Top M&A Entrepreneurs  - podcast cover

Top M&A Entrepreneurs

Welcome to Top M&A Entrepreneurs – your go-to resource for inspiration, insight, and actionable advice on business buying. Each episode features engaging conversations with business buyers who share their “why” and industry service providers who break down the “how.” Learn from the pros and take your next step toward a successful acquisition with confidence.

Episodes

Buy Company, Cranks Margins to 73% Net Margins, Sell to PE for Massive Payday

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 "How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business" Lindsay Gremmer didn’t just buy a company—she engineered an ATM. Starting with a finance degree and zero illusions about how tough business can be, she acquired Vail Financial Services, an accounting firm with solid bones but untapped potential. What happened next? She scaled it like a pro. She optimized operations, built rock-solid client relationships, and turned the business into a profit machine —hitting a ridi...

Mar 08, 20251 hr 1 min

Forget the Gurus – Here’s the REAL Truth About Consulting for Equity

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 "How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business" Alright, here’s the deal—Rob Lombardi went from military life to crushing it in business. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. He took some hits, learned some hard lessons, and figured out what actually works: adding value, knowing when to exit, and making smart moves instead of just chasing money. His secret weapon? Consulting for equity. Instead of just giving advice, he helps businesses grow and then negotiates a p...

Feb 18, 202557 min

Lessons from from Failed Business Buyer and My Failed Rollup

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 "How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business" Summary Jon Stoddard sits down with Jed Morris—a veteran who swapped the military for business ownership. He thought buying a business would be his golden ticket. Instead? A crash course in what not to do. Jed dives into his journey through ETA (Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition), finding and acquiring a landscaping business, and the hard truth: just because a business looks “boring” doesn’t mean it’s easy. He l...

Feb 12, 20251 hr 1 min

This guy sold 136 HVAC companies

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 "How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business" Summary In this eye-opening interview, Jon Stoddard talks with Patrick Lange, a top-tier business broker who has mastered the art of selling HVAC companies. Patrick shares his journey from owning an HVAC business to becoming the industry’s go-to expert for buying and selling HVAC companies. This conversation dives deep into: The critical importance of understanding seller motivations and how it impacts deal success...

Jan 22, 202556 min

Inside The Mind of a Top Investment Banking Deal Maker

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 "How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business" Summary In this conversation, Jon Stoddard interviews Scott Wiebel from Sierra Pacific Partners, delving into the intricacies of investment banking and the business selling process. They discuss the importance of building relationships for deal flow, the motivations behind selling a business, the due diligence process, and the emotional aspects of closing deals. Scott shares insights on navigating offers and the ch...

Jan 06, 202551 min

Jules Took 2 Years to Buy His First Metal Fab Business—Now He Owns 3

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business" Summary In this conversation, Jon Stoddard interviews Jules Brenner from Metal Solutions Holdings, discussing the company's journey in acquiring multiple welding and metal manufacturing businesses. They explore the importance of partnerships, the challenges of refining a buy box, the self-funding approach, and the unique landscape of California manufacturing. Jules shares insights on operational improvements, the si...

Nov 30, 202455 min

Can You Buy 100% of a Business with Other People’s Money?

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business" Summary In this conversation, Jon Stoddard interviews John Panaccione, an Army veteran and entrepreneur who co-founded LogicBay and later launched Folla Capital. They discuss the intricacies of participating preferred equity, the challenges of raising capital for small to medium-sized business acquisitions, and the evolving landscape of SBA loans. John shares insights on structuring deals, investor relations, and the imp...

Nov 01, 202428 min

Can Self-Funded Searchers REALLY Raise MILLIONS of CAPITAL?

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business" Summary Can Self-Funded Searchers REALLY Raise MILLIONS of CAPITAL to Buy a Business? Sean Smith of Search Fund Ventures explains how its done. Takeaways • Search Fund Ventures focuses on self-funded searchers and independent sponsors. • They target essential products and services for investment. • Investment involves filling equity gaps for searchers. • Sean emphasizes the importance of downside and upside return scenar...

Nov 01, 202444 min

How we bought 3 Multi-Million Dollar HVAC Businesses

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business" Summary Nathan Lenahan didn’t just “fall” into success—he fought for it. In this gripping conversation, he reveals the raw, unfiltered truth about the challenges he faced in his early business acquisitions and how a single strategic pivot to HVAC transformed everything. You’ll hear how Nathan overcame growth roadblocks, built a powerhouse team, and launched a recruiting business that’s now generating fresh revenue stream...

