M&A Unplugged Season 1 is coming to an end. Season 2 will be back after this summer. Visit our website to download our free resources for those wishing to buy or sell a business: https://k2adviser.com/resources/ If you enjoy our content, please remember to subscribe and leave a review. We look forward to seeing you again on the next episode of M&A Unplugged. Until then, please remember that scaling, acquiring or selling a business takes time, preparation and proper knowledge....
Jun 22, 2021•4 min•Ep. 107
M&A exclusivity is one major strategy utilized by many, but some are unaware of how to push its advantages to the limit. Starting a series of topics from his one-on-one client consultations, Domenic Rinaldi shares one conversation focused on exclusivity. He explains how this gives buyers the owners' undivided attention and speeds up the entire purchasing process. Domenic also breaks down the most important tips for sellers in releasing their company from the market to make it exclusive. He discu...
Jun 15, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 106
Although many businesses out there are similar in many ways, each one has value drivers unique to them. These significant factors dictate the overall framework of a business, and looking at them much closely will help a lot during valuations. Domenic Rinaldi highlights one of his most downloaded episodes that discusses the most common value drivers to consider. He explains how they hugely contribute to closing M&A transactions. From people management to complex finance and infrastructure program...
Jun 08, 2021•27 min
It’s no secret that a lot of industries were severely impacted by the pandemic. But how exactly did it affect bank financing for owners and buyers of businesses? Domenic Rinaldi shares some handy information for people who are interested in purchasing and selling their business. He explains the need to understand how banks view these deals and the different issues that come with them. Banks are being cautious and are looking at a good track record, monthly financial plans, and comparison between...
Jun 01, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 104
Employee integration is such a critical aspect of any M&A transaction that it’s a wonder why most entrepreneurs spend too little time planning for and executing this element. As a result, they often end up trying to catch up with it during the due diligence phase, which is quite a bit late to say the least. When is the right time to start thinking about employee integration? What essential considerations do you have to take in its execution? Domenic Rinaldi goes deeper into this topic with Jenni...
May 25, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 103
It is never a bad idea to acquire a thriving business. But sometimes, buyers find themselves in a bit of a pickle because of successor liabilities. Dissecting this topic with Domenic Rinaldi is Dino Armiros from the law firm Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr . Together, they discuss the most common sorts of successor liabilities every buyer should be aware of. They delve into the red flags to be determined while the final act asset purchase agreements are getting drafted. Dino also explores the respons...
May 18, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 102
These days, social media presence is in itself an asset. That is why it should be included in your due diligence when you’re sizing up a company you’re trying to purchase. If you’re a business owner, it is one thing that you have to consider if you want to take your company’s valuation a notch or two higher. However this aspect of due diligence doesn’t get nearly enough attention, especially considering the fact that digital will only grow in importance in the future. Recognizing this gap in the...
May 11, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 101
After hours of engaging discussions and interesting guests, M&A Unplugged now marks its 100th episode! Besides hitting this momentous achievement, the show is also being downloaded in more than 50 countries and one of top ten M&A shows worldwide. To celebrate their first hundred episodes, Domenic Rinaldi looks back with gratitude to everyone he has worked and collaborated with to make the podcast show possible and successful. He also brings some of his previous guests who share their anniversary...
May 04, 2021•22 min•Season 1Ep. 100
M&A deals don't just end after the acquisition. In fact, inherent to it are post-closing risks that buyers and sellers will have to face. Are there stones left unturned during the due diligence process? What monetary holdback and liability will arise? Domenic Rinaldi's guest for this episode, Patrick Stroth , has been the go-to person for many buyers and sellers looking for their way out of these risks. As the founder of Rubicon Insurance Services, LLC , he has been a pioneer in applying what is...
Apr 27, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 99
Knowing how to prepare for and conduct an initial meeting with a business owner drastically increases your chances of having a successful first meeting. First meetings are crucial when building any business relationship. When you come into the meeting fully prepared, you'll easily build rapport and gain the trust of the business owner. In this episode, Domenic Rinaldi provides a best practices overview on how to have a successful first meeting with an owner and why this is critically important t...
