Kevin Comerford — Building a $120M HVAC Business, Protecting Culture, and Life After the Exit
May 14, 2026 •
In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Journey, Michael sits down with Kevin Comerford, founder of Service Champions, one of Northern California’s most successful HVAC companies. Kevin shares the incredible journey of building his company from zero in 2003 to over $120 million in revenue and more than $20 million in EBITDA before selling the business to private equity.
Kevin opens up about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the lessons learned from scaling a people-first organization, the importance of culture, and the emotional realities of selling a business. He also discusses mentorship, leadership, journaling, EOS, strategic planning, and how business owners can prepare themselves both financially and emotionally for a successful exit.
This episode is packed with wisdom for entrepreneurs, especially those in the trades and home services industries.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- How Kevin grew Service Champions from startup to $120M in revenue
- Why company culture became his greatest competitive advantage
- The importance of visionary and integrator roles inside a growing business
- Lessons learned from private equity and selling a company
- Why entrepreneurs need an experienced advisory team before a sale
- The emotional side of life after exiting a business
- Kevin’s journaling process and mindset habits for success
- How mentorship shaped Kevin’s entrepreneurial journey
3 Things To Remember
- Owners set the emotional tone for the company. Kevin shares why leaders must intentionally bring positivity and energy into the business every day.
- Selling a business is emotional. Kevin shares why owners need clarity on their future purpose and identity after the exit.
- A successful exit requires coordination between wealth advisors, attorneys, CPAs, investment bankers, and transaction specialists.
Memorable moments
“The only competitive advantage these home services businesses have in the marketplace is their culture.” — Kevin Comerford
“Winners win, and winners learn.” — Kevin Comerford
“Always make your future bigger than your past.” — Kevin Comerford
“Life after the deal is so critical.” — Kevin Comerford
Useful Links
Connect with Kevin Comerford: LinkedIn / https://www.kevincomerford.net/
Connect with Michael Pallozzi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpallozzihfm/
Service Champions Heating & Air Conditioning: https://www.servicechampions.net/
Wisdom Of Wrench podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@WisdomOfWrench/featured
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