Retour

Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Acquiring Minds

Plongez dans la liste complète des épisodes de Acquiring Minds. Chaque épisode est catalogué accompagné de descriptions détaillées, ce qui facilite la recherche et l'exploration de sujets spécifiques. Suivez tous les épisodes de votre podcast préféré et ne manquez aucun contenu pertinent.

Rows per page:

1–50 of 498

TitreDateDurée
The $150k Hiding in the Business He Bought01 Oct 202601:30:02

Patrick Dunphy acquired a low-seven-figure interpreter agency, then halved its collection times in year one.

Topics in Patrick’s interview:

  • From Army aviation to business ownership
  • Why Patrick chose ownership over corporate success
  • Three years searching while working full-time
  • Turning red flags into acquisition opportunities
  • Why intrinsic value matters beyond financial returns
  • Building a scalable, contractor-driven service business
  • Structuring an SBA acquisition without seller financing
  • Cutting payment times in half through better invoicing
  • Preserving trust through a quiet ownership transition
  • Growing through new markets and government contracts

References and how to contact Patrick:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Contact Jenny to learn how Engage can run people operations in your acquisition:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

How to Buy a $2.1m Business Without the SBA28 Sep 202601:28:26

Jack Rauch left politics for a niche Florida business no bank would finance. He's doubled revenue twice since.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Jack’s interview:

  • From the White House to entrepreneurship
  • Discovering an overlooked private provider niche
  • Customers helped save the business
  • How private inspections accelerate construction projects
  • Expanding beyond the seller's tiny territory
  • Navigating licensing requirements without industry experience
  • Financing the deal without SBA backing
  • Raising prices and finding unexpected growth
  • Doubling revenue during each ownership year
  • Joining industry leadership to reduce regulatory risk

References and how to contact Jack:

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Buying a $7.3m Golf Course with No Money Down24 Sep 202601:30:04

Kyle Holmes spent 8 years running Quail Ridge for its investor owners. Then they asked if he wanted to buy it.

Register for the webinars:

Topics in Kyle’s interview:

  • Growing up in a golf family 
  • Running Quail Ridge before becoming an owner
  • Being approached about buying the golf course
  • Golf’s boom, recession, and post-COVID resurgence
  • Michigan’s surprisingly strong golf market
  • Revenue from golf, dining, events, and driving range
  • Improving Quail Ridge before buying the business
  • Valuing land worth more than operations
  • Negotiating from $6.5 million to $7.3 million
  • Financing with SBA, conventional, and seller debt

References and how to contact Kyle:

Contact Jenny to learn how Engage can run people operations in your acquisition:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Buying a $12.5m Contractor to Create 1,000 Jobs21 Sep 202601:30:52

Manolo Diaz Corrada came home to Puerto Rico to build for decades and keep the wealth from leaving the island.

Register for the webinars: 

Topics in Manolo’s interview:

  • Building a career across engineering, business, and law
  • Fighting Puerto Rico’s brain drain
  • Launching a self-funded search in a tiny market
  • Why traditional search fund investor passed on Puerto Rico
  • Finding an acquisition through family connections
  • Navigating SBA financing challenges in Puerto Rico
  • Using reputation as a due diligence tool
  • Betting on Puerto Rico’s infrastructure boom
  • Using backlog to underwrite acquisition risk
  • Structuring a deal with seller financing

References and how to contact Manolo:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Losing a $1m SDE Business to Bankruptcy17 Sep 202601:11:46

Morli Desai bought an e-commerce brand with an SBA loan. Three years later: liquidation, Chapter 11, and gratitude.

Register for the webinars:

Topics in Morli’s interview:

  • Acquiring a skincare brand
  • Why she felt confident in the company
  • Early red flags she minimized
  • Amazon shipping disaster
  • Rising cost per click
  • 8-12% customer retention rate
  • Unique challenges of ecommerce
  • Negotiating multiple loan deferrals
  • Stress of the personal guarantee
  • Filing subchapter V bankruptcy

References and how to contact Morli:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Contact Jenny to learn how Engage can run people operations in your acquisition:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

$340k to $1.3m of Earnings in 14 Months14 Sep 202601:31:56

Rob Brooks bought a $1.9m Sarasota HVAC shop, then ignored the advice to wait 90 days before changing it.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Rob’s interview:

