Firing employees is one of the worst parts of owning a home service business — and the bigger you get, the more often it happens.

In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson is joined by Jack Carr (Jack Acquisitions / TriR) to break down a practical framework for terminations that’s fair to the employee and protects the team.

They walk through how to diagnose whether performance problems are caused by the employee or your systems, how to use clear expectations + coaching + PIPs to create a clean decision path, and why keeping a toxic “top performer” can quietly cost you your best people.

What you’ll learn:

The first question to ask before any termination: “How did we get here?”
GWC: Do they Get it, Want it, and have the Capacity to do it?
How to run a Performance Improvement Plan that’s real (not vibes)
When to make a fast decision vs. when to coach longer
Why the “people who got you to $1M” usually aren’t the people who get you to $10M
The hidden cost of avoiding the hard conversation: culture + trust + retention

If you’re struggling with when to coach, when to cut, and how to do it without guilt — this episode is the playbook.

💼 Extra Special Thanks to Service Scalers!

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🔗 Learn more here:

💼Shoutout to Avoca AI!

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💸Sponsored by CFO Made Easy

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Host: John Wilson — https://x.com/WilsonCompanies
Guest: Jack Carr https://x.com/thehvacjack

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

📌 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.

How to Fire Employees Fairly (Without Ruining Your Culture)

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