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Why Aaron Gunderson and Bison are Buying Trades Businesses Instead of Tech Companies

Picture of Cameron Carlow



Aaron is the CEO of Bison, a company that acquires and operates businesses across landscaping, roofing, irrigation, and other trades-related industries. In this conversation, he breaks down what actually makes a trades company valuable, why keeping good people matters more than perfect systems, and where many operators quietly get stuck as they grow.Most trades businesses are still built around a few key people.

The owner knows everything. The foreman keeps jobs moving. The systems live in someone’s head. And eventually growth starts creating pressure instead of freedom.

That’s a big reason Aaron started buying trades businesses.

This episode matters because a lot of trades businesses are running into the same challenges:

Scaling without structure.
Keeping key employees.
Building systems while still running jobs every day.

Trying to grow without losing what made the business work in the first place.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • What Aaron Gunderson looks for when evaluating trades businesses for acquisition

  • Why key employees are often more valuable than equipment or assets

  • How growing companies create opportunities that keep strong people from leaving

  • Why many trades companies struggle with systems, marketing, and operational structure

  • Practical ways AI is already helping operators improve efficiency and decision-making

If you own, lead, or are trying to grow a construction, landscaping, roofing, or specialty trades business, this conversation will feel practical, familiar, and immediately relevant.

 

Chapters

00:00 – Why Aaron Gunderson buys businesses
02:10 – From rental properties to acquisitions
05:00 – Why Bison focused on trades companies
08:15 – What makes a trades business valuable
11:00 – How acquisitions are evaluated
14:05 – The challenge of keeping key people
19:10 – Biggest problems in the trades today
21:25 – Why employees leave to start competitors
26:00 – Marketing and AI for trades businesses
29:15 – Using AI to improve operations
31:00 – Building companies that scale long term
34:10 – Leadership, communication, and growth

 

 

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