Sep 30, 202458 min

The Unexpected Acquisition: Buying a Bookkeeping Business

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business" Summary In this conversation, Daniel Gertrudes shares his journey from a corporate background to becoming an entrepreneur in the accounting industry. He discusses the challenges and insights gained from acquiring accounting firms, transforming operations to the cloud, and the evolution of financial services. The conversation also delves into marketing strategies, the impact of technology, and the future of accounting in ...

Sep 30, 202459 min

How to Start, Scale, and Acquire 3 Accounting Firms: The Blueprint

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business" Summary Michael Ly reveals how he built Reconciled from the ground up and then acquired 3 more accounting firms. Discover his secrets to scaling with outsourced accounting, cold email outreach, and using tech to streamline the workload. He uncovers the biggest challenges in the accounting industry today—AI, fewer grads, and more. Michael shares insights on finding capital partners, integrating firms, keeping clients and ...

Sep 09, 202449 min

How Private Equity Generates High Returns

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business Summary Adam Coffey discusses the re-release of his book, Private Equity Playbook, and the importance of understanding private equity for entrepreneurs. He explains how private equity works, including the process of raising funds, buying and growing companies, and generating returns. Coffey emphasizes the potential for entrepreneurs to use private equity as a tool for wealth creation and multiple exits. He also discusses the c...

Aug 23, 202456 min

5 Deadly Deal Red Flags

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business Summary Patrick O'Connell, a quality of earnings specialist, discusses the importance of analyzing the true earnings potential of a business before buying or selling. He highlights five red flags to watch out for in a potential deal: pending lawsuits, high employee turnover, inconsistent financials, declining market share, and key dependence on a few customers. Patrick emphasizes the need for thorough due diligence and un...

Aug 22, 202439 min

How & Why We Bought Four Mid Market Fence Companies with Sam Rosati

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business Summary Sam Rosati co-founder of Premier Solutions Group, discusses his experience in acquiring and growing fence companies in the sunbelt region. He highlights the importance of focusing on commercial fencing, which offers larger projects and a competitive advantage. Sam also emphasizes the significance of building a strong team and delegating tasks to ensure the success of the business. He shares insights on the acquisition ...

Aug 12, 202435 min

Battle-Tested Leadership: Special Forces Veterans & Business Acquisitions

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business Summary Meet Robert Kirila and Mark Whaling, the duo behind Black Powder Partners—a game-changing venture that's turning the dream of entrepreneurship into a reality for special forces veterans. Born out of their passion for aiding these heroes as they transition to civilian life, their journey began with Your Grateful Nation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping special forces veterans find success in the corporate world. Bu...

Aug 05, 202459 min

From Zero to $10 Million Net Worth How One Deal Changed Everything

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business Summary Curious how a veteran chiropractor turned a mid-market acquisition into a $10M net worth? Henry Silvestriz did just that. Partnering with his corporate-savvy father, they formed Vinci Holdings LLC, spent 21 grueling months in search and due diligence, and finally secured a top-tier medical company. Now at the helm, Henry shares insider secrets on navigating the personal injury care world, dealing with lawsuit-driven pa...

Jun 20, 202439 min

How Family Offices Make Strategic Acquisitions

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business Summary How do Family Offices make strategic acquisitions that stand out in the competitive world of M&A? Fasten your seatbelts because we’re about to dive deep into the journey of James Carey. Imagine starting your career in mortgage banking, only to find yourself working alongside the legendary Wayne Huizenga at his family office. From there, the journey takes you through the corridors of HIG and Peterson Partners, final...

Jun 14, 202443 minSeason 1Ep. 141

Selling Businesses in Dubai

Get my Free Book, "How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business" https://www.dealflowsystem.net/UNLOCKTHE3DOORS Summary Ever wonder what its like to sell Businesses in Dubai? How is it different than the US? I aim to find out. Tahir Kashif shares his journey into the M&A business, the founding of his business brokerage, and the characteristics of selling Businesses in Dubai. He also discusses the differences and similarities between the business markets in the United States and Du...

Jun 05, 202437 minSeason 1Ep. 140

Do you want to start an investment company to buy businesses? Being a Good Buyer to Sellers

Do you want to start an investment company to buy businesses and tell the seller you are going to preserve their culture and values? Success isn't always a straight line. Meet Sunny Vanderbeck. He built a thriving tech business, took it public, and was ready to sell and make millions. But when the first buyer backs out at the last minute, he's left scrambling." A second buyer steps in, only to declare bankruptcy, forcing Sunny to buy his company back. But he couldn't buy it b...