Apr 20, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 98
Do you want to be knowledgeable and prepared when you decide to exit your own business? Having an in-depth look at Small Business Acquisition Loans (SBA) will come in handy when that day arises. Today’s guest is Douglas Adams , the principal and president of Emerson Capital Corp , which provides financial solutions in business acquisition loans. In this episode, Douglas discusses with Domenic Rinaldi the qualification, costs, and debt structure of SBA. If you want to have great intel so you can ...
Apr 13, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 97
Casting a wide net over the marketplace gives you a lot of choices when it comes to business acquisitions. But without proper search criteria, having many options may result in more challenging decision-making. Tim Lahey joins Domenic Rinaldi to share how he narrowed his business acquisition choices to just a few industries, allowing him to acquire the custom integration company, Homerun Technology. He also talks about the strategies he followed to ensure a smooth transition with its past owners...
Apr 06, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 96
Many people who get into the world of merging and acquisition pay little to no attention to various tax consequences and how to optimize them. Despite the different experiences between sellers and buyers, how can we bridge the gap here? Joining Domenic Rinaldi to delve into this matter is CPA and attorney, Ed Castellani . Together, they talk about the right way to approach a seller demanding stock transaction with no optimal tax outcome, the specifics of the letter of intent, the buckets of allo...
Mar 30, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 95
Did you know that 90% of all businesses never exceed $1 million in sales? That is a huge number of companies and solopreneurs basically just plateauing in their business growth after capping a certain threshold value. If you’re an existing owner of a business or someone who is contemplating to acquire one and grow it, you may want to take some time for this one. Join in as Domenic Rinaldi talks to a return guest, Brett Trainor , an expert in helping companies that have plateaued break through th...
Mar 23, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 94
When you get to the core of why people fail during their transactions, you’ll see that it is because of the lack of preparation. And Domenic Rinaldi has some data to back this up. In this episode, he shares the highlights of the 300 buyer assessments collected in 2020, offering insights into why people fail to prepare and how you can avoid it. As we get into the thick of 2021, it is time to overcome the number one thing standing in the way of having a successful transaction. Follow Domenic in th...
Mar 16, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 93
There is something romantic about growing a business organically, but those who have been in the trenches know how unglamorous that process can be in the day-to-day. Growth through acquisition is a far quicker and easier option if you want to grow in scale, but you also have to be very careful about the potential pitfalls. This B2B marketer’s story beautifully illustrates that point. Priscilla McKinney is no stranger to adversity, as she has seen her previous business literally burn down to the ...
Mar 09, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 92
Valuation has always been one of the tougher nuts to crack in M&A deals, even under normal circumstances. When you throw in a pandemic to the mix, things begin to become more challenging, but also more interesting. Join Domenic Rinaldi as he speaks with Howard & Howard ’s Joe DeVito to discuss some of the creative deal structures that M&A parties have adopted to bridge the valuation and risk gaps that came as a result of COVID-19. While 2020 certainly has been a tough ride as far as M&A transact...
Mar 02, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 91
70% of M&A transactions are doomed to fail because of poor preparation and unclear strategies. To help minimize the risks faced by most business buyers and sellers, Domenic Rinaldi talks about seven of the most common M&A pitfalls that must be avoided at all costs. From the ROI targets and due diligence to valuation and integration, he delves into the most important stages of M&A and how to navigate through them effectively. Take note of each one, and you are on a straight, clear path to a succe...
Feb 23, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 90
Whether you are contemplating buying your first business, or you already own a business, growth is one of the key elements to the long-term health of your company. It has become hard to grow a business in traditional ways. On today’s podcast, let Domenic Rinaldi share a strategy to grow your business faster and cheaper. For more comprehensive guidance, download our due diligence best practices guide and checklist, as well as, additional free resources on our website at www.k2adviser.com/resource...
Feb 16, 2021•19 min•Season 1Ep. 89
COVID-19 shook the nation to its core and swept through various industries, putting a halt to many business operations. Private equity was profoundly affected by the crisis but jumped back into the game before 2021. Domenic Rinaldi is joined by Scott Becker to discuss how to approach private equity with smaller, COVID-19 resistant deals on the rise. For more guidance, download our due diligence best practices guide & checklist and additional free resources on our website at www.k2adviser.com/res...
