After Megan McGee pivoted her search fund to a self-funded approach, she bought a business where she wanted to settle. Register for the webinars: From Owner to Owner: Business Transition Lessons - Thu March 12 - https://bit.ly/4ctCJCw Topics in Megan’s interview: Family background in pest control Internship with previous guest Edward McDonnell Starting out in traditional search Investors declined to support a deal she loved Pivoting to self-funded search Deciding not to buy her dad’s business Bu...
Mar 09, 2026•1 hr 25 min
Jonathan Taylor has quickly grown revenue 40% at his acquisition through digitization, process improvement, and sales. Topics in Jonathan’s interview: Searching while working full-time His “now or never” moment approaching 40 Restricting his search to Los Angeles Over-equitizing the deal Structuring a forgivable seller note Accepting 60% ownership Finding long-term hold investors Buying from a non-retiring seller Christian stewardship principles Growing revenue 40% References and how to contact ...
Mar 05, 2026•1 hr 31 min
After his first ownership experience ended badly, Joe Springsteen bought a $3.2m maintenance business that is thriving. Topics in Joe’s interview: Background in law and operations Divorce as a catalyst for change Acquiring a biohazard cleanup business Doing cleanup himself His original growth thesis failed Selling the cleanup business His “Codie Sanchez phase” Prioritizing geography in his search Acquiring an exterior cleaning business Building competitive advantage References and how to contact...
Mar 02, 2026•1 hr 21 min
Edward McDonnell bought a local services business via traditional search fund and grew it to 8 branches across 5 states. Register for the webinar: SMB Cybersecurity: Why Operators Need a Risk Assessment - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4u2GO7d Topics in Edward’s interview: Mechanical engineering at Honda Choosing traditional search for budget Acquiring an indoor plant/landscaping business Going in with no management experience Digitizing the back office Constantly repeating the company vision Using EO...
Feb 26, 2026•1 hr 30 min
Scott Crosby weathered the challenges that come with buying a 4.5-employee services business, and Year 2 is looking up. Register for the webinars: Common Legal Diligence Issues (and How to Handle Them) - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/3OQhm4l SMB Cybersecurity: Why Operators Need a Risk Assessment - Thu, Feb 26 - https://bit.ly/4bY1KWe Topics in Scott’s interview: His 2 major career-defining moments 20-hour days in film production Risks of buying from younger owners Economic development resource ce...
Feb 23, 2026•1 hr 30 min
Tato Corcoran returns with updates on her ownership of a sink maker that had just $400k in revenue when she bought it. Register for the webinar: Red Flags That Kill or Reshape Deals - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4rsjvla Topics in Tato’s interview: Growing her top line revenue Finding a mentor at Starbucks Creating an employee handbook Reconfiguring the factory with new equipment How she implements extreme ownership Profit First accounting Being tied to the real estate market Goals for her real esta...
Feb 19, 2026•1 hr 14 min
Don Grigg reflects on the different outcomes for 2 businesses he bought in his 30s, one of which became his life's work. Register for the webinar: Red Flags That Kill or Reshape Deals - Feb 19th - https://bit.ly/468vw6W Topics in Don’s interview: Discovering his passion for manufacturing Searching for “small, broken companies” to acquire Closing on 2 businesses within 6 months How plastics recycling works Scaling his plastics recycling business Private equity is a poor fit for small business Exi...
Feb 16, 2026•1 hr 22 min
In addition to buying his own business, Evan DiLeonardi trades buy-side services for equity in other SMB acquisitions. Topics in Evan’s interview: Entering the Airbnb space Joining Ben Kelly’s acquisition group Buying a commercial cleaning business Being a remote “workaholic” Realizing he bought a business in distress First year in survival mode Getting a team of great managers in place His “Equity in Kind” partner model Enjoying search more than operations Building a holding company References ...
Feb 12, 2026•1 hr 55 min
He started by buying a small flooring business in 2000. Today Paul Lajoie takes home $1m a year and works how he wants. Register for the webinar: Why Deal Flow Isn’t Your Biggest Problem - TOMORROW! - https://bit.ly/4ah8L1E Topics in Paul’s interview: Background in Big Six accounting Buying the first business he looked at Partnering with his brother Downsizing his lifestyle in the beginning Underestimating working capital needs Detailed partnership agreements You are not smarter than the seller ...
Feb 09, 2026•1 hr 37 min
Andrew Kurzrok connected with his seller over his manufacturing background, leading to a successful deal and transition. Topics in Andrew’s interview: Background in science and national labs Spending all his time traveling for work Wanting to stop traveling when his son was born Studying management at Yale Gaining management experience before searching Making a “no” list Success with cold calling business owners Putting down 25% equity Regional moat of sheet metal His “crawl, walk, run” approach...
