Mike Gardon bought websites to be his own boss. His best acquisition does $100k/mo — and he bought it for 5 figures. Themes from Mike’s interview: Why buying a website is better than building from scratch SEO & affiliate websites Opportunity for smaller buyers of affiliate sites Thinking about your websites like a financial portfolio The importance of a foundation business Reach Mike at: LinkedIn His personal website, michaelgardon.com CareerCloud Bonus: Quotebook , a project of Mike's he ca...
Aug 10, 2021•44 min
5 tactics to boost sales of acquired e-commerce businesses — and other insights from e-commerce aggregator TCM Digital. Key themes from Golan's interview: There is still plenty of room for solopreneurs to made good e-commerce acquisitions. Prices of e-commerce businesses have gone up, but still good value there. 5 tactics TCM uses to quickly boost sales of the e-commerce businesses they acquire. TCM Digital is an e-commerce aggregator based in Tel Aviv that has acquired 28 e-commerce businesses ...
Aug 05, 2021•44 min
How an outsider started with little money and bought 12 translation agencies in 6 years, aiming to reach €5m in revenue. Key themes from Cédric's interview: Acquired a translation agency in 2015 that was doing about €1.5m annually. He had little of his own money at that time and took a large loan to make the acquisition happen. 6 years later, he's acquired 11 more agencies and is aiming to reach €5m in annual revenue by the end of 2021. Reach Cédric Sigoire at: LinkedIn His translation agency, D...
Aug 03, 2021•47 min
With 6 e-commerce acquisitions and counting, Kelcey Lehrich has built 365 Holdings rapidly over the last 4 years. Key themes from Kelcey's interview: E-commerce as a path for acquisition entrepreneurs Other businesses Kelcey likes for acquisition entrepreneurs Business-buyer fit Personal guarantees Reach Kelcey Lehrich at: @kelceylehrich LinkedIn His e-commerce holding company, 365 Holdings The 365 EIR Program (+ great article on entrepreneurship through acquisition) Official episode page & ...
Jul 29, 2021•37 min
An early buyer on MicroAcquire, Spencer Scott acquired a SaaS for $280k. He analyzed the deal like a rental property. Key points from Spencer's story: He wasn't looking seriously for an acquisition but saw an opportunity and grabbed it: Median. The tech is what impressed him most. He couldn't believe the product was a small indy SaaS built by a couple developers. Median was selling for about 4x revenue, which was $75k ARR. Spencer learned the hard way to include teeth in an acquisition letter of...
Jul 27, 2021•36 min
Dan Spracklin acquired a septic pumping business doing $1M annually, then grew it to $3M and margins to 30% in 2 years. Key points from Dan's story: Gray Brothers was a septic pumping business founded in 1929, run by Dan Spracklin's father-in-law. It was generating about $1m per year in revenues from 22,000 customers. Septic pumping companies typically have margins of 10-15%. Dan & his wife added adjacent septic services to Gray Brothers and improved operations. Within 2 years, they'd pushed...
Jul 22, 2021•41 min
Two brothers took over a 110-year-old business in a stagnating industry. 7 acquisitions later, the future is bright. Key points from Ben's story: Ben Grossman & his brother pivoted their 110-year-old family business from printing to promotional products. The strategy was executed by acquisition: 7 of them from 2013 through 2021. Ben discusses the importance of treating sellers well to build a list of happy sellers that he can show future sellers as a reference. He explains how he uses suppli...
Jul 20, 2021•37 min
How an online entrepreneur teamed with a family office to acquire & grow a portfolio of 15 websites for over $2 million. Key points from Paul's story: Paul Lemley teamed with a family office to source, acquire, and grow a portfolio of websites. They ultimately acquired 15 sites across 3 acquisitions, spending between $2 and $3 million in total. Paul highlights 5 lessons from this recent foray into the website deal world. Reach Paul Lemley at: @palemley The flagship of his acquisition, Runner...
