Description
Buying a business is an amazing path for many successful entrepreneurs. Learn how to buy a business from the entrepreneurs who have already done it. 2x per week: stories, insights, & valuable advice about acquisition entrepreneurship. Hosted by Will Smith, who is on his own path to acquire a business.
Also on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AcquiringMinds
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Episodes
- 2024 / 11 / 7Buying a Job to Build a BusinessWhen he realized he was willing to do the work himself, Matthew Railla bought a $500k SDE termite inspection business.Topics in Matt’s interview:His family’s culture of entrepreneurshipHis background running...
- 2024 / 11 / 4$6m Business, 3 Minutes From Childhood HomeIris Levine bought a 30-year-old construction firm just steps from the rough Nashville neighborhood where she grew up.Topics in Iris’s interview:Working 3 jobs to pay for collegeBackground in high-growth...
- 2024 / 10 / 31Buying a Business to Build a LifeRegister for the webinar:Â How to Run a 2-Year Search in 2 Months - Nov 1 - https://bit.ly/48sjkh9Seattle-based Dan Drake & his wife wanted to raise their kids in Bend, Oregon. Buying a business allowed them...
- 2024 / 10 / 28Buying & Building a $60m ManufacturerRegister for the webinar:How to Run a 2-Year Search in 2 Months - Friday, Nov 1 - https://bit.ly/3YEN9YEWhen, at age 29, Gat Caperton bought a furniture maker in his native West Virginia, he was also buying...
- 2024 / 10 / 242 Years to Buy, Double & Exit a Medical Billing FirmRegister for the webinars:Cap Tables 101: How Capital Structure Works When Buying a Business - Thu Oct 24 - https://bit.ly/3UihUQGHow to Run a 2-Year Search in 2 Months - Friday Nov 1 -...
- 2024 / 10 / 21Small SDE, Big Upside: Buying a Business with 5 EmployeesRegister for the webinars:Cap Tables 101: How Capital Structure Works When Buying a Business - Thu Oct 24 - https://bit.ly/4dR5CWqHow to Run a 2-Year Search in 2 Months - Friday Nov 1 -...
- 2024 / 10 / 17Leaving Amazon to Buy a $3m Apparel BrandRegister for the webinar:Cap Tables 101: How Capital Structure Works When Buying a Business - Thu Oct 24 - https://bit.ly/3zTykbcTech industry vet Eric Bauer wanted to build something for himself. Buying a...
- 2024 / 10 / 14Business Collapse After Going All-InRegister for the webinars:Due Diligence Office Hours - Wed Oct 16 - https://bit.ly/4h3R74oCap Tables 101: How Capital Structure Works When Buying a Business - Thu Oct 24 - https://bit.ly/3zT8sMAJustin Willess...
- 2024 / 10 / 10Margins in Mulch: Buying a $1m Erosion Control BusinessRegister for the webinars:Which Business Should You Buy? - Thu Oct 10 - https://bit.ly/3TYdVZ8Due Diligence Office Hours - Wed Oct 16 - https://bit.ly/3BznZl0As a banker Greg Bruns dealt with business owners,...
- 2024 / 10 / 7The Model for a 3-Way, Long-Term HoldcoRegister for the webinars:Which Business Should You Buy? - Thu Oct 10 - https://bit.ly/47TzaBcMarc Nzojibwami and 2 partners bought a business in Calgary, with a plan to keep buying (and without investor...
- 2024 / 10 / 3Why Sell to Private Equity: Former Guest Has an ExitRegister for the webinars:Which Business Should You Buy? - Thu Oct 10 - https://bit.ly/4gQqKP5Taylor Wallace & Tyler O'Connor return to discuss selling to private equity & the painful reality of managing...
- 2024 / 9 / 30Turning Around a Blue Collar Business in DeclineGeorge Tibil & Keith Fields bought a $1.1m janitorial business with falling revenues. 9 months later, sales are up 60%.Topics in George and Keith’s interview:Their dissatisfaction with the corporate...
- 2024 / 9 / 26When the Business Can't Be Saved: ResilienceRegister for the webinars:Legal Office Hours (Deal Structure & Its Tax Implications) - Thu Sept 26 - https://bit.ly/4dhSAAXHow to Hire an Operator to Replace Yourself - Fri Sept 27 -...
- 2024 / 9 / 23The Appeal of Franchise Buying: $1m EBITDA in 2 YearsRegister for the webinars:Legal Office Hours (Deal Structure & Its Tax Implications) - Thu Sept 26 - https://bit.ly/4grubvDHow to Hire an Operator to Replace Yourself - Fri Sept 27 -...
- 2024 / 9 / 19One Year Into a Garage Door Business with $350k SDERegister for the webinars:Due Diligence Office Hours - Thu Sept 19 - https://bit.ly/3B2oF29How Much to Budget for a Self-Funded Search - Fri Sept 20 - https://bit.ly/4e4FWpVLegal Office Hours (Deal Structure...
- 2024 / 9 / 16Buying the Neighborhood Nursery (with $800k in Earnings)Register for the webinars:Due Diligence Office Hours - Thu Sept 19 - https://bit.ly/4d27MSAHow Much to Budget for a Self-Funded Search - Fri Sept 20 - https://bit.ly/4gk4XPHLegal Office Hours (Deal Structure...
- 2024 / 9 / 12Control & Family: Drivers of a Self-Funded SearchRegister for the webinars:Thu Sept 12 - How Big a Business Should You Buy? - https://bit.ly/3XmtR8vThu Sept 19 - Due Diligence Office Hours - https://bit.ly/4ghprZbFri Sept 20 - How Much to Budget for a...
- 2024 / 9 / 9Building a Portfolio of Nostalgia RestaurantsRegister here for the webinar, How Big a Business Should You Buy?https://bit.ly/4cSC6isTopics in Jackson’s interview:Fulfilling his dream of living on the beachTransitioning from real estate to...
- 2024 / 9 / 5White-Collar Sisters Buy a Blue-Collar BusinessRegister here for the webinar, How Big a Business Should You Buy?https://bit.ly/4dPunmCWithout backgrounds in business, Julie & Janna Hottinger have grown the $2.1m trades business they bought last year...
- 2024 / 9 / 3Leaving Corporate to Buy a $4m ManufacturerAn 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 ownershipSelling...
- 2024 / 8 / 29Exited but Tired: 5 Years in a Hard BusinessRegister here for the webinar, Legal Office Hours: Common Legal Diligence Issueshttps://bit.ly/4dWmPxVAfter 5 years of owning a scale business, Matt Bauer & Chris Hartman were burning out. Fortunately they'd...
- 2024 / 8 / 26Young Couple Starts a Family Business By Buying OneRegister here for the webinar, Legal Office Hours: Common Legal Diligence Issueshttps://bit.ly/3ySUJ7RTopics in Meredith & Michael’s interview:Buying an employment screening companyThe seller staying on as an...
- 2024 / 8 / 22Investor Perspective on Self-Funded SearchRegister here for the webinar, Legal Office Hours: Common Legal Diligence Issueshttps://bit.ly/3YQP2lpNiklas James, Adam Borcz, and Tony Cappeart reflect on terms, risk & reward of the still-young self-funded...
- 2024 / 8 / 195 Businesses Acquired with a Long-Term Hold ModelRegister here for the webinar, Legal Office Hours: Common Legal Diligence Issueshttps://bit.ly/46OH4LNRyan Sullivan's group is buying businesses with investor capital, SBA loans & operating partners — but...
- 2024 / 8 / 15SBA Lender Roundtable: State of the Market3 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 loanWhy valuations remain...
- 2024 / 8 / 12One Couple, 4 Kids, and a Business 3 Hours AwayGabe 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...
- 2024 / 8 / 8After 4 Years of Part-Time Searching, SuccessWill 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 industryDoing outreach...
- 2024 / 8 / 5Buy Fast: A Good Reason to Buy SmallRob 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 developmentHis desire for a...
- 2024 / 8 / 1Tangible & Collectible: Buying a Consumer Product CompanyYears 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 franchiseeBankruptcy after the 2008...
- 2024 / 7 / 29White Collar Roll-Up from $700k to $12mJordan 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 businessSpending 2...
- 2024 / 7 / 25Reflections on 2 Years in the Knife FightRegister for the webinar:How (and Why) to Choose a Franchise as an Acquisition Entrepreneur - https://bit.ly/4fa3CKBBrett Kennedy has doubled & strengthened the sub-$1 million moving business he bought — but...
- 2024 / 7 / 22The Scrappy Path of a One-Man HoldcoRegister for the webinar:How (and Why) to Choose a Franchise as an Acquisition Entrepreneur - https://bit.ly/3WwZqNRWhen Dustin Carreon reached a ceiling in his first small business, he used the profits to...
- 2024 / 7 / 18Getting Reps: Helping Others Look at Deals Led to a HoldcoRegister for the webinars:Search Investor Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4cvUOwVOvercoming Common Deal Sticking Points - https://bit.ly/4cD9z17How (and Why) to Choose a Franchise as an...
- 2024 / 7 / 15Building a $10m EBITDA Leader in a Fragmented SpaceRegister for the webinars:Search Investor Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4cCMyuZOvercoming Common Deal Sticking Points - https://bit.ly/3LkCpr3How (and Why) to Choose a Franchise as an...
- 2024 / 7 / 11Buying & Growing a Business While Keeping a Day JobRegister for the webinars:SBA Lender Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4bydwTeDue Diligence Office Hours - https://bit.ly/3WbVpxTSearch Investor Roundtable: State of the Market -...
- 2024 / 7 / 8Buy as Search Fund, Keep as Long-Term OwnerRegister for the webinars:SBA Lender Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4eTZ8YnDue Diligence Office Hours - https://bit.ly/3WbAs6hSearch Investor Roundtable: State of the Market -...
- 2024 / 7 / 4It Really Happened: 100% Financing for an $8m BusinessRegister for the webinars:Thu July 11 - SBA Lender Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4eJqUXBFri July 12 - Due Diligence Office Hours - https://bit.ly/3VPQf9pWe caution against thinking you can...
- 2024 / 7 / 1Turning $500k into a $38m Holdco (No Investors)Register for the webinars:Thu July 11 - SMB Investor Roundtable - https://bit.ly/3XSdIcGFri July 12 - Due Diligence Office Hours - https://bit.ly/3W1zQA6Garrison Snell enjoyed a modest exit at age 24. By 30,...
- 2024 / 6 / 27Candid Reflections on 7 Years of SMB OwnershipRegister here for the webinar, How to Buy a Business & Hire an Operator at Oncehttps://bit.ly/3KJnYwg7 years ago Dan Verboski bought a sign business with $650k in earnings. He's doubled it, but ownership has...
- 2024 / 6 / 24Announcing: Minds CapitalRegister here for the webinar, How to Buy a Business & Hire an Operator at Oncehttps://bit.ly/3KH9RaSWill Smith has partnered with Niklas James & Max Lummis in a fund to invest in searcher & independent...
- 2024 / 6 / 20Why Work IN the Business You Buy (Not Just On It)Register here for the webinar, How to Buy a Business & Hire an Operator at Oncehttps://bit.ly/3Rto4Mc--Get Remediation Company CIM - Request the NDA to get the CIM of the Midwestern niche remediation...
- 2024 / 6 / 173x Revenue Despite Turnover, Hangovers & ThreatsRegister here for the webinar, How to Buy a Business & Hire an Operator at Oncehttps://bit.ly/3RuI018--Get Remediation Company CIM - Request the NDA to get the CIM of the Midwestern niche remediation...
- 2024 / 6 / 131 Business vs. Many: Deciding to Roll UpElliott 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’sAcquiring a managed service...
- 2024 / 6 / 102 Welders and a Shop... to $3.8m in SalesRegister here for the webinar, The DO's & DON'Ts of the LOI (legal office hours)https://bit.ly/3VeWF1BMatt Pohl & his wife bought a small welding business with extreme key person risk. They 4x'd the business...
- 2024 / 6 / 6Buying a Bankrupt 117-Year-Old ManufacturerRegister here for the webinar, The DO's & DON'Ts of the LOI (legal office hours)https://bit.ly/3yCQaOwDespite having no experience in manufacturing, Jens Grudno jumped when he heard about a failing...
- 2024 / 6 / 3Rolling Up EBITDA and Rents with Auto Repair ShopsRegister here for the webinar, The DO's & DON'Ts of the LOI (legal office hours)https://bit.ly/4538koZStephen Quindlen & Paul Westhart have found powerful multipliers that could yield huge returns in an...
- 2024 / 5 / 303 Years Later, Climbing Out of the J CurveMatt 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 RecessionHis experience in...
- 2024 / 5 / 28From Midnight Deliveries to $28m Holdco (in 6 Years)Summary from Webflow: The first business Colin King bought was tiny & unpleasant but also the crucial first step to buying more & better ones.Topics in Colin’s interview:Finding his first business (and...
- 2024 / 5 / 23Finding a Great Business in Cow CountryCody Agee thought food testing would be a good recession-resistant business to buy. 2 weeks later, one listed for sale.Topics in Cody interview:Bypassing business schoolCashing out his 401(k) without using...
- 2024 / 5 / 20Art of the Roll-Up: 40 Businesses in 4 YearsJeff Homer bought a small local music school as a fun side hustle. It turned out to be the opportunity of a lifetime.Topics in Jeff interview:Switching from high finance to music schoolsBuying his first music...