Feb 05, 2026•1 hr 44 min
Sensing untapped potential, Ville-Matias Vilén bought a sub-million manufacturer with good IP and global distribution. Topics in Ville’s interview: Desire to “eat what he kills” 1990’s Finnish Recession Aversion to solving people problems Acquiring a cattle brush manufacturer Funding his deal in Finland Patents as a moat Relocating the manufacturing 5 hours away Sharing ownership with his family’s company Goal to grow 5x in 5 years Long-term holdco vision References and how to contact Ville: Lin...
Feb 02, 2026•1 hr 14 min
Despite success in corporate, Jarom Wren wanted more freedom, so he traded 5 figures of salary for 7 figures of revenue. Topics in Jarom’s interview: Realizing he was renting himself to a corporation Mid-career risk assessment Searching for a digital business Choosing the lowest cost Q of E “Deals want to die” Risks of a 4-year old e-com business Offering education as well as DIY products Deciding against using ROBS Buying 70% of the company His first year report card References and how to conta...
Jan 29, 2026•1 hr 36 min
Family planning and entrepreneurship converged as Linh & Leo Van Deibel bought their first (and not last) business. Topics in Linh & Leo’s interview: Making the case for business acquisition Taking family planning into account Searching in the UK as a non-citizen Being taken seriously as an Asian woman Their goal of building a holdco Thousands of meetings with sellers Search is a numbers game Brutal IVF process Giving up on acquiring SaaS Buying an engineering consulting firm References ...
Jan 26, 2026•1 hr 35 min
Jacob VosWinkel searched in tertiary markets to find a successful flooring store, his platform to build something big. Register for the webinar: What You’re Really Paying: Net Working Capital & Net Debt Explained - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/49WI4Ao Topics in Jacob’s interview: Recommending markets of 50k-100k people Scraping BizBuySell listings Reaching out to 200 potential investors Raising $1 million equity in 2 weeks Advantages/disadvantages of searching under 30 Moving across the country ...
Jan 22, 2026•1 hr 42 min
George Stern leaned into changing consumer search habits when he bought a digital marketing agency doing mid-7 figures. Register for the webinars: Which Franchise Industries Make Sense in 2026? - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4jQCN0U What You’re Really Paying: Net Working Capital & Net Debt Explained - Jan 22nd - https://bit.ly/49mgU5Y Topics in George’s interview: Turning around an Amazon seller’s agency Acquiring 2 small ecommerce businesses Loving the customers more than the product Selling...
Jan 19, 2026•1 hr 45 min
Phil Koller studied the concentration and key man risks in a distribution business well-suited to him — and went for it. Register for the webinar: From W2 to Owner Mindset: How to Think About Your Take-Home Pay - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4r5RsI3 Topics in Philip’s interview: Preferred working in a small company His friend talked him into real estate, then ETA Inspired by Rich Dad, Poor Dad Importance of having his wife on board Paused search due to upcoming second child Bought Roman Enterprises,...
Jan 15, 2026•1 hr 24 min
Matt Orley wanted to enter the short-term rentals space. Buying a business — and a brand he admired — was his way in. Register for the webinars: DO’s and DON'Ts of the LOI - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/3YtLIvp From W2 to Owner Mindset: How to Think About Your Take-Home Pay - Jan 15th - https://bit.ly/4qJ1Xk5 Topics in Matt’s interview: Investment properties as a side hustle Evolving short-term rental ecosystem Difficult transition with the seller Influence of Airbnb on customer expectations Impo...
Jan 12, 2026•1 hr 25 min
Adam Vandermyde had to be persuaded to acquire the $15m business that he ultimately professionalized and exited to PE. Register for the webinar: How to Present Your Deal for Maximum SBA Success - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/3KW7aWL Topics in Adam’s interview: Leaving consulting 2 months from making partner Taking on the CEO role at the target before closing Focusing on EBITDA over revenue A construction mistake that cost the company dearly Parsing data to understand “margin per labor dollar” Advant...
Jan 08, 2026•1 hr 20 min
Joe Odell and his partner acquired a business with over $4m in earnings and lots of green flags. It went sideways fast. Register for the webinar: How to Present Your Deal for Maximum SBA Success - Jan 8th - https://bit.ly/4snUKHY Topics in Joe’s interview: His blue collar, military background Volunteering without pay for a consulting company Ultimately rejecting the tech industry Finding his search partner at business school Seeking out a complex business Doing traditional search, on his wife’s ...
Jan 05, 2026•1 hr 34 min
The first business Joe Soelberg bought did $400k SDE. The experience and cash flow enabled a second, larger acquisition. Topics in Joe’s interview: Leaving corporate for a chance to manage P&L His toughest pitch was to his wife Acquiring a 3D design firm Pivoting hard during Covid Hiring a manager with a design background Acquiring a branding agency Difference between branding and marketing Retainer model for recurring revenue Offering less than listing price His hand-off relationship with h...
