Carson's Corner: Entrepreneurship & Investing
Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531226/fan_mail/new] What does it look like to buy a business with zero industry experience, nearly go broke twice, and still build a 10-company HVAC roll-up out of McKinney, TX? Nathan Lindley lived it. In February 2020 — just weeks before COVID shut down the world — Nathan closed on his first HVAC acquisition using his own equity, his dad's retirement, and an inheritance loan from a friend. The business came with exactly one technician who held all the leverage, an owner-dependent customer base, and a model that almost ended Nathan's entrepreneurial career before it started. After 15 years running a book publishing company, Nathan wanted something more consistent. What he got instead was a crash course in why buying a $250K mom-and-pop with no operational experience is one of the most dangerous moves in small business acquisition. In this episode, Carson and Nathan break down: * Why his first acquisition almost killed the entire vision * The straight-commission overhaul that turned the business around and unlocked scale * His "buying at-bats" framework — why he ignores current profitability and targets call volume instead * How he competes against private equity-backed HVAC giants without paying their Google ad prices * The roll-up playbook he'd use if he had to start over today * What he'd buy instead of HVAC — and whether he has any regrets * Why he believes most PE firms in the trades can't actually operate the businesses they acquire Now working on acquisition number 11 and eyeing a potential exit within the next year, Nathan shares the hard-won lessons that only come from almost losing it all — twice. Whether you're an aspiring acquirer, a roll-up operator, or an investor looking at the home services space, this conversation is a playbook in survival, incentive alignment, and building real enterprise value in a fragmented industry. Connect with Nathan Lindley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanlindley/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanlindley/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531226/support] For business or property evaluations you can reach me at 615-212-5524 Or Carson@passive.investments [Carson@passive.investments] Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsonjones/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsonjones/] Other Episodes: https://carsonscorner.media/ [https://carsonscorner.media/] https://passive.investments/podcast/ [https://passive.investments/podcast/] Watch all episodes with no commercials on Vimeo here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/12248178 [https://vimeo.com/showcase/12248178] https://rumble.com/c/Carsonscorner [https://rumble.com/c/Carsonscorner] Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Always consult your attorney, CPA, or financial advisor before making any financial decisions. All investments and property ownership carry risk, including the potential loss of principal.
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