> No one can start a new plumbing/HVAC small business.

This isn't true at all, I know several people who have done it.

I understood OP's comment as once PE comes in, monopolizes and regulatory captures, then no one can start a new plumbing/HVAC small business.

Yeah, I think that’s the sentiment. I do wonder how true it can be, however.

I wonder how it is in various states, but at least where I live the actual plumbers get licensed, not the plumbing company. So what can they do to stop it? NDAs? Non-Competes? The state also takes a dim view on such things until you are paying someone a significant amount of W-2 money.

SEO? Brand recognition?

Well anyway, a few months ago I shared a table at a restaurant with someone that worked at a family office, and was buying up landscaping companies. I asked some questions in a polite and friendly manner; nothing too pointed or invasive. But came away with the idea that there is a lot of money out there looking for something to do, and not a lot of good ideas.

Creating ever more onerous/costly/time-consuming requirements for lengthy apprenticeships or other licensing gatekeeping is one common way to restrict supply, all while appearing to be serving the public interest.

"where I live the actual plumbers get licensed, not the plumbing company."

Which then leads to plumbing shops were the licensed plumber doesn't even work there and just rents out the license to the business so it can operate. Plumbing certs are a complete pyramid scheme.

Not unless you know time travelers. It’s a statement about the future, and how this kind of industry consolidation tends toward regulatory capture.

So in 5 years or so, we suddenly see laws everywhere that require expensive certifications, new kinds of insurances, audit requirements, and so on in the name of “safety” no one can start a new small business in those industries without a team of consultants, lawyers, big auditing firms, and so forth.