  • Choosing an industry where he had an edge
  • Buying smaller to reduce debt risk
  • Understanding prepaid customer obligations
  • Using ChatGPT to learn HVAC
  • Making changes immediately after acquisition
  • Inheriting a GM and long-tenured employees
  • Digitizing operations and increasing accountability
  • Transforming a blame culture into a problem-solving culture
  • Adding weekly employee training sessions
  • Practicing radical honesty with customers

References and how to contact Rob:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Buy a Business with Your Tax Bill10 Sep 202601:07:22

Adam Whelchel paid himself instead of the IRS, putting $35k down on an escape room doing $365k with room to grow.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Adam’s interview:

  • Built a $1.5M accounting firm
  • Business brokerage opened the acquisition door
  • Wanted a business his daughter could appreciate
  • An escape room caught his attention
  • Fixed costs created massive operating leverage
  • Bought the business for roughly $220K
  • Put about $35K into the deal
  • Business acquisition as a tax strategy
  • Re-engaged customers and local businesses
  • Plans to double capacity to 20%

References and how to contact Adam:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Contact Jenny to learn how Engage can run people operations in your acquisition:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

First-Timer Buys a $15m Business in Distress07 Sep 202601:23:01

Mike Bourgeois bought an HVAC company bleeding $3m a year, all cash and no SBA, then cut $1.4m of costs in 2 weeks.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Mike’s interview:

  • Led major Air Force medical practice
  • Found a search partner with complementary skill sets
  • Bet on distressed businesses with liquidation value
  • Found a deal through veteran ETA Slack
  • Speed beat the highest bid
  • Immediately cut $1.4M in annualized expenses
  • Raised gross margins from 7% to 49%
  • Shifted from silos to teamwork
  • Emphasis on ongoing staff training
  • His goal of being a capital allocator/investor

References and how to contact Mike:

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

An Engineer's Mini Berkshire: 2 Auto Shops in 1 Year03 Sep 202601:45:04

Sujith Shankar left 25 years in corporate to buy cash-flowing businesses: a $1.2m repair shop and a $2m body shop.

Topics in Sujith interview:

  • How Rivian layoffs changed everything
  • Falling down the Warren Buffett rabbit hole
  • Why auto repair beat real estate
  • Funding a deal without an SBA loan
  • Running a business while keeping a W-2
  • Winning over skeptical employees after closing
  • Planning a mini Berkshire Hathaway
  • Is EV adoption really a threat?
  • Buying a second business just months later
  • Collision shops vs. repair shops

References and how to contact Sujith:

Contact Jenny to learn how Engage can run people operations in your acquisition:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Right-Tail Outcome for a Husband & Wife Search Fund31 Aug 202601:43:18

Courtney and Jonathan Dunn bought a fast-growing SaaS at 3-4x ARR, doubled it, then merged for a life-changing exit.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Jonathan & Courtney’s interview:

  • Their background in oil & gas
  • Turning down an offer from Apple
  • Improving their investor pitch
  • Traveling extensively to search
  • Acquiring a niche healthcare software company 
  • Using all equity, no debt, for the deal
  • Using an earn-out to resolve valuation disagreements 
  • Having a baby during the acquisition process
  • The hire they wish they’d made sooner 
  • Advice for couples considering building a business together.

References and how to contact Jonathan & Courtney:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

The Ferrari of Signage: $9.5m Pipeline in 6 Months27 Aug 202601:58:05

Andrew Sova and Alex Clark revived sales at a 40-year-old sign manufacturer, the first acquisition of their holdco.

Register for the webinars:

Topics in Andrew & Alex’s interview:

  • Meeting at BCG
  • Partnership provided accountability and motivation
  • Looking for direct-impact roles
  • Prioritizing speed with brokered search
  • Their vision to build a holdco
  • Winsor Fireform makes uniquely durable signage
  • Employee growth = key success metric
  • Seller chose buyers based on trust, not price
  • Customers include parks, transit systems, and stadiums
  • Long negotiation over working capital

References and how to contact Andrew and Alex:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Contact Jenny to learn how Engage can run people operations in your acquisition:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

40 Schools to 130: The Roll-Up 2 Years Later24 Aug 202601:18:12

Jeff Homer returns with an update: revenue past $100m, a new dance division, and 50% growth expected this year. 

Register for the webinars:

Topics in Jeff’s interview:

  • Building a music school roll-up
  • Scaling through monthly acquisitions
  • Expanding into dance schools
  • Back-office value creation
  • Transitioning from operator to CEO
  • Building middle management
  • Avoiding private equity pitfalls
  • 100x return for early investors
  • Constant travel as CEO
  • Future vision for Ensemble

References and how to contact Jeff:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

From $700k Purgatory to $3m: A Mosquito Joe Update20 Aug 202601:01:52

Neil Finneran returns 3 years after buying a business so small it barely paid him a salary — now on pace for $800k.

