Buying a pest control business sounds simple; until you start digging into the numbers.

In this episode of Jackquisitions, Jack breaks down exactly how he would evaluate a pest control company before making an acquisition. From recurring revenue and customer churn to route density, technician productivity, and owner dependency, he walks through the key diligence items that separate a scalable business from an expensive mistake.

Jack explains why customer counts can be misleading, how to properly analyze recurring revenue, and why route economics often matter more than top-line sales. He also shares the biggest acquisition traps buyers fall into, including overvaluing project-based revenue, ignoring churn, and buying businesses that rely too heavily on the owner.

Whether you're looking at pest control, HVAC, plumbing, or any route-based home service business, these are the metrics that determine what a company is actually worth.

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In This Episode, We Cover:

→ Why "1,200 recurring customers" doesn't mean what most buyers think it means

→ How to evaluate recurring revenue versus one-time project revenue

→ The importance of customer churn and what it reveals about a business

→ Route density, revenue per stop, and the economics that drive profitability

→ How callback rates impact margins and operational efficiency

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Follow Jack for More Acquisition Insights

X: https://x.com/thehvacjack

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💼 Special Thanks to First Internet Bank

Looking to buy or grow a business? First Internet Bank is a National Preferred SBA lender focused on skilled trades acquisitions. Get up to 90% financing for acquisitions, partner buyouts, and commercial real estate—plus optional lines of credit for growth.

They take a “how can we” approach, helping both first-time buyers and experienced operators get deals done.

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

Connect with Alan Peterson

Send us Fan Mail

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.

Most buyers focus on finding the right business. The best buyers focus on finding the right financing.

In this episode of Jackquisitions, Jack sits down with SBA lending expert Alan Peterson to break down a major new SBA initiative that's creating opportunities for acquisition entrepreneurs—especially those looking at manufacturing businesses.

They discuss the new Made in America lending program, how increased SBA guarantees actually impact buyers, and why banks still won't finance bad deals no matter how much government support exists. The conversation also dives into the realities of buying manufacturing businesses, the risks hidden inside supply chains, and why cash flow remains king whether you're buying a contractor, manufacturer, or construction company.

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In This Episode, We Cover:

→ The new SBA Made in America program and who qualifies
→ Why manufacturing acquisitions are getting increased attention from lenders
→ How a 90% SBA guarantee changes the bank's risk profile
→ Whether higher guarantees actually help buyers win deals
→ Why banks still won't finance bad acquisitions
→ How buyers can use SBA financing to pursue larger opportunities

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Follow Jack for More Acquisition Insights

X: https://x.com/thehvacjack

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

💼 Special Thanks to First Internet Bank

Looking to buy or grow a business?

First Internet Bank is a National Preferred SBA lender focused on skilled trades acquisitions. Get up to 90% financing for acquisitions, partner buyouts, and commercial real estate—plus optional lines of credit for growth.

They take a "how can we" approach, helping both first-time buyers and experienced operators get deals done.

👉 Special Offer: Mention Owned and Operated for a reduced good faith deposit, plus a free deal review and buyside prequalification.

Connect with Alan Peterson

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Send us Fan Mail

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.

Most septic companies don’t fail because septic is hard—they fail because they make bad financial decisions early on. In this episode of Jackquisitions, Jack breaks down one of the biggest mistakes new septic operators make: buying the wrong truck.

From $300K showpiece vacuum trucks to practical used rigs that actually make money, Jack explains how to think about equipment like an operator—not a truck enthusiast. He covers what to look for when buying your first septic truck, the hidden costs that crush cash flow, and why reliability matters more than chrome.

In this episode, we cover:

→ Why flashy vacuum trucks can bankrupt new septic companies
→ The real cost of financing a $250K–$350K septic truck
→ What to look for in a used vacuum truck before buying
→ Common red flags: rust, bad welds, vacuum leaks, and homemade modifications

Follow Jack for more:

X: https://x.com/thehvacjack

Send us Fan Mail

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.