Dec 31, 2025•1 hr 43 min
Former pro bowler Mike Fagan bought a $2m bowling center with a plan to roll up and rejuvenate these legacy businesses. Topics in Mike’s interview: His professional bowling career Connecting with a bowling-specific broker Economic role of league bowlers The decline of bowling in America Traditional bowling vs Bowlero Buying a traditional, older bowling alley Running leaner to pay down debt Employee resistance to change Success with online bookings His goal of managing remotely References and how...
Dec 29, 2025•1 hr 51 min
Tato Corcoran packed a lifetime of learning (and tears) into 18 months when she left tech & bought a tiny manufacturer. Topics in Tato’s interview: Connecting with sellers through direct mail Her “Say yes and figure it out later” approach Difficulty in hiring unskilled labor How she solved her labor issue Being a single woman in a male industry Learning Spanish to communicate with her employees Hemorrhaging money the first 8 months Raising prices 40% without losing customers The difference b...
Dec 24, 2025•1 hr 45 min
The construction services business Christian Bateson bought will do $7.5m in 2024. It also rescued him from the depths. Topics in Christian’s interview: His front row seat to the 2008 financial crisis Qualities of a top salesperson Business acquisition as a way out of a miserable career Shopping around for an SBA loan Choosing to play to his strengths and outsource his weaknesses Difficulty in hiring for construction Bouncing back and growing after Covid losses Red flags he ignored when acquirin...
Dec 22, 2025•1 hr 55 min
Respected consumer brands are not common in lower middle market acquisitions, but Philip Hussey and Chenmark bought one. Topics in Philip’s interview: Chenmark’s acquisition of Thomas Moser Leading a furniture business as a non-craftsman Chenmark’s hold-forever intention Wait times for custom, hand-made furniture Long tenure of craftsmen Commitment to world-class quality Getting away from offering discounts Building talent through their woodworker school Running a company with a strong legacy be...
Dec 18, 2025•1 hr 17 min
Robert Gayden worked for over a year to buy a home care business. Revenue kept growing but the price remained the same. Register for the webinar: What Killed Deals in 2025 - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/44r1pH5 Topics in Robert’s interview: Influence of his late father The “go bigger” search philosophy Appeal of the home health care industry 17-month acquisition process Choosing to operate “in the weeds” of the business Leading with high expectations Focusing on increasing sales Achieving 15% gro...
Dec 15, 2025•1 hr 37 min
Scott Duncan endured brutal ups & downs — and personal depression — during his ownership of a doomed tool & die business Register for the webinar: How to Model an Investor-Backed Search Acquisition - TODAY! - https://bit.ly/3XysjZB Topics in Scott’s interview: Wishing he had listened to his gut The risk of EBITDA (vs. revenue) concentration Managing highly skilled primadonnas Employee theft Losing key employees Long sales cycles and fixed quotes Forced Covid shutdown Razor and blade busi...
Dec 11, 2025•1 hr 39 min
Andy Rougeot launched remote territories of the blue collar business he bought, which led to $1.7m of EBITDA and an exit Register for the webinars: How to Invest In SMBs (Without Buying One Yourself) - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4rBI4Nb How to Model an Investor-Backed Search Acquisition - Dec 11th - https://bit.ly/4owBkNW Topics in Andy’s interview: His experience as an Army intelligence officer When in doubt, do the dirtiest job The military concept of “left seat, right seat” training Searchin...
Dec 08, 2025•1 hr 28 min
Steve Carroll started as an SBA searcher before pivoting to a PE-backed roll-up. It's gone better than he ever expected. Register for the webinars: How to Run the SBA Deal Race - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/3Xh3WQb How to Invest In SMBs (Without Buying One Yourself) - Dec 9th - https://bit.ly/44Gylv1 Topics in Steve’s interview: Experience working for WalMart corporate Searching while working full time Myth of passive income Large dead deal costs from a failed acquisition Partnering with his childh...
Dec 04, 2025•1 hr 42 min
Jake Bittner bought an unprofitable carve-out doing $3m. A key pivot grew revenue to $20m and got the attention of PE. Register for the webinar: How to Run the SBA Deal Race - Dec 4th - https://bit.ly/44whqv6 Topics in Jake’s interview: Building a nest egg before leaving his job Fallout from his father’s failed businesses Calculating the value of a business losing money Disliking the bureaucracy of large companies Joining his friend to run a distressed company Employee war stories Changing the s...
Dec 01, 2025•1 hr 41 min
Dave Gilbert spent 2 years fixing the model and customer concentration of the $750k SDE family business he bought with SBA debt. Topics in Dave’s interview: Leaving tech to buy a white collar business Meeting with 120 owners while searching Buying a business he initially passed on Risks of family members as employees Financial surprises after the transition Losing 23% of revenue when clients left Accountants do not like change Recruiting top talent Importance of listening to employees Transferri...
Nov 26, 2025•1 hr 15 min
