Is there some truth in starting small in the acquisition space?

It feels like just yesterday (9 Months ago) that buying a company seemed out of reach. I've since pursued multiple $1M+ purchase price deals with net projections for my own personal benefit in the $250K+, left my full time job, and focused the last 10 weeks on growing my network and taking actionable steps to making an acquisition happen.

To clarify, I don't have a problem with thinking small, but there has to be some truth in starting small to "earn your stripes" going from employed to a business owner never owning a business. I plan to utilize multiple sub $2M in revenue companies that provide support for each other.

My "starting small" 5 year plan currently looks like this:

Starting with a $850K revenue residential service plumbing company. Growing revenue by adding additional plumbers, adding HVAC techs, and potentially scaling with an electrical division. Then buying a small sub $1M revenue parking lot maintenance company to do concrete, asphalt, etc. Then pairing that with a $1.75M excavation, septic, and aggregate company (which happens to be a family business I'll have an option to take over in the next 5 years).

Starting small in the sub $2M revenue range allows me to get into these deals without big financial partners requiring me to give away equity. Instead, working these deals to be no money out of pocket utilizing the SBA and 10%+ seller carries. They're less desirable to most, but it's my full intention to take each small business and double revenue while targeting 30%+ margins, establishing systems, processes, and great teams.

I feel like I have a pretty good plan in place, but would love to get perspective from seasoned acquisition investors who have had experience in this space. Thank you in advance!