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!

If you’re spending $10K–$30K/month on marketing but still don’t know what’s actually driving booked jobs… you need to check out Booked Solid.

It’s a small, in-person workshop March 3rd–5th in Akron, Ohio, where operators build a real 90-day marketing plan covering Google Ads, LSAs, SEO, Facebook, and follow-up systems.

🎟 $2,500 — save $500 with code BOOKEDEARLYBIRD (limited seats).

🔗 Learn more here:

💼Shoutout to Avoca AI!

Looking to train your call center and improve technician performance? Avoca AI helps teams identify issues, improve call quality, and drive results from start to finish.
🔗 Schedule a demo

💸Sponsored by CFO Made Easy

Built a strong trades business? Let’s take it to $10M and beyond. CFO Made Easy offers part-time CFO services for home and trade service businesses—helping you boost cash flow, maximize profit per tech, and make clear growth decisions.

📈 Free Offer: Book a 45-min Financial Insight Session to uncover growth blockers.

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

How to Fire Employees Fairly (Without Ruining Your Culture)