Jul 15, 2021•43 min
Rick Schmitz was an inexperienced 22-year-old with no money when he acquired a run-down ski resort and turned it around. Key points from Rick's story: Rick Schmitz was a 22-year-old graduating senior uninterested in pursuing a career in finance. He saw a small ski resort for sale in his native Wisconsin. It had been on the market (and losing money) for 5 years. Negotiated the original list price down from $1m to $625k. Most banks rejected him outright for a loan, but gradually he cobbled togethe...
Jul 13, 2021•35 min
In just 9 months, Mike Botkin decided to acquire a business, negotiated a great deal, and dramatically improved profits. Key points from Mike's story: B & B Landscaping was generating around $800k in annual revenues. Acquired it for 2x of SDE. Paid 50% cash up front, then the remaining 50% was seller financed with a 4-year loan at zero interest. Turns out a third of customer accounts are unprofitable, costing the business money & weighing down margins terribly. Money-losing customers are...
Jul 08, 2021•42 min
Nick Haschka left a Silicon Valley career and bought an office plant service in 2017, then acquired 9 more through 2021. Key points from Nick's story: The Wright Gardner was doing $1-2m in annual revenue, with margins in the 20% range. Acquired the business in 2017 for ~3x of SDE. Used SBA for 65-70% of the purchase price, 15% seller financing, and cash for the rest. Four months after acquisition, SBA banker came to them with another indoor plant services business looking to sell. Acquired that ...
Jul 06, 2021•41 min
How first-time acquirer Philippe Vanderhoydonck found a 30-year-old trade media business & bought it in under 3 months. Reach Philippe Vanderhoydonck at: LinkedIn His acquisition, PETS International Key points from Philippe's acquisition: PETS International is a 30-year-old trade publication that publishes 6 magazines and hosts 2 conferences per year Generates 20-35% margins on low-seven-figure revenues Opportunity is to expand online presence and product offering Acquired for low seven figu...
May 27, 2021•55 min
How former management consultant Scott Whitt acquired and grew a small clinical trials business into the millions. Key points from Scott's acquisition: Triad was generating $850k in revenues & large 70% margins Scott acquired it in 2015 for 3.5x earnings Used ROBS for part of the acquisition financing Grew revenues to $3m in 5 years Predicts business can grow to $6-7m Reach Scott Whitt: scott_whitt@outlook.com LinkedIn His acquisition, Triad Clinical Trials Official episode page & full s...
May 20, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Tyler Deike bought a small manufacturer for the cost of property & equipment, making the business itself almost free. Key points from Tyler's acquisition: Blackhawk Fiberwerx was doing $500k in sales with $100k in profit Seller was a retiring and overwhelmed 80-year-old Tyler couldn't due-diligence the deal to death — had to "cross fingers and dive in" Huge margin of safety. Business was selling for the combined value of its assets, so if business collapsed Tyler could recoup loan by selling...
Apr 16, 2021•32 min
Mike Yarmo bought a struggling distributor & turned it into a local powerhouse in a different niche — then sold for 5x. Key points from Mike's acquisition: Owner was disengaged, retiring, and looking to sell his food distribution company Company was 25 years old but had terrible margins Mike & team acquired for low 7 figures, or ~2x earnings Pivoted the company, grew aggressively over next few years Sold 5 years later for 5x earnings, and 5x original acquisition price Reach Mike Yarmo: O...
Apr 09, 2021•51 min
How a 9-month search was rewarded by the discovery of 2 tiny e-commerce companies primed for growth. Key points from Justin's acquisitions: Acquired first company for $160k, or about 3x earnings Generated $200k in revenues during first 6 months Represented more than a 3x year-over-year increase Acquired 2nd co with 100% seller financing Plans to 10x both cos value in 3 years Reach Justin Harris: LinkedIn Justin's two acquisitions: Walter & Rosie STACK Candles Official episode page & full...
Apr 01, 2021•41 min
