From Borrowed Truck to 30-Vehicle Fleet: HVAC Veteran Reveals What REALLY Works to Scale Past $10M
Fri Feb 06 2026
Discover how Mike Kinsey built MAK Mechanical from a borrowed pickup truck into a multi-million dollar HVAC and mechanical contracting business serving both residential and commercial markets.
In this inspiring contractor growth story, Mike shares the raw truth about scaling a trades business—from that first installation using a neighbor's truck to managing 30+ vehicles and leading $10 million+ commercial projects while still fixing residential furnaces.
What You'll Learn:
✅ How to transition from tradesman to CEO without losing your mind
✅ The biggest mistakes contractors make when scaling past $2-3 million
✅ Why doing both residential AND commercial work can actually work
✅ How to build a company culture that attracts and retains top talent
✅ Strategic planning frameworks that actually work for trades businesses
✅ Succession planning strategies for contractors thinking about their exit
📌 KEY TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction: Mike's Journey Overview
1:22 - Third Generation Sheet Metal Worker Background
2:40 - The Ethical Breaking Point That Started It All
6:39 - Day One: Starting With a Borrowed Truck
8:39 - Biggest Fears in the Early Days
9:24 - The Difficult Transition from Tradesman to CEO
13:06 - Why Mak Mechanical Does Both Residential & Commercial
16:15 - The Hardest Stage of Growth: Breaking Past $2M
17:54 - Bringing in the Right People at the Right Time
19:56 - Training for Character, Not Just Skills
23:50 - Navigating the Father-Son Business Dynamic
26:25 - Leadership Lessons from Rotary International
30:08 - Building a Business Like Building a Race Car
32:28 - Advice for New Contractors Just Starting Out
34:31 - Legacy Planning: It's Never Too Early
36:21 - Where to Find Mike & Mak Mechanical
Mike's #1 Piece of Advice for Contractors:
"It's never too early to start thinking about next week, next year, and your exit strategy. Strategic planning isn't just for big companies—if you've got a helper, you need a plan."
About Mike Kinsey:
Mike Kinsey is the founder of Mak Mechanical, a full-service HVAC and mechanical contracting company serving residential and commercial clients. He's grown the business from solo technician to a 30+ vehicle operation handling projects from $250 service calls to multi-million dollar commercial builds including long-term care facilities. Mike is also a past District Governor for Rotary International and passionate mentor to the next generation of trades professionals.
Ready to
Send us a text
Stop Driving. Start ClosingStop wasting time on tire kickers. Qualify and estimate remotely with AI-powered video technology.
What if you could remotely qualify leads, create accurate estimates, and manage multiple projects—all without ever leaving your office?
That's exactly what LiveSwitch does for remodeling contractors.
Stop Driving. Start ClosingStop wasting time on tire kickers. Qualify and estimate remotely with AI-powered video technology.
Stop Driving. Start ClosingStop wasting time on tire kickers. Qualify and estimate remotely with AI-powered video technology.
Visit us online - remodelingmarketingteam.com
Connect with us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/remodelmarketing
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnqpHHqgpvEs1wkfDMt95uA
More
Discover how Mike Kinsey built MAK Mechanical from a borrowed pickup truck into a multi-million dollar HVAC and mechanical contracting business serving both residential and commercial markets. In this inspiring contractor growth story, Mike shares the raw truth about scaling a trades business—from that first installation using a neighbor's truck to managing 30+ vehicles and leading $10 million+ commercial projects while still fixing residential furnaces. What You'll Learn: ✅ How to transition from tradesman to CEO without losing your mind ✅ The biggest mistakes contractors make when scaling past $2-3 million ✅ Why doing both residential AND commercial work can actually work ✅ How to build a company culture that attracts and retains top talent ✅ Strategic planning frameworks that actually work for trades businesses ✅ Succession planning strategies for contractors thinking about their exit 📌 KEY TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Introduction: Mike's Journey Overview 1:22 - Third Generation Sheet Metal Worker Background 2:40 - The Ethical Breaking Point That Started It All 6:39 - Day One: Starting With a Borrowed Truck 8:39 - Biggest Fears in the Early Days 9:24 - The Difficult Transition from Tradesman to CEO 13:06 - Why Mak Mechanical Does Both Residential & Commercial 16:15 - The Hardest Stage of Growth: Breaking Past $2M 17:54 - Bringing in the Right People at the Right Time 19:56 - Training for Character, Not Just Skills 23:50 - Navigating the Father-Son Business Dynamic 26:25 - Leadership Lessons from Rotary International 30:08 - Building a Business Like Building a Race Car 32:28 - Advice for New Contractors Just Starting Out 34:31 - Legacy Planning: It's Never Too Early 36:21 - Where to Find Mike & Mak Mechanical Mike's #1 Piece of Advice for Contractors: "It's never too early to start thinking about next week, next year, and your exit strategy. Strategic planning isn't just for big companies—if you've got a helper, you need a plan." About Mike Kinsey: Mike Kinsey is the founder of Mak Mechanical, a full-service HVAC and mechanical contracting company serving residential and commercial clients. He's grown the business from solo technician to a 30+ vehicle operation handling projects from $250 service calls to multi-million dollar commercial builds including long-term care facilities. Mike is also a past District Governor for Rotary International and passionate mentor to the next generation of trades professionals. Ready to Send us a text Stop Driving. Start ClosingStop wasting time on tire kickers. Qualify and estimate remotely with AI-powered video technology. What if you could remotely qualify leads, create accurate estimates, and manage multiple projects—all without ever leaving your office? That's exactly what LiveSwitch does for remodeling contractors. Stop Driving. Start ClosingStop wasting time on tire kickers. Qualify and estimate remotely with AI-powered video technology. Stop Driving. Start ClosingStop wasting time on tire kickers. Qualify and estimate remotely with AI-powered video technology. Visit us online - remodelingmarketingteam.com Connect with us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/remodelmarketing Subscribe to our YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnqpHHqgpvEs1wkfDMt95uA