
Episode 42 — Jeff Bain on the Power of Customer Retention
- S1
- 1:19:52
- February 18th 2021
Jeff Bain knows how to learn from others. Taking notes from his insurance colleagues, Jeff knew he had to build an annuity-based pest control business. His top priority was to protect the residential-heavy business from wild seasonality as he took over the reins at Bain Pest Control. During Jeff’s collegiate days, he found himself getting paid to learn from American Pest’s former leader, Jay Nixon. Similar to previous Buzz guest Jim McHale, Jeff even shares a nod to the Sameth family and their Residex reps’ willingness to help shape the recurring business model.
Relationships, referrals, and pricing chatter abound during this time in The Boardroom. When it comes to building a client base, Jeff takes over as teacher during this sit-down session. Listen for how Bain Pest Control’s retention rate and marketing budget stray from the norm. Jeff even makes time to answer a listener’s question about selling in the Northern climate.
Over 100 years after the Ukrainian immigrant entered the USA via Ellis Island, Jeff Bain found himself realizing it was time to sell the family business. When it was time to select an advisor to sell his business, Jeff decided on the advisor that had his best interest in mind. His high trust relationships led him to having several employee discussions before selling the near-centenarian business. You’ll hear how Jeff had his employees’ opportunities in mind while deciding on Rentokil as the best acquirer for the business. There are too many emotions to list in this Boardroom sit-down. Speaking of emotions, Jeff goes on to share a story that shows the soft-side of Potomac’s chief negotiator.
Co-Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Dylan Seals of hdaudiopost.com
The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or Exit
Boardroom Buzz is the straight-talk playbook for owners who built their service businesses from the crawlspace up and want to master the next move—whether that’s doubling down on growth or preparing for a life-changing exit.
Hosted by Jason & Jeremy Julio—“The Blue-Collar Twins” who turned a service-truck start-up into a multimillion-dollar success—and mentored by veteran deal-maker Paul Giannamore, the show turns boardroom finance into stories you’d swap over a tailgate. Expect 40-minute deep-dives that unwrap one real transaction and one valuation lever you can pull today, plus quick “Market Pulse” riffs that flag shifts every operator should watch.
If you’re a majority or significant-minority owner eyeing the $5 M–$100 M revenue range, tune in for gritty war stories, step-by-step tactics, and the confidence to choose your own endgame. New episodes every Thursday. Presented by POTOMAC M&A.