The Secret to $10M: Why We Had To Take A Step Back To Grow | With Karen Balko!

The Secret to $10M: Why We Had To Take A Step Back To Grow | With Karen Balko!

Karen Balko turned a dating app connection into a $10 million+ home service empire — and she's here to show you exactly how. In this episode of the Build It To Sell It Podcast, host Lance Bachmann sits down with Karen, co-founder and Director of Operations at Vector Services, to break down the real story behind scaling an HVAC, plumbing, and electrical business from zero to 8-figures — and positioning it for a high-multiple exit.Whether you're just starting out or already running a multi-million dollar operation, this conversation is packed with the financial literacy, systems thinking, and hard-won lessons that separate businesses that sell for top dollar from ones that trap their owners forever. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ How Karen went from tracking jobs on spreadsheets to running a $10M+ operation ✅ The truth about running a business with three partners — including your spouse ✅ Why switching to Service Titan and rebranding with Kick Charge were game-changers ✅ How to read your P&L like a buyer — not just an owner ✅ What HVAC market multipliers actually look like and how specialization affects your sale price ✅ Why offering equity to key employees can transform your team's commitment ✅ The "magic number" Karen and Tom are targeting before they exit ⏱️ CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introduction of Karen Balko 00:35 - The Origin Story: Meeting on a Dating App & Starting a Business 01:58 - Early Involvement: From Spreadsheets to Operations 03:12 - Business Evolution & Partner Backgrounds 05:20 - Building Systems & Commercial vs. Residential Work 06:23 - Partnership Dynamics & Friction in a Three-Person Team 07:58 - Top Business Challenges Over 10 Years 09:31 - Rebranding & Switching to Service Titan 11:15 - Financial Literacy & Taking a Step Back to Scale 13:30 - Building a Leadership Team for the Sale 15:00 - Analyzing the P&L: What Buyers Actually Look At 18:43 - Business Valuation, HVAC Multipliers & Installs vs. Service 22:04 - Managing Work & Family: Running a Business with Your Spouse 24:14 - Employee Relations & Offering Equity to Key Staff 29:20 - Joining a Coaching Group & Professionalizing Operations 31:33 - Legacy vs. Selling: Should You Leave It to Your Kids? 35:45 - Social Media Fakeness vs. Real Business Problems 37:03 - Future Goals & Exit Strategy 39:08 - Top Marketing Channels Driving Leads at Vector Services 📲 Connect with Karen Balko & Vector Services: https://callvector.com/ [https://callvector.com/] 🔔 Subscribe to Build It To Sell It for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs who are building businesses designed to be sold.

Scaling to $2.54 Billion: The Truth About Private Equity Due Diligence! | Part 2

Frank DiMarco closed a $2.54 BILLION deal with Blackstone — the world's largest private equity firm. This is the blueprint he used to get there. In Part 2 of this exclusive interview, Frank breaks down the exact strategies behind scaling a business from 20 operating companies into a world-class portfolio. If you want to understand what elite-level entrepreneur mindset and deal-making actually look like in practice, this is the conversation you need to hear. In this episode: — The "Locker Room" Culture: How Frank selected the right General Managers to run each business — Why market leaders are NEVER the lowest price — and what they sell instead — Inside the due diligence process with Blackstone and what they're really looking for — Why Frank still walks shop floors as a "constant student" — even after a billion-dollar exit — The influence of industry legend Leland Smith on Frank's private equity strategy Whether you're building your first business or scaling toward a major exit, Frank's framework applies at every level. 🎧 Listen to Part 1: https://youtu.be/A4Umheuc4n4 Connect with Lance: 🌐 [buildittosellit.com] | 📸 All Social Media: @lancebachmann

Third Generation Plumber to $2.5 Billion Sale: Frank DiMarco's Story Part One!

Join us for the first half of a legendary conversation with Frank DiMarco. Before the $2.54 billion sale to Blackstone, Frank was a blue-collar kid from Ohio learning the ropes from "old school guys" who demanded perfection. Frank recounts the "infamous list" of people he intended to prove wrong after being "kicked in the nuts" by a deal that left him with nothing. This is a masterclass in resilience and the blue-collar mindset.

Mastering the Entrepreneurial Mindset with ex-Navy SEAL Mark Divine

Join Lance Bachmann on the Build It to Sell It podcast as he sits down with retired Navy SEAL Commander, entrepreneur, and New York Times best-selling author, Mark Divine. In this episode, Mark shares his unconventional journey from being a CPA and MBA in New York City to becoming an honor graduate of SEAL training at age 25.   Together, they explore the core principles of "The Way of the SEAL," focusing on: * Stress Inoculation: How to transform distress into "eustress" by running toward challenges rather than from them.   * Mental Toughness: The importance of "embracing the suck" and training your mind to find 20 times more potential than you ever thought possible.   * Building Resilient Teams: Why elite performance requires shifting from an "I" to a "We" mentality through shared crucible experiences.   * Actionable Tools: Mark breaks down his #1 prescription for entrepreneurs—box breathing—to rewire the nervous system for mental clarity and flow states.   Whether you are navigating the rapid shifts of AI or the daily grind of scaling a business, this conversation offers a masterclass in developing an unbeatable mind.     Connect with Mark Divine: * Website: unbeatablemind.com   * Email: info@markdivine.com   * Podcast: The Mark Divine Show

From Garage to $100M: The Ismael Valdez Blueprint for Business Scaling!

In this powerful episode of the Build it to Sell it! Podcast, host Lance Bachmann welcomes entrepreneur Ismael Valdez to share the raw, unfiltered story of building his company from a garage start-up to a staggering $100M+ exit to the Wrench Group.   Ismael dives deep into the "Home Comfort School" of business, explaining how he mastered marketing to ensure his "sales machine" never stopped running. The conversation explores the often-overlooked emotional side of success, including the heavy sacrifices made during the early years of fatherhood and the importance of maintaining an abundance mindset even when facing betrayal and bad partnerships.   Key Highlights: * The Blueprint for Growth: How Ismael transitioned from a supply house counter to managing a company with 160+ employees. * Ethics in Action: Why choosing to walk away from a bad partnership was more profitable than entering a lengthy legal battle. * Recruiting the Best: The secret to attracting "A-Players" and "Sharks" by prioritizing pay, respect, and consistent work. * The Weight of Sacrifice: A candid discussion on the guilt and necessity of spending time away from family to secure a multi-generational legacy. Whether you are in the roofing space, HVAC, or any service industry, this episode offers a masterclass in operations, marketing, and the heart of a true hustler.