Acquiring Minds
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
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Buying for $600k, Selling for $35m
<p>Jake Bittner bought an unprofitable carve-out doing $3m. A key pivot grew revenue to $20m and got the attention of PE.</p><p>Register for the webinar: </p>How to Run the SBA Deal Race - Dec 4th - https://bit.ly/44whqv6<p>Topics in Jake’s interview:</p>Building a nest egg before leaving his jobFallout from his father’s failed businessesCalculating the value of a business losing moneyDisliking the bureaucracy of large companiesJoining his friend to run a distressed companyEmployee war storiesChanging the service they offeredAchieving 60% margins Boosting customer retentionSelling the company for 11x earnings<p>Refere...
When a $2.8m Acquisition Is More Like Zero-to-One
<p>Dave Gilbert spent 2 years fixing the model and customer concentration of the $750k SDE family business he bought with SBA debt.</p><p>Topics in Dave’s interview:</p>Leaving tech to buy a white collar businessMeeting with 120 owners while searchingBuying a business he initially passed onRisks of family members as employeesFinancial surprises after the transitionLosing 23% of revenue when clients leftAccountants do not like changeRecruiting top talentImportance of listening to employeesTransferring his zero-to-one skills<p>References and how to contact Dave:</p>ProvenLinkedIn<p>Get a complimentary IT audit of your target business:</p>Email Nick Akers at nick@in...
When to Buy a Large Consumer Business
<p>Taylor Mattingly found high-quality revenue in an unusual and sizable B2C business that he happened to be a customer of.</p><p>Topics in Taylor’s interview:</p>Being Co-CEO with his best friendBuying a business he was a customer ofAcquiring a business in his hometownConfusing, deregulated Texas energy marketHow Energy Ogre differs from a typical brokerKeeping his call center in Texas“Set it and forget it” model“Listening tour” in the first 100 daysAdopting the EOS modelHigher leverage deal structure<p>References and how to contact Taylor:</p>LinkedInEnergy Ogre<p>Get a free review of your books & financial...
The Dream Outcome: From $300k to $5m EBITDA
<p>From the acquisition of a tiny refrigeration business, Linh Tran has built an enterprise that earns millions annually.</p><p>Register for the webinar: </p>What a Good Investor Pitch Looks Like -TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/3LYM4H2<p>Topics in Linh’s interview:</p>The "Three Rs" search criteriaBeing an undercover owner for 18 monthsEliminating 70-hour workweeks for his techsStruggling with work-life balanceImplementing value-based pricing80% rule for delegationWhy he doesn’t want to exitFostering deep employee loyaltyCorporate philanthropy and legacyWhat money can’t buy<p>References and how to contact Linh:</p>info@apexfundgroup.comLinkedInApex Fund Group<p>Learn m...
Buy Well, Exit Better: A $67m Win in 4 Years
<p>Greg Geronemus bought a highly-profitable travel business at favorable terms, helping to ensure a great return on exit.</p><p>Register for the webinar: </p>What a Good Investor Pitch Looks Like - Nov 20th - https://bit.ly/47YbVXj<p>Topics in Greg’s interview:</p>Challenges of searching in New YorkCobbling together a search fund in earlier days of searchStrategy of cold email outreachAcquiring at age 26Partnering with a friendSignificant challenges of running a tour operatorDigital marketing did not move the needleDirect mail was the silver bulletPartnering with universities and religious groupsExiting after 4 years<p>References and how...
Buying to $4m Across 7 Sites in 3 Years
<p>Gail Azodo discovered a method of buying audiology practices with 100% financing. She's moving quickly to buy and build.</p><p>Register for the webinar:</p>Financing Your Deal: SBA vs. Non-SBA - TODAY - https://bit.ly/4p4J2Q7<p>Topics in Gail’s interview:</p>Managing brands at Proctor and GambleHer vision to run her own companyLife changing power of hearing aidsSwitching her search from Vision to AudiologyConsequences of untreated hearing lossFinancing through hearing aid manufacturersCross-licensing her providers in multiple statesAddressing the Audiologist shortageIntentionally acquiring where she does not live Find what “brings the flies to the honey...
Why Choose Ownership Over Being a CEO
<p>After chafing under the constraints of being a CEO, Katherine Butler-Dines & Rahul Desai bought a business of their own.</p><p>Register for the webinar:</p>Financing Your Deal: SBA vs. Non-SBA - Nov 13th - https://bit.ly/47OQpUA<p>Topics in Katherine and Rahul’s interview:</p>Katherine’s early CEO experienceBoard conflicts pushed her toward majority ownershipAcquiring without a traditional bank loanConvincing the seller to do a seller notePaying the seller note with float from advance bookingsRahul built custom software to increase marginsSearching nights and weekends while at their W-2sAffordability of living in the midwestVision of a...
How to Build a $5m Media Business Into a $20m Flywheel
<p>Clayton Collins acquired HousingWire with a big vision for the small media business. 9 years later, it has come to life.</p><p>Register for the webinar:</p>Overcoming Risks from a Lender’s Perspective - TODAY! - https://bit.ly/3WxDKAs<p>Topics in Clayton’s interview:</p>Hire for your skill gapsFlying around the country to meet investorsAsking for warm introductionsSelling investors on his strategic visionWhat to look for in a media companyDirect relationships with advertisers vs. programmatic adsRebuilding the sales team over and overRiding the wave of the mortgage industryMaintaining the magic of annual eventsSelling print ads diffe...
Timing is Everything: Buying a $30m Tutoring Business
<p>Both buyer Jared Lenner and seller Dave Serwitz share their perspectives on the acquisition of a 20-year-old business.</p><p>Register for the webinars: </p>Investor-Backed Search and SBA: Buy Bigger, Keep Control - TOMORROW! - https://bit.ly/4qABMgnOvercoming Risks from a Lender’s Perspective - Thu Nov 6th - https://bit.ly/4qDoJdV<p>Topics in Jared & Dave’s interview:</p>Jared buying Dave’s tutoring businessDave’s motivation to sellChoosing to work with Search Fund AcceleratorTheir agreement to “assume positive intent”Why Dave didn’t sell to private equityHow the in-person business survived CovidBookkeeper quit right after transitio...
Started Mid-Career, Grew to $38m in 3 Years
<p>Shaun Stimpson had worked for two decades before pivoting to buying businesses in a different industry. He's moved fast.</p><p>Register for the webinar: </p>Tax Issues: Entity and Deal Structuring - TODAY! - http://bit.ly/47CVZui<p>Topics in Shaun’s interview:</p>Staying in corporate was the riskier choiceCalling 1200 businesses during his searchGoing back to school to learn more about acquisitionAcquiring with his partner, Robert WolfRaising $6m from outside investorsLeaning on his professional networkChoosing his investors carefullyAcquiring in his mid-40’sLong-term hold strategyAcquiring 3 businesses in succession<p>References and how to contact Shaun:</p>LinkedInMitten Fluid...
