Entry & Exit - Inside the Security & Fire Industry

Stephen Olmon and Collin Trimble
  • 5.0 (7)
  • 创业

Entry & Exit is a podcast about building, scaling, and exiting security and fire businesses. Hosts Stephen Olmon and Collin Trimble share their journey growing Alarm Masters through acquisitions and organic growth, along with the lessons they’ve learned along the way. From recurring revenue strategies to sales, operations, and M&A, Entry & Exit gives business owners and entrepreneurs an inside look at what it takes to succeed in the security industry. Whether you’re starting your first company, growing past the owner-operator stage, or thinking about an eventual exit, you’ll find practical insights and real stories to guide your path.

  1. 2天前

    Why Burglar Alarms Are Dying (And What’s Replacing Them)

    ​​Burglar alarms aren’t dead—but they are being replaced. In this episode of Entry & Exit, Stephen Olmon and Collin Trimble break down how AI, video, and access control are reshaping the security industry—and why traditional alarm systems are losing value. They cover what’s driving the shift, how security stacks are consolidating around video, and what operators need to do to stay competitive. In this episode: Why alarms are being “demoted”How AI-powered cameras are changing securityThe shift from alarms as triggers to validatorsWhy DIY systems are compressing valueHow to use alarm accounts to upsell higher-value servicesIf you’re in the security or service space, this is your playbook for what’s next. More Entry & Exit — https://www.entryandexit.co/ Owned and Operated New Episodes Every Wednesday! Subscribe For More

    14 分钟

  2. 4天前

    The Exact Security Tech Stack We’d Use to Scale to $10M

    If you’re building a security business, the biggest mistake isn’t picking the wrong tools—it’s building a stack that doesn’t scale. In this episode of Entry & Exit, Stephen Olmon and Collin Trimble break down the ultimate “god mode” security stack—and how your tech choices impact growth, operations, and enterprise value. From RMR to vendor selection, they share what actually works (and what doesn’t) when building a modern security business. They cover:  Why every sale should include recurring monthly revenue (RMR)  The tradeoff between upfront cash and long-term value  Why too many vendors create operational drag  The importance of unified platforms across security systems  Why cybersecurity and reliability matter more than features  The exact stack they use (Brivo, Eagle Eye, DMP) and why If you run a security or life safety business, this episode will help you build a scalable, high-value operation.  More Entry & Exit — https://www.entryandexit.co/ Owned and Operated New Episodes Every Wednesday! Subscribe For More

    16 分钟

  3. 4月8日

    Is AI Replacing Security Operators? (ISC West Breakdown)

    If you’re in the security or life safety industry, the biggest shift happening right now isn’t incremental—it’s foundational. In this episode of Entry & Exit, Stephen Olmon and Collin Trimble break down the biggest takeaways from ISC West, including the rapid acceleration of AI, the rise of startups, and what it all means for operators, monitoring companies, and the future of the industry. From AI-powered video monitoring to fully autonomous agents replacing operators, they unpack where things are actually headed—and what’s already changing today.  They explain why legacy players may be too late to the cloud shift, how AI is reshaping video surveillance into the core of the security stack, and why pricing pressure and automation could disrupt traditional monitoring models. Whether you attended ISC West or not, this episode gives you a clear picture of where the industry is going next—and who’s at risk of getting left behind. They cover:  Why AI dominated ISC West—and what that really means for operators  The shift from alarms to video as the core security solution  How AI agents are replacing human monitoring operators  Why video monitoring pricing is under pressure If you run a security, fire, or service business, this episode will help you understand where the industry is heading, what trends actually matter, and how to prepare for the next wave of change. More Entry & Exit — https://www.entryandexit.co/ Owned and Operated New Episodes Every Wednesday! Subscribe For More

    16 分钟

  4. 4月1日

    The Exit Playbook: How to Structure a Business Sale for Maximum Value

    If you’re thinking about selling your security or life safety business, the biggest mistake isn’t timing—it’s misunderstanding your options. In this episode of Entry & Exit, Stephen Olmon and Collin Trimble break down the real-world exit paths available to business owners—and the tradeoffs that come with each one. From all-cash walkaways to structured deals, earnouts, and rolled equity, they unpack what actually drives valuation, risk, and long-term upside. They explain why you can’t optimize for both price and terms, how deal structure impacts your final payout, and what separates a clean exit from a costly one. Whether you’re ready to sell now or just planning ahead, this episode gives you a practical framework to think through your endgame. They cover:  Why all-cash exits typically lead to lower valuations  The key tradeoff between deal terms and purchase price  How holdbacks, seller notes, and earnouts actually work  Why trusting the buyer matters more than maximizing cash upfront  The difference between platform vs tuck-in acquisitions—and why it changes your involvement If you run a security, fire, or service business and are considering an exit—now or in the future—this episode will help you understand your options, avoid common pitfalls, and structure a deal that aligns with your goals. Stephen Olmon — https://x.com/stephenolmon Collin Trimble — https://x.com/TXAlarmGuy More Entry & Exit — https://www.entryandexit.co/ Owned and Operated New Episodes Every Wednesday! Subscribe For More

