Register here for the webinar , How Big a Business Should You Buy? https://bit.ly/4cSC6is Topics in Jackson’s interview: Fulfilling his dream of living on the beach Transitioning from real estate to restaurants Buying a nostalgic restaurant with his friend Unique aspects of owning a business in a tourist town Cashflow advantage in restaurants Lack of competition for acquiring restaurants Finding and installing an experienced operator Evaluating a restaurant’s potential Acquiring a second restaur...
Sep 09, 2024•1 hr 31 min
Register here for the webinar , How Big a Business Should You Buy? https://bit.ly/4dPunmC Without backgrounds in business, Julie & Janna Hottinger have grown the $2.1m trades business they bought last year 50%. Topics in Julie and Janna’s interview: Being warned away from the asphalt industry Sisters who bought a construction business How the seller worked to ease the transition Acquiring with no prior business experience Slowly taking the all-paper business digital Cash flow challenges as a...
Sep 05, 2024•1 hr 19 min
An engineer at heart, Mike Dey set his sights on buying a manufacturing business for the next stage of his career. Topics in Michael’s interview: Pivoting from aerospace engineering to business ownership Selling his real estate investment to buy a business Beware turning your passion into your income Buying a business in his 40’s How risky is business ownership? The risk build-up model of valuing a business Saying no to a friend’s investment Buying a business bundled with real estate Managing a ...
Sep 03, 2024•1 hr 47 min
Register here for the webinar , Legal Office Hours: Common Legal Diligence Issues https://bit.ly/4dWmPxV After 5 years of owning a scale business, Matt Bauer & Chris Hartman were burning out. Fortunately they'd created value. Topics in Matt and Chris’s interview: Two military buddies bought a scale business Demanding grind of the industry Downside of providing a mission-critical service Building a sales team to grow the business Challenges in training technicians Attempting to acquire a comp...
Aug 29, 2024•1 hr 34 min
Register here for the webinar , Legal Office Hours: Common Legal Diligence Issues https://bit.ly/3ySUJ7R Topics in Meredith & Michael’s interview: Buying an employment screening company The seller staying on as an employee Strict industry regulations serve as a moat Upgrading technology after acquisition How the seller eased clients through the transition Why they’re not worried about AI Meredith’s growth as a manager Buying a business as a young couple Why this may be a difficult industry t...
Aug 26, 2024•1 hr 20 min
Register here for the webinar , Legal Office Hours: Common Legal Diligence Issues https://bit.ly/3YQP2lp Niklas James, Adam Borcz, and Tony Cappeart reflect on terms, risk & reward of the still-young self-funded search model. Topics in Search Investor Roundtable: White collar buyers of blue collar businesses Desirable traits for searchers Balancing investor returns and personal gains 3 common modeling mistakes Role of put options in deals How searchers sabotage their own deals Realistic expe...
Aug 22, 2024•1 hr 26 min
Register here for the webinar , Legal Office Hours: Common Legal Diligence Issues https://bit.ly/46OH4LN Ryan Sullivan's group is buying businesses with investor capital, SBA loans & operating partners — but it's not a fund. Topics in Ryan’s interview: “Moneyball approach” to buying businesses Making a career change at 48 Why it’s hard to find a good business Buying and holding manufacturing businesses Operating a holdco with 5 partners Generating returns from cash flows, not exits How soon ...
Aug 19, 2024•1 hr 37 min
3 top players in SBA lending to the searcher ecosystem discuss what they're seeing in the market as of summer 2024. Topics in SBA Lender Roundtable: Role of personal guarantee in SBA loan Why valuations remain high Rising amount of equity in deals How to find the right lender Industries: what’s hot, what’s not Financing for fast-growth businesses Increase in forgivable seller notes More re-trading in recent years Importance of buyer-seller trust SBA rule changes and their impact References and h...
Aug 15, 2024•1 hr 21 min
Gabe Perez sought a way out of corporate while Kristen sought a way back to working. Buying a $4m business offered both. Topics in Gabe and Kristen's interview: The role Acquiring Minds played in their acquisition Acquiring a cold storage manufacturer Paying a premium for a growing company Buying a business three hours away Risks of taking on big projects Implementing video conferencing Impact of business ownership on their family Keeping business and family time separate Getting his lender comf...
Aug 12, 2024•1 hr 43 min
Will Gano was rewarded for his persistence & vision when he bought an 8-figure, 125-year-old ingredients manufacturer. Topics in Will Gano’s interview: Getting experience in the food industry Doing outreach while working full time Hiring a buy-side broker to search for him Going through years of “search purgatory” Writing a personal letter with his LOI Buying a food ingredient manufacturer The upside of losing a major client before the transaction Importance of food safety Jumping through ho...
