Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast #234 He Made $1.2M in His Garage in 4 Months!
Aug 19, 2025
Ismael Valdez, founder of NextGen Air Conditioning and Nuva Thermostats, scaled his startup to over $100 million with innovative strategies and tech-driven marketing. He shares insights on transforming a garage project into a thriving business in just four months. Valdez discusses the sacrifices behind his success and the importance of fostering a positive company culture. He also reveals how social media can be leveraged for lead generation and details his latest venture, Nuva Thermostats, a tool designed to empower HVAC contractors.
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Win The War Inside The Home
- Prioritize the in-home customer experience because the 'war is won inside the home' and that drives trust and conversions.
- Train techs to provide more value than paperwork shows and focus on relationships as much as KPIs.
Onboard With Clear Pay And Expectations
- Onboard new hires with clear expectations and an extremely simple pay plan so every employee knows exactly how they get paid.
- Remove wage anxiety by guaranteeing backup pay and focus employees on serving customers.
Structure Pay To Recruit Top Talent
- Pay technicians a reliable hourly backup plus performance commissions, using sliding scales for repairs and percentages on turnovers and installs.
- Price services properly first, then use generous pay to recruit top talent and build a competitive culture.