Register for the webinars: 

Topics in Neil’s interview:

  • Neil’s previous appearance on Acquiring Minds
  • His background in hedge funds
  • Pain of buying small
  • Managing labor and no-shows
  • Implementing a hybrid-pay model for techs
  • The acquisition that tripled his revenue
  • Christmas lights services in the off season
  • Rising customer acquisition costs
  • Barriers to entry in pest control
  • Why his outcome diverged from Jesse Sunquist’s

References and how to contact Neil:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Contact Jenny to learn how Engage can run people operations in your acquisition:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

3 Years, $80k In: An Honest Update17 Aug 202600:59:18

Jesse Sunquist put a GM in charge and stepped back to 5 hours a week — proud of the experience, restless about the outcome.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Jesse’s interview:

  • Buying a business for flexibility
  • Geographical search in New Jersey
  • Lowering his minimum SDE threshold to $300K
  • Acquiring 2 Mosquito Joe territories
  • His plan to build wealth through franchise roll-ups
  • Modest growth followed by shrink
  • How other owners handle the off-season
  • Taking a W2 with the intent to sell
  • Inability to find a buyer
  • Hiring a great GM to run it

References and how to contact Jesse:

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

$400k Profit Fixing Church Pews13 Aug 202601:09:24

Greyson Boerner traded startup life for a 28-year-old niche business — now on pace to grow revenue 50% in year one.

Register for the webinar:

Topics in Greyson’s interview:

  • Founding software startups
  • ETA as a path to stability
  • Getting his education with Acquisition Lab
  • Finding business brokers through Google Maps
  • Uncovered niche church pew restoration business
  • Competitor closure created significant growth opportunity
  • Church visit reinforced acquisition decision
  • Hired bilingual ops manager to bridge communication
  • Stolen truck fiasco
  • Revenue up 50%, margins pressured by investments

References and how to contact Greyson:

Contact Jenny to learn how Engage can run people operations in your acquisition:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Surviving a 2-Month Revenue Freeze in Year 110 Aug 202601:09:04

Chibunna Chimezie's seller left $15k in the account. His post-acquisition liquidity is the only reason he made it. 

Register for the webinar:

Topics in Chibunna’s interview:

  • His family’s immigration story from Nigeria
  • Interest in how American healthcare works
  • Learning to manage risk in business school
  • Acquiring a service provider for veterans
  • Government shutdown meant no revenue first 2 months
  • Post-acquisition liquidity for the win
  • Challenges veterans face back home
  • Answering the after-hours phone himself
  • His journey from banking to behavioral health
  • Investment from New Majority Capital

References and how to contact Chibunna:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Second-Time CEO Buys a $30m Title Company06 Aug 202601:22:56

Randy Rempp turned around a $17m insurance business as a rookie CEO, then used that track record to raise a search fund. 

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Randy’s interview:

  • From insurance lawyer to business operator
  • Leading 300 employees at age 29
  • Why ownership beats being the hired gun
  • Switching to a traditional search fund
  • Investors bet on operators, not deal finders
  • River guides unlock industries and warm introductions
  • Inside the $31 million acquisition structure
  • Why every CEO needs a strong CFO
  • The F-reorg that saved the deal
  • Refinancing to return capital and fuel growth

References and how to contact Randy:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Contact Jenny to learn how Engage can run people operations in your acquisition:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Acquiring Isn't Always a One-Way Door03 Aug 202601:36:29

Gabriel Cruz Avila bought a $1.4M remodeling business, weathered a divorce and burnout, then sold it two years later. 

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Gabriel’s interview:

  • Lessons learned from his dad’s business
  • Getting bored in the oil and gas industry
  • Joining ETA Circle in Houston
  • Leaning on his warehouse management experience
  • Acquiring a tile and marble company
  • Failing to dig deep into historical revenue
  • Using technology to eliminate 2 admin roles
  • Negative working capital in home remodels
  • Going through a divorce
  • Burnout led to selling the business

References and how to contact Gabriel:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

How 1 SBA Loan Brought Down 2 Businesses30 Jul 202601:34:37

Edgar Galindo and his partner bought 2 businesses with SBA loans. Now he's facing the consequences of shuttering both.