Aug 08, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Rob Carpenter was eager to start operating, so it only took 90 days to start searching then buy a $200k SDE business. Topics in Rob’s interview: His background in AI and software development His desire for a lower-stress lifestyle Prioritizing speed in his business search Changing his mind about franchises Buying 3 Merry Maids territories Digitizing processes in the business How labor turnover affects customer turnover Benefits of a negative cash cycle Comparing startup culture with running a sm...
Aug 05, 2024•1 hr 28 min
Years after one venture ended in failure, Jeff Velker bought a $2.5m pen maker with a strong brand & devoted customers. Topics in Jeff’s interview: His experience as a franchisee Bankruptcy after the 2008 crash The difference between buying a job and owning a business Losing his favorite pen led him to a pen company Appeal of pens in our digital age Acquiring with 2 partners Negotiating with a seller who won’t go lower Getting buy-in from spouses The risks of having his manufacturer in Taiwa...
Aug 01, 2024•1 hr 15 min
Jordan Evans left tech & bought a tiny, decades-old language services business. 6 years later, revenue is 17x larger. Topics in Jordan’s interview: Acquiring his parents’ language services business Spending 2 years preparing the deal Overpaying for a 180k SDE business Doubling the businesses through organic growth Pros and cons of seller notes “We’re buying a bucket of people and problems” Bolting on language companies as a growth strategy How fast they integrate newly acquired businesses Op...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 47 min
Register for the webinar: How (and Why) to Choose a Franchise as an Acquisition Entrepreneur - https://bit.ly/4fa3CKB Brett Kennedy has doubled & strengthened the sub-$1 million moving business he bought — but it hasn't been without pain. Topics in Brett’s interview: Being raised in an entrepreneurial family Buying Furniture Taxi, a moving company Driving the truck himself when employees don’t show Surprises the seller failed to mention Good and bad of buying small Daily stressors of running...
Jul 25, 2024•1 hr 39 min
Register for the webinar: How (and Why) to Choose a Franchise as an Acquisition Entrepreneur - https://bit.ly/3WwZqNR When Dustin Carreon reached a ceiling in his first small business, he used the profits to start buying other businesses. Topics in Dustin’s interview: Growing up in his parents’ scrapping business Inheriting and growing Freelance Electronics Learning the most from a difficult acquisition Timing and luck matters Key person risk in small-staff businesses His mistake of expanding be...
Jul 22, 2024•1 hr 44 min
Register for the webinars: Search Investor Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4cvUOwV Overcoming Common Deal Sticking Points - https://bit.ly/4cD9z17 How (and Why) to Choose a Franchise as an Acquisition Entrepreneur - https://bit.ly/3LpQEuK How Adam Markley evaluated thousands of businesses for sale and bought a handful of his own (6 in his portfolio today). Topics in Adam’s interview: Using online courses to teach business acquisition SBA loans vs. seller notes Raising your poten...
Jul 18, 2024•1 hr 28 min
Register for the webinars: Search Investor Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4cCMyuZ Overcoming Common Deal Sticking Points - https://bit.ly/3LkCpr3 How (and Why) to Choose a Franchise as an Acquisition Entrepreneur - https://bit.ly/4f2hCGc Nick Haschka & Dillan Ferguson are 5 months and 2 acquisitions into a roll-up targeting $50-60m revenue in 5 years. Topics in Nick and Dillan interview: How Nick and Dillan met on Twitter The future of reliance on generators Serving both re...
Jul 15, 2024•1 hr 25 min
Register for the webinars: SBA Lender Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4bydwTe Due Diligence Office Hours - https://bit.ly/3WbVpxT Search Investor Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/45SWMEY Purchase Agreement Fights: How to Avoid (or Win) Them - https://bit.ly/4eQ7z79 How Dominick Blue bought an air duct cleaning business and took it into HVAC services, all while retaining his W-2. Topics in Dominick’s interview: Keeping his W-2 while acquiring companies Mistakes he...
Jul 11, 2024•1 hr 55 min
Register for the webinars: SBA Lender Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4eTZ8Yn Due Diligence Office Hours - https://bit.ly/3WbAs6h Search Investor Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4eVYDxc Purchase Agreement Fights: How to Avoid (or Win) Them - https://bit.ly/4bwcgQx By doubling a $3m EBITDA business Juan Aguilar bought with traditional search fund terms, he is able to hold it forever. Topics in Juan’s interview: Huge challenge of buying a business in Central Ameri...
Jul 08, 2024•1 hr 51 min
Register for the webinars: Thu July 11 - SBA Lender Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4eJqUXB Fri July 12 - Due Diligence Office Hours - https://bit.ly/3VPQf9p We caution against thinking you can find it: 100% seller financing. But Renan Cortez did — and on a sizable business. Topics in Renan’s interview: His background as an Army medic Learning about acquisition via Codie Sanchez Using a virtual assistant to search for a business Negotiating a 100% seller note Feeling motivated b...
