#234 He Made $1.2M in His Garage in 4 Months!

In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Ismael Valdez, founder of NextGen and Nuva Thermostats, to unpack how he built one of the fastest-growing home service businesses in the country.Valdez shares how he scaled NextGen from his garage to a $100M+ powerhouse with multiple locations, breaking down the exact strategies that fueled his growth. From high-ROI marketing plays to perfecting tech turnover processes and managing gross profit like a hawk, you’ll learn the playbook that took him from startup to industry leader.For the first time, Valdez also dives into his latest venture: Nuva Thermostats — a game-changing tool for HVAC contractors that brands the thermostat with your logo, turning every home into a lead-gen engine.This episode isn’t just about tactics. Valdez gets real about the personal sacrifices behind scaling to $100M, how to leverage social media for future growth, and what it takes to keep winning at the highest level.If you’re serious about scaling your HVAC or home service business, this conversation is a must-listen.💼 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 demoShout Out to FieldPulse 🚀FieldPulse is an incredible Field Service Management platform that helps you save hours each week while keeping your operations running smoothly. If you're looking to streamline your processes, stay competitive, and focus on what truly matters, FieldPulse is a game-changer!📅 Book your demo💼 Sponsored by Volca Supercharge your referral game with Volca—an automated referral program built just for home service companies. With ServiceTitan integration, SMS referrals, automated payments, and real-time tracking, Volca makes manual referral programs a thing of the past.👉 Get 10% off all contracts—exclusive for Owned and Operated listeners. 📅 Book a time with the team🎙️ Host: John Wilson 🎙️ Guest: Ishmael Valdez (NextGen, Nuva Thermostats)⏱ Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview01:21 Ismael Valdez's Journey with NextGen11:06 Scaling and Business Strategies26:47 Scaling Operations and Building an Executive Team28:34 Effective Lead Generation Strategies31:53 The Future of Marketing and Product InnovationSend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&OJohn's Podcast YouTube ChannelOwned and Operated Newsletter Bonus Videos From JohnLeave a ReviewJohn Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack 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.