiently while gaining more freedom and control over their success. https://distance.so/

Building the Next Big Thing in Landscaping

Michael Bellows, co-founder of Go Materials, discusses the supply chain challenges in landscape construction and how his background at PepsiCo shaped his company. He explains the solutions Go Materials offers and shares insights into the future of the industry, focusing on how technology is improving a fragmented sector. —------------------------------ Connect with Go Materials Website: https://www.gomaterials.com/ [https://www.gomaterials.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gomaterials/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/gomaterials/?originalSubdomain=ca] —------------------------------ Show Notes: 00:35 Michael's journey at PepsiCo 04:42 Founding Go Materials 07:56 Understanding the landscape construction market 12:14 Challenges and innovations in procurement 21:34 Early days and expansion strategies 30:05 Future vision and industry insights —------------------------------ Go the Distance brings you top contractors, disruptors, and investors redefining home services. Stay ahead with cutting-edge insights on business strategy and technology built to fuel your growth. Hosted by entrepreneurs and investors Nick Durbano and Ethan Song, Go the Distance is where the future of the trades takes shape. —------------------------------ Powered by Distance. Distance is a sales automation software that provides powerful tools and AI agents like Miles to help you grow faster while cutting costs. We’re built to help business owners scale efficiently while gaining more freedom and control over their success. https://distance.so/

SEO vs. ChatGPT: The Future of Home Service Lead Generation

Ethan and Nick are joined by James Ladd, an SEO expert and co-founder of Placeholder, to discuss how businesses can leverage SEO for growth. They cover practical strategies for local markets, the growing role of AI tools, and common mistakes to avoid. The conversation also explores integrating SEO with content creation and staying ahead in a competitive market. Finally, the discussion explores growth strategies for thriving in an AI-driven future. —------------------------------ Connect with Placeholder SEO Website: https://placeholderseo.com/ [https://placeholderseo.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/placeholder-seo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/placeholder-seo/] —------------------------------ Show Notes: 00:22 James Ladd’s journey into SEO 02:54 Understanding SEO and its impact 04:40 Foundational SEO strategies for local businesses 09:01 Advanced SEO tactics and AI integration 15:46 The future of SEO and AI 26:33 Practical advice for business owners —------------------------------ Go the Distance brings you top contractors, disruptors, and investors redefining home services. Stay ahead with cutting-edge insights on business strategy and technology built to fuel your growth. Hosted by entrepreneurs and investors Nick Durbano and Ethan Song, Go the Distance is where the future of the trades takes shape.  —------------------------------ Powered by Distance Distance is a sales automation software that provides powerful tools and AI agents like Miles to help you grow faster while cutting costs. We’re built to help business owners scale efficiently while gaining more freedom and control over their success. https://distance.so/

Are Facebook ads dead?

Nick and Ethan break down the effectiveness of Facebook ads for home service businesses. Drawing from their experience in scaling businesses and consumer retail, they share insights on building high-performing ad campaigns, customer engagement, and creating standout branding. This first episode also teases upcoming insights from industry experts. --------------------------------- Show Notes: 00:00 Introduction to Go the Distance 02:03 Why start a podcast? 03:42 The importance of Facebook ads for home services 05:33 Common mistakes in Facebook ads 06:19 Strategies for successful Facebook ads 11:17 Working with agencies 14:39 Creative content and branding 18:24 Converting leads into customers 20:03 Practical steps for HVAC business growth 25:27 Final thoughts and takeaways --------------------------------- Go the Distance brings you top contractors, disruptors, and investors redefining home services. Stay ahead with cutting-edge insights on business strategy and technology built to fuel your growth. Hosted by entrepreneurs and investors Nick Durbano and Ethan Song, Go the Distance is where the future of the trades takes shape. --------------------------------- Powered by Distance. Distance is a sales automation software that provides powerful tools and AI agents like Miles to help you grow faster while cutting costs. We’re built to help business owners scale efficiently while gaining more freedom and control over their success. https://distance.so/