    27 分钟

  5. 3月25日

    How to Prioritize Growth: A Roadmap for Scaling or Selling Your Service Business

    If you’re trying to grow a security or life safety business, working harder isn’t always the answer. More often, the real bottleneck is structure. In this episode of Entry & Exit, Stephen Olmon and Collin Trimble break down the roadmap for scaling a security business the right way. They cover how to think about growth vs. earnings, when to invest in people, why your tech stack matters, and how to build a sales engine that actually drives change. This episode is a practical guide for owners who want to grow with intention instead of staying stuck in the same cycle. In this episode, they discuss:  Why you need to define your end goal before building your growth plan  The difference between managing for growth, managing for earnings, and managing for enterprise value  Why A-players create leverage that process alone never will  How the right hires can accelerate growth across every department  Why a unified tech stack improves visibility, efficiency, and customer experience Whether you’re building for long-term growth, thinking about acquisitions, or trying to create a more scalable operation, this episode breaks down the practical decisions that matter most. Stephen Olmon — https://x.com/stephenolmon Collin Trimble — https://x.com/TXAlarmGuy More Entry & Exit: https://www.entryandexit.co/ Owned and Operated New Episodes Every Wednesday! Subscribe For More

    36 分钟

  6. 3月18日

    AI + International Talent: The Hidden Lever Behind Fast-Growing Service Businesses

    If you’re trying to scale a security, alarm, or fire business… the biggest unlock might not be more techs or more sales. It might be how you structure your team. In this episode of Entry & Exit, Stephen Olmon and Collin Trimble sit down with Jack Carr (Rapid Response, JackQuisitions, Quick Staffers) to break down how international talent and AI are changing the way home service businesses operate—and how these same strategies apply directly to security and life safety companies. From rebuilding after acquisition to scaling past $5M, this conversation focuses on how to create leverage without blowing up overhead. You’ll learn: Why international talent is a force multiplier for growing service businessesHow to offload dispatching, AR/AP, customer service, and coordinationThe impact of removing low-value work from technicians and sales repsHow lean teams can scale faster by redistributing work, not adding headcountIf you’re building a life safety company and want to grow without adding unnecessary overhead, this episode is a blueprint. Stephen Olmon — https://x.com/stephenolmon Collin Trimble — https://x.com/TXAlarmGuy Jack Carr - https://www.youtube.com/@Jackquisitionsco More Entry & Exit — https://www.entryandexit.co/ Owned and Operated New Episodes Every Wednesday! Subscribe For More

    32 分钟

  7. 3月11日

    If You’re in Sales, Watch This (How Top Reps Actually Win Deals)

    If Your Sales Team Is Busy but Still Missing Quota, This Is Why  Most sales reps don’t have an activity problem. They have a process problem. In this episode of Entry & Exit, Stephen Olmon and Collin Trimble of Alarm Masters break down the sales systems, habits, and questions that help security, alarm, fire, and life safety companies close more deals without competing on price alone. They unpack what separates average reps from top performers, why most salespeople commoditize themselves, and how a structured sales process can improve close rates, qualification, and follow-up. They cover: Why most reps lose deals on priceHow to control the sales process from first contact to closeThe discovery questions that reveal budget, authority, and urgencyWhy bad deals should be disqualified earlyStephen Olmon — https://x.com/stephenolmon Collin Trimble — https://x.com/TXAlarmGuy More Entry & Exit — https://www.entryandexit.co/ Owned and Operated New Episodes Every Wednesday! Subscribe For More

    39 分钟

  8. 3月4日

    How We’d Spend $50K on Marketing in 2026

    If You Had $50K to Grow Your Business, Where Would You Spend It? If someone handed you $50,000 to grow your company today… where would you put it? Paid ads? SEO? Cold outbound? Sponsorships? In this episode of Entry & Exit, Stephen Olmon and Collin Trimble (Alarm Masters, Texas) break down exactly how they’d deploy a fresh $50K in a security, alarm, fire, or life safety business — and why they don’t fully agree. They cover: When paid ads are the fastest way to make the phone ringWhy SEO is a long-term asset (not a quick fix)How outbound still drives commercial growthThe importance of attribution, CRM tracking, and real ROI mathThe biggest mistakes owners make when hiring agenciesIf you run a security, fire alarm, or home service company and want predictable lead flow without lighting money on fire, this episode gives you a practical framework to test, measure, and scale what works. Stephen Olmon — https://x.com/stephenolmon Collin Trimble — https://x.com/TXAlarmGuy More Entry & Exit — https://www.entryandexit.co/ Owned and Operated New Episodes Every Wednesday! Subscribe For More

    36 分钟
查看全部 28 集

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关于

Entry & Exit is a podcast about building, scaling, and exiting security and fire businesses. Hosts Stephen Olmon and Collin Trimble share their journey growing Alarm Masters through acquisitions and organic growth, along with the lessons they’ve learned along the way. From recurring revenue strategies to sales, operations, and M&A, Entry & Exit gives business owners and entrepreneurs an inside look at what it takes to succeed in the security industry. Whether you’re starting your first company, growing past the owner-operator stage, or thinking about an eventual exit, you’ll find practical insights and real stories to guide your path.

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