Feb 09, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 88
The most common pitfalls buyers face can be avoided, however, if buyers can pay attention to them in due time. Joined by Joe Beer, the VP of Operations at Sun Acquisitions and over 200 deals under his belt, Domenic Rinaldi shares the top 7 most common due diligence pitfalls that buyers encounter during M&A transactions. For more comprehensive guidance, download our due diligence best practices guide and checklist, as well as, additional free resources on our website at www.k2adviser.com/resource...
Feb 02, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 87
It goes without saying that getting due diligence right can make or break your transaction. Your go-to M&A expert, Domenic Rinaldi, devotes this episode to give you a roadmap on due diligence. He discusses the best practices that successful deals have in common and provides a checklist of tasks to undertake during diligence. For more comprehensive guidance, download our due diligence best practices guide and checklist, as well as, additional free resources on our website at k2adviser.com/resourc...
Jan 26, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 86
For those who delve into business acquisitions, huge changes may be coming their way. Doug Adams of Emerson Capital and Domenic Rinaldi talk about the significant amendments to the CARES Act and the waving SBA fees for all new deals. This huge news will result in cheaper acquisitions for buyers and more earnings for sellers. For more comprehensive guidance, download our due diligence best practices guide and checklist, as well as, additional free resources on our website at k2adviser.com/resourc...
Jan 19, 2021•24 min•Season 1Ep. 85
Many entrepreneurs & businesses turn to wealth management firms for help in managing finances & assets. To learn more about this industry, Domenic Rinaldi interviews Tom Hine of Capital Wealth Management. He discusses how he started his own financial planning career, and how he built his business through conducting 7 acquisitions. For more comprehensive guidance, download our due diligence best practices guide and checklist, and additional free resources on our website at k2adviser.com/resources...
Jan 12, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 84
Many successful entrepreneurs know that, in one way or another, you will have to find your exit—one that leaves you far better than when you started. In this episode, Domenic Rinaldi invites serial entrepreneur and CEO of CareerGrig , Greg Kihlstrom , to talk about Greg’s experience growing a business through acquisition and then selling that same business years later for a much higher multiple. He shares how he was able to integrate a business into his existing operation and how to methodically...
Jan 05, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 83
What a year it has been! If you are still here standing, then you deserve a pat on the back for making it through. Now that we’re at the end of this chaotic 2020, it’s time to look back and recount the things we gained and the lessons we learned. Domenic Rinaldi bids this year goodbye in this last episode of 2020 as he provides an end-of-the-year recap and a good story about deal preparation. After all, what is a good way to end a challenging year than prepare for the next and make it the year i...
Dec 29, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 82
Many businesses have admirable visions, enticing goals, and meaningful purposes, but still fall short in attaining success. Most of the time, it is caused by a lack of a well-targeted business mindset. Domenic Rinaldi talks with Michael Zipursky, the CEO of Consulting Success , in discussing how to redirect your focus, hone an effective message, maximize outsourcing services, and pinpoint your target audience in order to start an effective, self-managing team. Michael also shares some useful tip...
Dec 22, 2020•42 min•Season 1Ep. 81
The landscape from where banks operate has changed. In this episode, Domenic Rinaldi discusses how the banks are handling M&A transactions in lending these days with the help of Doug Adams of Emerson Capital . With his expertise, Doug shares how deals are getting financed when the revenues of a business have been impacted positively or negatively, what the banks are looking for during underwriting, how to look at the deal structures when buying a business during this time, and more. For more com...
Dec 15, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 80
The COVID-19 pandemic has put all of us into this environment of uncertainty that moving forward often feels like walking with eyes closed. In this episode, Domenic Rinaldi goes solo to help us make sense of what is happening now in the M&A marketplace. He answers whether or not deals are happening and how they have changed during this period of time and likely in the future after COVID. Domenic provides some great key things to think of before doing a deal, no matter if you’re a buyer or a sell...
Dec 08, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 79
Due diligence and integration should have equal weighting in any acquisition. As integration is gaining more and more steam, more acquirers are asking how to do integration these days compared to years ago. Joining Domenic Rinaldi on today’s podcast is Mark Walztoni , who shares his high-level formula for approaching this phase, along with how to avoid some of the common pitfalls. This episode will surely help you be prepared for your next acquisition. For more comprehensive guidance, download o...
Dec 01, 2020•37 min•Season 1Ep. 78