Jul 04, 2024•1 hr 37 min
Register for the webinars: Thu July 11 - SBA Lender Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/3XSdIcG Fri July 12 - Due Diligence Office Hours - https://bit.ly/3W1zQA6 Garrison Snell enjoyed a modest exit at age 24. By 30, he'd parlayed that into a holdco with $9m EBITDA and a mission. Topics in Garrison’s interview: Building and exiting a recording artist marketing agency His objective to do the most good for the most people Early ventures into real estate Buying and quickly selling a re...
Jul 01, 2024•1 hr 47 min
Register here for the webinar , How to Buy a Business & Hire an Operator at Once https://bit.ly/3KJnYwg 7 years ago Dan Verboski bought a sign business with $650k in earnings. He's doubled it, but ownership has taken a toll. Topics in Dan’s interview: Background in the Marines and retail Buying a sign company in Tyler, Texas Culture clashes and problem employees Selling off his real estate to keep the business going How he learned to fire faster Building a new company culture Making personal...
Jun 27, 2024•1 hr 43 min
Register here for the webinar , How to Buy a Business & Hire an Operator at Once https://bit.ly/3KH9RaS Will Smith has partnered with Niklas James & Max Lummis in a fund to invest in searcher & independent sponsor deals. Topics in this episode: Why raise a fund? How a fund comes together What it was like to raise money from LPs for a blind pool Why a business might be great for a searcher but not an investor How different investors have different needs Why small acquisitions are hard...
Jun 24, 2024•1 hr 8 min
Register here for the webinar , How to Buy a Business & Hire an Operator at Once https://bit.ly/3Rto4Mc -- Get Remediation Company CIM - Request the NDA to get the CIM of the Midwestern niche remediation company. https://bit.ly/45spnAI -- Before acquiring a commercial painting business doing around $2m, Colin Gates worked on a crew as one of its painters. Topics in Colin's interview: Aggressively saving while working in private equity Recurring revenue is BS Don’t sweat getting the perfect p...
Jun 20, 2024•1 hr 29 min
Register here for the webinar , How to Buy a Business & Hire an Operator at Once https://bit.ly/3RuI018 -- Get Remediation Company CIM - Request the NDA to get the CIM of the Midwestern niche remediation company. https://bit.ly/4b6rnjA -- JD Beck transformed a small (and small-town) plumbing business, took it into a larger market, and tripled it in a year. Topics in JD’s interview: Lessons learned from a failed deal Buying a tiny plumbing business Bringing operations into the 21st Century Le...
Jun 17, 2024•1 hr 54 min
Elliott Edge started as a searcher looking for a single business, then pivoted to a roll-up. He's 7 acquisitions in. Topics in Elliot’s interview: His philosophy on submitting LOI’s Acquiring a managed service provider amidst Covid His wife’s role in the acquisition Value of an MBA in acquiring a business Quickly going remote when Covid hit Building trust with employees How soon and fast to make changes Creating more value through roll-ups Integrating new acquisitions into the roll-up His belief...
Jun 13, 2024•1 hr 40 min
Register here for the webinar , The DO's & DON'Ts of the LOI (legal office hours) https://bit.ly/3VeWF1B Matt Pohl & his wife bought a small welding business with extreme key person risk. They 4x'd the business in 2 years. Topics in Matt’s interview: Starting, growing and selling his own business Acquiring a welding business with his wife Learning how to hire welders The difficulties of hiring through a staffing agency Transient nature of welders Growing while maintaining margins Stress ...
Jun 10, 2024•1 hr 44 min
Register here for the webinar , The DO's & DON'Ts of the LOI (legal office hours) https://bit.ly/3yCQaOw Despite having no experience in manufacturing, Jens Grudno jumped when he heard about a failing straight-razor business. Topics in Jens’s interview: Buying a bankrupt razor manufacturer Embracing risk in German business culture Cleaning out and moving a 116-year old business Another company poaching their clients Pitfalls to avoid when buying a business Developing a new, innovative produc...
Jun 06, 2024•1 hr 57 min
Register here for the webinar , The DO's & DON'Ts of the LOI (legal office hours) https://bit.ly/4538koZ Stephen Quindlen & Paul Westhart have found powerful multipliers that could yield huge returns in an unlikely industry. Topics in Stephen and Paul’s interview: Acquiring auto repair shops Retaining talent by adding employee benefits Fleet vs. passenger car business Almost losing a foreman on day one Why they love the Mountain West Recruiting California workers to Idaho Innovative real...
Jun 03, 2024•1 hr 57 min
Matt Drndak bought a parts business with a plan to grow it. It worked — he's doubled earnings. But it's taken patience. Topics in Matt’s interview: Losing everything in the Great Recession His experience in franchises Buying an online store for construction equipment parts Leveraging service to stand out from competitors Determining the value of the inventory Serving customers with low computer literacy Non-mechanic buying a mechanical parts business Capturing the seller’s technical knowledge in...
May 30, 2024•1 hr 21 min
