Elevating a Family Legacy: Kyle Hagen’s Journey from $400K to $9M with A-One Air

Are you ready to dive into a story full of strategies behind a successful home service business? Well you've come to the right place! In this episode, “Elevating a Family Legacy: Kyle Hagen’s Journey from $400K to $9M with A-One Air”, our Co-Host Shreya sits down with Kyle Hagen, the President of A-One Air, to discuss his incredible journey of transforming his father’s business from a modest $400K operation into a thriving multi-million-dollar company. Let’s dive into Kyle’s inspiring story of perseverance, innovation, and leadership!

Kyle Hagen is living out his childhood dream of running his late father’s business, A-One Air, previously known as A-One Refrigeration and Heating. Since taking over as President in 2010, Kyle has grown the company from a small business generating less than a million dollars annually to an impressive eight-figure enterprise. Beyond his role at A-One Air, Kyle is also a jet pilot and enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends.

Kyle attributes his success to the hard lessons he’s learned in both business and life. Guided by his father’s motto, “always do the right thing,” Kyle has consistently taken the high road and pushed forward, determined to take the company to new heights. His commitment to honesty, integrity, and customer satisfaction, coupled with a focus on leading HVAC solutions and an airflow-first approach, has been key to his growth strategy.

Kyle shares the initial challenges he faced when taking over A-One Air, a company generating around $400K annually. He discusses the critical steps he took to identify and address the core issues, including streamlining operations, improving customer service, and investing in technology and skilled personnel

Kyle recounts the precarious financial situation the company faced, including the threat of bankruptcy. He explains the decisive actions he took to turn things around, such as renegotiating debts, cutting unnecessary expenses, and focusing on profitable projects to stabilize the business.

From the first year to the five-year mark, Kyle describes the evolution of the company’s processes. He highlights how continuous improvement in operations, staff training, and customer engagement led to significant growth and increased efficiency.

With rapid revenue and employee growth, Kyle outlines the logistical challenges he encountered, including maintaining quality control, ensuring consistent communication, and scaling the company culture to support a larger team.

Kyle talks about how he educated himself on running a home service business, including the resources and mentors that guided him. He emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning and staying updated with industry trends.

Reflecting on moments of doubt and disillusionment, Kyle shares how he rekindled his passion for the HVAC industry and remained committed to his vision, even during tough times. He discusses how his mindset and feelings towards the company have influenced his employees. He explains the importance of leading by example and fostering a positive, motivating work environment.

Kyle Hagen’s journey with A-One Air is a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and leadership. His story is an inspiration for anyone in the home service industry or aspiring to grow their own business. Join us next time on “Born For the Trades - A Home Service Podcast” for more insights and stories from industry leaders.

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