Topics in Edgar’s interview:

  • Construction background in his family business
  • “Google-funded search”
  • Wanted flexibility to start a family
  • Austin-only geographic search 
  • Found partner through Searchfunder
  • First deal: Austin landscaping company
  • Buying a second business within 6 months
  • Making quick changes to the business
  • Undisclosed liabilities and customer-stealing employees
  • Closing both businesses and facing bankruptcy

References and how to contact Edgar:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

60% Concentration That Killed an Exit27 Jul 202601:49:51

Raj Mahajan bought a salon software business, tripled it to $11M ARR. Then his biggest customer launched a competitor.

Register for the webinar:

Topics in Raj’s interview:

  • Wanting to move “from coach to quarterback”
  • Buying a niche point-of-sale software company
  • Converting to cloud-based SaaS
  • Growing recurring revenue from $4 to $11 million
  • Establishing a headquarters for the remote company
  • A failed exit to private equity
  • His biggest customer stealing his software
  • Emotional turmoil of Covid + lawsuit
  • Choosing to protect his team
  • Lessons learned from good and bad years

References and how to contact Raj:

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Product-Market Fit in the Trades: 4x in 2.5 Years23 Jul 202601:38:02

Patrick Beal left tech to buy an HVAC business with 90% seller financing, no SBA. He's on track to hit $3.5m this year. 

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Patrick interview:

  • Entrepreneurship in his family
  • Zoom fatigue from remote work
  • Searching in Northeast Ohio
  • Finding a business through his network
  • Meeting with the seller for almost a year
  • Structuring 10% down, 90% seller note
  • Underestimating working capital needs
  • Keeping his W-2 until the business grew
  • Quadrupling revenue in 2 years
  • Working on getting his HVAC license

References and how to contact Patrick:

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

No SBA, No Investors: The Liquidity Access Line20 Jul 202601:16:04

Brian Jungles bought a $400k direct mail business in Atlanta and skipped SBA by pledging his portfolio as collateral.

Register for the webinars:

Topics in Brian’s interview:

  • Leaving his corporate career at Adobe
  • Finding a business through his network
  • Acquiring for $400k cash
  • Getting a personal line of credit through his bank
  • Direct mail is still effective
  • Growth is a lot of work
  • Humbling experience of learning Quickbooks
  • Picture-perfect transition of ownership
  • Learning to translate “corporate speak”
  • “The entrepreneur community all wants to help each other.”

References and how to contact Brian:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Acquiring a $7m Niche Marketing Agency with 50 Employees16 Jul 202601:22:21

Rob Belk networked his way to "the most caffeinated guy in town" searching for a local business — then found it online. 

Register for the webinars:

Topics in Rob’s interview:

  • Geographic search in the Triad of North Carolina
  • Networking with local business owners
  • Finding a business through Axial
  • Buying a marketing and consumer research agency
  • His choice to stay out of the weeds
  • Bringing in a consultant (maybe too) early
  • How his agency intersects with the trades
  • Structuring a 50% earnout
  • Consensus-based leadership style
  • Finding clients through Substack

References and how to contact Rob:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Escaping the J-Curve in a $700k SDE Ecom Business13 Jul 202601:30:12

Chris Farkas endured a 7-week fetal position moment when he finally found a website bug that had cost him $500k in sales.

Register for the webinar:

Topics in Chris’s interview: 

  • Going through Acquisition Lab
  • First deal fell through on Christmas Eve
  • Acquiring an ecommerce business with a warehouse
  • Buying inventory he didn’t want
  • The marketing agencies that hurt his business
  • Business almost tanked due to website glitch
  • Doing $10k in sales per day
  • Hardship of traveling every other week
  • Why he stays off Amazon
  • Make only one change at a time

References and how to contact Chris:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Never Worked Harder, Never Been Happier09 Jul 202601:27:51

After 25 years in corporate, Gina Rosen bought a jewelry wholesaling business with $635k in sales — now on track to $1m.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Gina’s interview:

  • Leaving corporate for more family time
  • Decoupling her salary from her value
  • Acquiring the supplier for her side gig
  • Her mistake with buying inventory
  • Keeping her corporate job the first year
  • Going full time in the business to focus on sales
  • Standing out by making sales calls in-person
  • Operating a highly seasonal business
  • How tariffs have affected her business
  • Acquiring without the SBA 

References and how to contact Gina:

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Career Consultant Who Bought a 7-Figure Manufacturer06 Jul 202601:26:41

