What HVAC Techs Must Know to Start the Business Right and Stay Legal with Robin and Ian
HVAC Know It All Podcast26 Nov 2025

What HVAC Techs Must Know to Start the Business Right and Stay Legal with Robin and Ian

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Business Edition Podcast, co-hosts Gary McCreadie and Furman Haynes discuss the foundational steps of starting your own HVAC business with Robin Henry, Owner of Pinnacle Building Performance and Ian Schotanus, The HR Guy and Co-owner of The Big Picture Consulting. From forming an LLC to hiring your first employee and handling subcontractors, the conversation focuses on the gritty, real-world decisions entrepreneurs must make. The episode features firsthand accounts from Robin Henry and Ian Schotanus, delivering both practical and legal perspectives on launching and scaling an HVAC business.

Expect to Learn:

  • The real-life journey of launching an HVAC business from scratch.

  • Legal and tax differences between sole proprietorship, LLC, and S Corp.

  • When and how to hire your first employee or consider using subcontractors.

  • Practical field decisions like truck outfitting, insurance, and storage options.

  • How administrative responsibilities grow and how to manage them efficiently.

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] - Introduction & Why Start an HVAC Business

[00:03:37] - Legal & Tax Steps for Starting Out

[00:05:51] - Risk Management & Insurance Must-Haves

[00:08:45] - Field Startup Essentials: Tools, Truck, and Branding

[00:12:08] - Storage Solutions & Work-Life Separation

[00:16:26] - Navigating Local Licences and Utility Rebates

[00:18:55] - Hiring Your First Employee vs. Using Subs



Follow Guest Robin Henry on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-henry-3a460482

Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/pinnaclebuildingperformance/?hl=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workhero__

Company's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pinnaclebp

Company's Website: https://www.pinnaclebuildingperformance.com/about-us/

Follow Guest Ian Schotanus on:

Company's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-big-picture-consulting

Company's Website: https://thebigpictureconsulting.com/about-us

Company's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebigpictureconsulting/

Follow the Hosts:


Follow Furman Haynes on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workherohvac/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/WorkHero-61562122449748/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workhero__

Follow Gary McCreadie on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/

Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/

Avsnitt(535)

Thermal vs Economic Balance for HVAC Techs to Maximize Heat Pump Performance with Jim Fultz Part 1

Thermal vs Economic Balance for HVAC Techs to Maximize Heat Pump Performance with Jim Fultz Part 1

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie talks with Jim Fultz, National Technical Training Manager at Copeland and a former Emerson trainer. Jim explains the concepts of th...

30 Okt 202522min

HVAC Business Series for Technicians Ready to Launch Smarter with Furman Haynes

HVAC Business Series for Technicians Ready to Launch Smarter with Furman Haynes

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie talks with Furman Haynes, Co-Founder of WorkHero. They discuss the challenges and rewards of starting and running a small HVAC busi...

27 Okt 202527min

The Press Fitting Tool for HVAC Techs to Save Time on Installs & Repairs - Jessica Slaughter Part 2

The Press Fitting Tool for HVAC Techs to Save Time on Installs & Repairs - Jessica Slaughter Part 2

In part 2 of this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie continues his discussion with Jessica Slaughter, Marketing Manager at RLS Rapid Locking System, about the growing use of ...

19 Okt 202520min

The RLS Revolution in HVAC That's Dividing Techs and Changing Installs with Jessica Slaughter Part 1

The RLS Revolution in HVAC That's Dividing Techs and Changing Installs with Jessica Slaughter Part 1

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie sits down with Jessica Slaughter, Marketing Manager at RLS Rapid Locking System. Jessica discusses the benefits of using press fitt...

17 Okt 202518min

How E-Commerce Is Replacing HVAC Supply Counters and Changing the Trades with Kaytee Gray

How E-Commerce Is Replacing HVAC Supply Counters and Changing the Trades with Kaytee Gray

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie talks with Kaytee Grey, VP of Fulfillment Operations at SupplyHouse, previously Head of Demand Planning. They talk about the shift ...

9 Okt 202534min

How HVAC Pros Can Electrify Everything & Reduce 90% of Installation Mistakes with Nate Adams Part 2

How HVAC Pros Can Electrify Everything & Reduce 90% of Installation Mistakes with Nate Adams Part 2

In part 2 of this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie continues his conversation with Nate Adams, Co-Founder at Phantasm and Founder at Nate the House Whisperer, about electri...

2 Okt 202521min

How HVAC Pros Replace Gas and Maximize Comfort with Load-Matching Heat Pumps with Nate Adams Part 1

How HVAC Pros Replace Gas and Maximize Comfort with Load-Matching Heat Pumps with Nate Adams Part 1

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie chats with Nate Adams, Co-Founder at Phantasm and Founder at Nate the House Whisperer. Nate explains how heat pumps provide unmatch...

29 Sep 202528min

How HVAC Contractors Can Stop Oversizing & Close More Deals Using LaserCalc - Andrew Barton Part 2

How HVAC Contractors Can Stop Oversizing & Close More Deals Using LaserCalc - Andrew Barton Part 2

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie continues his chat with Andrew Barton, CEO of AirMatch, Arenberg, Imogen Technologies LLC, and CFM Equipment Distributors. They dis...

25 Sep 202518min

Populärt inom Business & ekonomi

framgangspodden
badfluence
varvet
rss-jossan-nina
rss-borsens-finest
rss-svart-marknad
avanzapodden
uppgang-och-fall
fill-or-kill
rss-inga-dumma-fragor-om-pengar
rss-dagen-med-di
lastbilspodden
borsmorgon
bathina-en-podcast
svd-tech-brief
affarsvarlden
bilar-med-sladd
rss-den-nya-ekonomin
tabberaset
rss-veckans-trade