How This HVAC Owner Built a 5-Star Business From Scratch (With Zero Customers) | Jeremy Wolfe

Jeremy Wolfe launched Stay Cool Climate Control in March 2020 — the same week COVID lockdowns began — with no customers and no guarantee it would work. Today, he runs a thriving HVAC company with hundreds of 5-star Google reviews, an operations team, a Hotworks fitness franchise, and a growing real estate portfolio. In this episode of Builders of Authority, Jeremy breaks down exactly how he did it: building the business on nights and weekends while still employed, creating a standout brand with a mascot and referral program that customers actually love, and making the critical shift from technician to business owner. Whether you're a trades business owner, thinking about starting a service business, or trying to scale past the "doing everything yourself" stage — this one is packed with real talk and hard-won lessons. 🔑 Topics Covered/Timestamps 01:43 - Scaling an HVAC Business to a Perfect 5-Star Rating1 03:27 - Launching a Business During the Pandemic Shutdown2 06:08 - Building a Memorable Brand with the "Free Taco" Program3 08:42 - The Transition from Field Technician to Business Owner4 11:12 - Scaling Operations and Building a Leadership Team5 16:08 - How to Stand Out Among 300+ Local Competitors6 22:16 - Using 75 Hard to Develop Entrepreneurial Mental Toughness7 24:12 - Correct Pricing Strategies for Long-Term Business Growth8 29:58 - Diversification into Franchising and Real Estate Investing9 33:53 - Avoiding Shiny Object Syndrome to Maximize Potential10 36:58 - Reaching 100% Growth by Letting Go of Micro-Management11 39:03 - Connecting with Jeremy Wolf and Stay Cool Climate Control 🔗 CONNECT WITH ADAM: Facebook https://bit.ly/3td8Pdo Instagram https://bit.ly/3HmCR3m LinkedIn https://bit.ly/3hjU4jq ✉️ CONTACT: Email [email protected] Website adammcchesney.com Book a call: https://buildauthority.com/contact-us/ About me: I’m Adam McChesney: an entrepreneur and marketer who’s spent the last decade building and scaling service-based businesses. I’ve been on both sides of the table: running companies myself and helping other business owners grow through smarter, more disciplined marketing. I’m the founder of Builders of Authority, where I work with service businesses to improve visibility, strengthen their brand, and build marketing systems that actually perform over time. Everything I share comes from real experience, what I’ve tested, what’s worked, and what hasn’t. Today, I create content, speak, and have honest conversations about marketing, growth, and leadership, with one goal in mind: helping business owners stop relying on last-minute tactics and start building something sustainable. 🔗 Connect with Jeremy Wolf: Instagram/Facebook/TikTok: @wolfe_staycool Stay Cool Climate Control: staycoolclimatecontrol.com #HVACBusiness #ServiceBusiness #SmallBusinessOwner #TradesBusiness #Entrepreneur #BusinessGrowth #BuildersOfAuthority #HomeServices #HVAC #StartABusiness