May 29, 202452 minSeason 1Ep. 139

How to Buy a Bigger Competitor - Getting Unstuck

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 "How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business" Summary Have you ever felt stuck in your business, like you're just treading water? Maybe you’ve hit a plateau or the competition feels insurmountable. Today, we’re diving into a bold strategy: buying a bigger competitor. Yes, you heard that right! Acquiring a larger rival can be a game-changer. In this interview with Greg Moran, we’ll explore how this approach helped his software business flip the tables from...

May 23, 202446 minSeason 1Ep. 138

It took 6 years but...I just wanted to be rich

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business Summary Imagine knowing it would take six years to buy a business. Six years of negotiations, setbacks, learning, and persistence. Would you have the guts to start? It’s a test of endurance that asks more of you at every turn. Can you stay committed when the process drags on? Can you keep your investors engaged and maintain the confidence of your stakeholders? This is not just about having the capital; it's about having t...

May 15, 202446 minSeason 1Ep. 137

Successful M&A Advisor Secrets with Denis Mezheritskiy

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business Summary Ever thought about being an M&A Advisor? Watch this video about Denis Mezheritkiy's journey to learn if the gig is right for you. When Denis Mezheritskiy inherited his parents' trucking company, he saw an opportunity to merge it with his wholesale distribution business, creating a more robust operation. Facing challenges like low margins and perishable goods, Denis refined his strategy to enhance efficien...

May 09, 202444 minSeason 1Ep. 136

How 2 Acquisitions Saved My Failing VC Funded Startup to SPAC IPO

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business Summary Running a startup during a global pandemic can feel like navigating through a storm. This is the story of Joe Davey, the entrepreneur behind the tech startup Banzai. Starting with venture capital backing, Joe’s venture began to gain momentum, but the arrival of COVID-19 put everything at risk. Faced with the potential collapse of his company, Joe needed to make a critical decision quickly. He proposed a strategic pivot...

May 06, 202431 minSeason 1Ep. 135

The Accidental M&A Roll-Up Entrepreneur

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business Summary Jordan Evans, an accidental M&A Roll-Up entrepreneur, shares his journey of acquiring his family's language service business and turning it into a successful roll-up strategy. He discusses the importance of earning and learning while working for someone else, the value of self-teaching and optimizing for roles that provide real-world experience. Jordan emphasizes the need to be willing to do every role in a sm...

Apr 03, 20241 hr 13 min

Ross Turner Raised $235 Million for Acquisitions

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business Summary Ross Turner shares his journey from digital marketing to raising $235 Million for acquiring e-commerce companies. He started in direct response and grew a successful survivalist company before transitioning to direct response e-commerce. Ross emphasizes the importance of copywriting and driving traffic to generate revenue. He also discusses the value of paying for courses and finding the right business partner. Ross an...

Mar 22, 20241 hr 2 min

What I learned from buying a failing business - Duke Heninger

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business Summary Duke Heninger's journey from CFO to acquisition entrepreneur is a tale of resilience, adaptation, and learning. Taking on a failing restoration company, Duke faced the steep challenges of an industry built on trust and relationships, grappling with cash flow issues and operational hurdles. An unexpected large job opportunity provided a lifeline, allowing him to stabilize the business temporarily. However, the rele...

Mar 22, 202447 minSeason 1Ep. 135

Achieving Success in the Lower Middle Market: an Interview with CEO Sier Capital Partners, Kevin Ramsier

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business Summary Kevin Ramsier, CEO of Sier Capital Partners and Rival Capital, shares his journey in the M&A industry. He discusses his background and the motivation behind starting his own business. Ramsier reflects on the importance of aligning personal values with business decisions. He shares his experience of buying and selling companies, including SWOT Environmental and Sage Integration. Ramsier also discusses the role of pa...

Feb 28, 202458 minSeason 1Ep. 134

Proof of Funds & Down Payment Investors for SMB Business Buyers: A Capital Raise Solution

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business Summary William Fry, CEO of Mainshares and founder of Beacon Business Brokerage, discusses how Mainshares helps SMB buyers close the gap in equity funding. Mainshares provides a network of credit investors interested in owning a piece of SMBs, allowing searchers to find additional equity infusion to complete acquisitions. Mainshares assists in structuring the deal, providing standardized investment documents, and facilitating ...

Feb 08, 202446 minSeason 1Ep. 133

From Single Family Home Real Estate Portfolio to 22 Vertically Integrated Business Acquisitions

🚀 Get My Free Book! 📖 How to Buy Your First Million Dollar Business Summary In this conversation, Michael Byars shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur and his experience in acquiring and managing multiple companies. He started his entrepreneurial journey with a tech company and later transitioned to the restaurant business. After selling his restaurant, he ventured into real estate and began acquiring companies in various industries, including HVAC, plumbing, and forest mulching. Byars em...

Jan 31, 20241 hrSeason 1Ep. 132