In this episode of Owned and Operated, John and Jack break down the full playbook for hiring HVAC and plumbing technicians—from sourcing to retention. They dive into the real-world challenges of technician recruitment and share the strategies they use to keep a steady pipeline of high-quality candidates. From building a branded hiring engine to managing seasonal swings, this episode delivers tactical advice and real SOPs that help home service businesses grow their field teams with intention.

They cover why recruiting never stops, how to build a budget that supports year-round hiring, and why onboarding and retention matter just as much as the job offer. Whether you’re scaling a team or trying to fix your hiring funnel, this episode is packed with practical frameworks and firsthand experience.

🔹 In This Episode, We Cover:
Building a technician recruitment process from scratch
Why continuous recruiting beats reactive hiring
How to structure compensation to stay competitive
The role of onboarding in long-term retention
Using recruiters and internal plans to scale hiring
Planning budgets around seasonal employment needs
Leveraging branding and sales tactics in hiring
SOPs and examples that drive real technician results

💡 Special Thanks to Modernize!

We've been using Modernize for our water quality leads, and it's been a game-changer. If you’re serious about growing your business with better water quality leads, HVAC leads, or home improvement leads, check them out:

🔗 Get Quality Leads Here: (https://modernize.com/pros/leads/wilson)

💼 Shoutout to Quick Staffers LLC

Need trained HVAC & plumbing CSRs at a fraction of the cost? Quick Staffers LLC specializes in placing top-tier global talent with the best SOPs and scripts.

🔥 Get $1,000 off your first placement here: [https://www.quickstaffers.com/]

💡 Shoutout to Avoca AI!

Avoca is helping home service companies level up with 24/7 AI call handling, performance insights, and targeted coaching.

🔗 Book a demo: [ https://avoca.ai/demo/owned]

🌐 More resources: [https://www.ownedandoperated.com]

👤 Hosted by:

John Wilson

Jack Carr

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John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer:
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#221 No More Tech Turnover: How to Hire and Keep the Best

Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast