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Acquiring Minds
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 Sign up for episode summaries at: https://acquiringminds.co

Episodes
  • 2024 / 10 / 7
    The Model for a 3-Way, Long-Term Holdco

    Register 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 / 3
    Why Sell to Private Equity: Former Guest Has an Exit

    Register 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 / 30
    Turning Around a Blue Collar Business in Decline

    George 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 / 26
    When the Business Can't Be Saved: Resilience

    Register 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 / 23
    The Appeal of Franchise Buying: $1m EBITDA in 2 Years

    Register 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 / 19
    One Year Into a Garage Door Business with $350k SDE

    Register 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 / 16
    Buying 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 / 12
    Control & Family: Drivers of a Self-Funded Search

    Register 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 / 9
    Building a Portfolio of Nostalgia Restaurants

    Register 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 / 5
    White-Collar Sisters Buy a Blue-Collar Business

    Register 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 / 3
    Leaving Corporate to Buy a $4m Manufacturer

    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 ownershipSelling...

  • 2024 / 8 / 29
    Exited but Tired: 5 Years in a Hard Business

    Register 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 / 26
    Young Couple Starts a Family Business By Buying One

    Register 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 / 22
    Investor Perspective on Self-Funded Search

    Register 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 / 19
    5 Businesses Acquired with a Long-Term Hold Model

    Register 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 / 15
    SBA Lender Roundtable: State of the Market

    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 loanWhy valuations remain...

  • 2024 / 8 / 12
    One Couple, 4 Kids, and a Business 3 Hours Away

    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...

  • 2024 / 8 / 8
    After 4 Years of Part-Time Searching, Success

    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 industryDoing outreach...

  • 2024 / 8 / 5
    Buy Fast: A Good Reason to Buy Small

    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 developmentHis desire for a...

  • 2024 / 8 / 1
    Tangible & Collectible: Buying a Consumer Product Company

    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 franchiseeBankruptcy after the 2008...

  • 2024 / 7 / 29
    White Collar Roll-Up from $700k to $12m

    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 businessSpending 2...

  • 2024 / 7 / 25
    Reflections on 2 Years in the Knife Fight

    Register 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 / 22
    The Scrappy Path of a One-Man Holdco

    Register 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 / 18
    Getting Reps: Helping Others Look at Deals Led to a Holdco

    Register 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 / 15
    Building a $10m EBITDA Leader in a Fragmented Space

    Register 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 / 11
    Buying & Growing a Business While Keeping a Day Job

    Register 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 / 8
    Buy as Search Fund, Keep as Long-Term Owner

    Register 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 / 4
    It Really Happened: 100% Financing for an $8m Business

    Register 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 / 1
    Turning $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 / 27
    Candid Reflections on 7 Years of SMB Ownership

    Register 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 / 24
    Announcing: Minds Capital

    Register 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 / 20
    Why 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 / 17
    3x Revenue Despite Turnover, Hangovers & Threats

    Register 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 / 13
    1 Business vs. Many: Deciding to Roll Up

    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’sAcquiring a managed service...

  • 2024 / 6 / 10
    2 Welders and a Shop... to $3.8m in Sales

    Register 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 / 6
    Buying a Bankrupt 117-Year-Old Manufacturer

    Register 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 / 3
    Rolling Up EBITDA and Rents with Auto Repair Shops

    Register 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 / 30
    3 Years Later, Climbing Out of the J Curve

    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 RecessionHis experience in...

  • 2024 / 5 / 28
    From 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 / 23
    Finding a Great Business in Cow Country

    Cody 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 / 20
    Art of the Roll-Up: 40 Businesses in 4 Years

    Jeff 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...

  • 2024 / 5 / 16
    When a Restaurant Is a Great Business to Buy

    Jarett Berke told his intermediary "no restaurants" but changed his tune when he saw what a great business Lou's was.Topics in Jarett’s interview:Finding a business through an accountantWhy restaurants are a...

  • 2024 / 5 / 13
    Building a $10m Platform from 2 Low-SDE Businesses

    Scott Walton bought 2 barely-profitable blue collar companies, changed the culture, unlocked growth & hired a president.Topics in Scott’s interview:Acquiring with a partnerSolving their recruitment...

  • 2024 / 5 / 9
    Holdco Origin Story: The Bumpy Road to $3m EBITDA

    4 acquisitions, 3 years after the first deal, and 2 dishonest sellers before Chandra Rao went full-time in his holdco.Topics in Chandra’s interview:Learning from due diligence mistakesLosing $300k in the...

  • 2024 / 5 / 6
    The Allure of Buying a Marketplace Business

    Zach Smith bought a 30-year-old membership business that connects patients with dentists to return it to former glory.Topics in Zach’s interview:His exit from UberDifficulty of starting a marketplace...

  • 2024 / 5 / 2
    How an American Bought a Canadian Business

    Most first-timers shy away from buying across borders. Not Christi Loucks, whose Canadian acquisition did $550k of SDE.Topics in Christi’s interview:Buying a business for personal fulfillmentPainful broken...

  • 2024 / 4 / 29
    Selling $100k of Dog Training… Per Day

    Get $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 11th:https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSGarth Fasano searched part time for 5 years before finding a target with...

  • 2024 / 4 / 25
    Rolling-Up to $15m EBITDA

    Robert Graham & Aaron Blick's first acquisition did $1.2m SDE. Four years later, their roll-up generates $15m in EBITDA.Topics in Robert & Aaron’s interview:Going from lifelong friends to business...

  • 2024 / 4 / 22
    The Double Life of Owning a Business 2.5 Hours Away

    Get $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 11th:https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSJohn Murphy pushed through divorce, $500k debt, and a bad broken deal to...

  • 2024 / 4 / 18
    The Gritty, High-Capex Road to Millions

    Reid Tileston bought a business that relied on $800k trucks, capex he came to love for the fat margins they produced.Topics in Reid’s interview:Working on the business instead of in itWriting a book about...