Buying a metal fabricator with $1m in earnings pivoted Paul Callahan into the new entrepreneurial chapter of his career.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Paul’s interview:

  • M&A, integrations, and private equity experience
  • COVID Zoom fatigue sparked career pivot
  • Atlanta’s crowded deal market challenges
  • Hiring buy-side help while still working
  • Pursuing full ownership without outside investors
  • Navigating two simultaneous LOIs carefully
  • Choosing SBA 504 over 7(a) financing for the real estate
  • Acquiring a high capex business
  • Replacing Ferrari equipment with Toyota reliability
  • Why consultants make strong ETA operators

References and how to contact Paul:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

(replay) Art of the Roll-Up: 40 Businesses in 4 Years02 Jul 202601:23:54

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 schools
  • Buying his first music school as a side project
  • Raising growth equity after first 2 acquisitions
  • Acquiring a music school every month
  • Artists’ negative predisposition toward selling
  • Comparing profitability of music vs. dance
  • Importance of general managers in scaling
  • Implementing apps to streamline operations
  • Other industries with roll-up potential
  • Rolling up 60+ music/dance schools nationwide

References and how to contact Jeff:

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Growing a $5m Metal Business 40% in Year 129 Jun 202601:36:15

Caleb Standafer believed in manufacturing and wanted to spend his career there. A multi-year pivot and ETA got him in.

Topics in Caleb’s interview:

  • Moving from tech to manufacturing
  • Manufacturing is important for our country
  • 7 years operating before searching
  • The manufacturing concept of “going to Gemba”
  • His 4-year part-time search
  • Taking time weekly to develop his leaders 
  • Partnering with his dad
  • Modernizing 1970s technology
  • Managing 75% customer concentration
  • Renegotiating payment terms with his largest customer

References and how to contact Caleb:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

How to 4x EBITDA in 3 Years Without Growing Sales25 Jun 202601:23:50

Ned Tomasevic navigated an early crisis then grew EBITDA to $6m and exited at over 8x, four turns higher than he'd paid.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Ned’s interview:

  • Being the first American in his family
  • Utilizing 20 interns for outreach
  • Acquiring with help from a search fund
  • Post-closing discovery led to lawsuit
  • Stress shows up in your body first
  • Getting guidance from his coach and mentors
  • Reducing shrink from 20% to 3%
  • Quadrupling EBITDA in 3 years
  • Taking a year off after exiting
  • His new role as investor, coach and mentor

References and how to contact Ned:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Leaving $700s/Yr to Buy an Underperforming Printing Business22 Jun 202601:25:43

Dominick Smith left a lucrative track in PE to pursue a path that offered more meaning. Buying a business has delivered.

Register for the webinars: 

Topics in Dominick’s interview:

  • Leaving a lucrative job in his late 20’s
  • Dodging bullets with due diligence
  • Renegotiating purchase price
  • Managing white collar vs blue collar employees
  • Wasting money on ineffective marketing
  • Learning budgeting and frugality
  • Advantages of staying in the weeds
  • Aggressively pursuing new business
  • Discovering and fixing poor website speeds
  • His intent to sell the business

References and how to contact Dominick:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

From Software to Concrete Cutting (and $1.4m of SDE)18 Jun 202601:38:10

When the owner refused a seller note in the $6m transaction to sell his business, Tom McCormick had to get creative.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Tom’s interview:

  • From IBM executive to acquisition entrepreneur
  • Building banker relationships to source better deals
  • Closing on his first LOI
  • Consulting agreement replaced traditional seller note
  •  “I wish I would've started this path 15 years ago.”
  • Winning seller’s trust through shared values
  • Using ROBS to buy a larger company
  • A costly lesson about accounts receivable valuation
  • Prioritizing keeping the blue collar workforce happy
  • “I am so much happier now.”

References and how to contact Tom:

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Good Bones: Saving a $3m Business in Decline15 Jun 202601:49:05

Despite his love of operations, Himmat Singh intended to own his acquisition passively. Then the lead sales guy quit.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Himmat’s interview:

  • Operating a business for a billionaire in India
  • Ran traditional search, closed zero acquisitions
  • Targeted recession-proof home care opportunities
  • Became CEO of elder care company he couldn’t acquire
  • Grew EBITDA 4x through operational cleanup and systems
  • Sold company to private equity, remaining CEO
  • Life-changing exit from elder care company
  • Landed printing acquisition through relationships
  • Prefers operating to financial modeling
  • Structuring a screaming deal on a printing business

References and how to contact Himmat:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

How to Buy a $20m Business as a First-Timer11 Jun 202601:31:05

When Alan Turkus found a business with a mission, he knew he'd found the right fit for the final chapter of his career.

