Hit 10 years as a plumber today and all I got was screwed by PE rollups

Been wrenching on pipes for a full decade now, started as an apprentice crawling under houses in the Texas heat. Just wrapped a job swapping out some old cast iron with PEX-B, using SharkBites for the quick connects, and it got me thinking about how far I've come from snaking my first drain with a Ridgid K-45. But man, the industry's changing fast, these private equity firms buying up small shops left and right, turning everything into corporate BS where you're just a number. Saw a post on r/Plumbing about a guy getting pushed out after 15 years, and it pisses me off because that's my future if I don't watch it. Someone in The Contractor Fight Facebook group was ranting about how PE is killing the trade, squeezing margins on basic installs like water heaters. We're in Texas so the commercial gigs pay decent, but residential feels like it's getting commoditized with all these leads from Angi going to the cheapest hack. Hit my milestone but feels hollow with all this consolidation crap. Anyone else hitting career marks but raging at the big money taking over?

those PE assholes are ruining everything, had a buddy sell his shop and now he regrets it big time.

Congrats on 10 years, that's a solid run. I hit 20 last month and upgraded my van with new Milwaukee tools.

Same here, feels like the trades are getting gobbled up.

I get it, man.

yep, been there.

SharkBites behind walls? Nah, that's asking for callbacks. Stick to solders.

Texas plumbers getting hosed by PE, it's nationwide BS now.

Document everything in your contracts to protect against buyouts.

PE firms buying plumbing companies like candy, makes me sick.

lol, 10 years and still dealing with cast iron nightmares? Classic.

The rollups are killing independent plumbers, fight back with better service.

Everywhere you look, another shop gets swallowed up. Rage fuel.

Warning: don't sign anything without a lawyer if PE comes knocking.

These corporate takeovers are a plague on the trades.

Join a local plumbers association for leverage against PE.

PE is the villain, turning pros into wage slaves.

Never trust those equity vultures, they'll lowball your life's work.

PE rollups are fine if you negotiate stock options right. Change my mind.

Don't sell cheap, or you'll regret it like my uncle did.

Private equity is screwing over family-run plumbing businesses left and right.

I feel you on the milestone rage.

Texas heat plus PE stress? Double whammy.

Cast iron to PEX swaps are my bread and butter too.

The industry's consolidation is a total crap-show.

Hitting 10 years feels good until you see the PE writing on the wall.

Warning: watch for non-competes in those buyout deals.

These rollups are destroying the soul of plumbing.

Man, PE firms are the worst thing since lead pipes.

Ridgid tools have been my savior through it all.

I hear ya, the buyouts are relentless.

Build your brand online to stay independent.

Texas plumbers unite against the PE machine.

Congrats, but yeah, the rage is real with these takeovers.

PE is eating small plumbing shops alive.

Same frustration here after 8 years.

Don't let them undervalued your experience.

How do you handle PE offers when they come?

Use Jobber for invoicing to keep your books tight against audits.

I feel the consolidation pain every day.

PE vultures circling, it's infuriating.

Warning: they promise the world but deliver chains.

The rollup trend is a nightmare for tradesmen.

Hit my own milestone last year, PE tried to buy me out for peanuts.

Stay solo if you can, independence is worth it.

But solo means no benefits, tough call.

These firms are ruining plumbing for everyone.

Empathizing hard, the industry's changing too fast.

Document your jobs meticulously to build value.

PE is the big bad wolf of the trades.

Congrats on 10, ignore the noise and keep wrenching.

Texas heat makes every job a milestone.

The buyouts are a scam, plain and simple.

Rage all you want, but network with other indies.

Private equity can kiss my pipe wrench.

Haha, SharkBites for the win in a pinch.

Feeling the same burnout from industry shifts.