Topics in Alan’s interview:

  • Background in book publishing
  • Post-MBA career in tech
  • Taking a career break to raise his son
  • From co-op cashier to co-CEO
  • Seeking security through business ownership
  • Acquiring a home health and hospice franchise
  • Raising equity from search investors
  • Retaining a little over 50% ownership
  • Structuring with 2 forgivable seller notes
  • The advantage of buying a bigger business

References and how to contact Alan:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

How to De-Risk the Personal Guarantee08 Jun 202601:11:07

Brendan Burdette and Ryan Conner have launched personal guarantee insurance to enable more — and stronger — SBA buyers.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Brendan & Ryan’s interview:

  • Psychological weight of the personal guarantee
  • Building a personal guarantee insurance product
  • Taking the risk from a 10 to a 5
  • Sequence of events after default
  • Targeting mid to late career operators
  • Premiums decrease over time
  • Balancing risk between unequal partners
  • Solving the seller rollover conflict
  • Philosophy of “skin in the game”
  • How they hope this affects ETA ecosystem

References and how to contact Brendan & Ryan:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

The Origin Story of a Compounder ($80m and Counting)04 Jun 202601:25:23

Greg Shapiro & Zach Cooper-Vastola are building a long-term, compounding business they see as the anti-PE of the trades.

Register for the webinar:
Franchising for the ETA Buyer: Resales, Roll-Ups, and Real Deals - TODAY - https://bit.ly/49sKF4H


Topics in Greg and Zach’s interview:

  • Founders combined technical and financial expertise
  • Shifted from SaaS to long-term ownership
  • Acquired century-old Manhattan HVAC company
  • High cost and complexities of New York market
  • Avoided SBA limits to scale acquisitions
  • What “Anti-PE” means to them
  • Digitization takes longer than you think
  • Living lean on low salaries
  • Predicting HVAC roll-up market shakeout ahead
  • Influence and investment from Will Thorndike

References and how to contact Greg and Zach:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Started as SBA Searcher, Built to a PE Fund01 Jun 202601:46:10

The first business Joe Wechsler bought had $280k of SDE. Seven years later, he runs a fund with $50m of buying power.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Joe’s interview:

  • Background in management consulting
  • Inspired by Rich Dad Poor Dad to own assets
  • Joining an early cohort of the Acquisition Lab
  • Searching is more fun with a partner
  • First deal died 10 days before closing
  • Discovering employees had never been paid overtime
  • Total office staff turnover in first 4 months
  • Acquiring 4 diverse businesses
  • Launching a $25M equity fund with 5 partners
  • It’s all about the people

References and how to contact Joe:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Buying $1.5m of Earnings Without an SBA Loan28 May 202601:23:05

As a South African in the US, Justus Luttig had to get creative to search then buy 2 trades businesses at the same time.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Justus’s interview: 

  • Growing up on a cattle ranch in South Africa
  • Disillusioned with the venture capital bubble
  • Perception of white collar work as “the dream”
  • Meeting successful owners of blue-collar businesses
  • Big deal failure on his birthday
  • Structuring a deal without the SBA
  • Challenges of searching on an H1B visa
  • Merging an HVAC with a plumbing business
  • The magic happens when you leave your desk
  • Acquiring during the slow season

References and how to contact Justus:

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

The Magic of Low Multiple + Growth25 May 202601:33:33

David Graf went after a business that had sat on the market, acquiring $750k of EBITDA for 2.7x. It's going well.

Register for the webinars: 

Topics in David’s interview: 

  • Drive to earn money as a kid
  • Choosing to skip business school
  • Advantages of acquiring in Texas
  • Preparing his case to convince his wife
  • Working full time while searching
  • Growth is often underpriced
  • Wholesaling real estate he didn’t want
  • How to decide whether to keep an employee
  • Joining a group for manufacturing owners
  • Near-crisis days before closing

References and how to contact David:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Rolling Up an Industry with 1.5x Multiples21 May 202601:55:48

Truc Nguyen has acquired 2 nail salons, an overlooked but fragmented industry where businesses trade at low multiples.

Register for the webinar:

Topics in Truc’s interview:

  • Why she chose the nail salon industry
  • Her vision for a rollup
  • Analyzing a current nail salon business listing
  • Low multiples in the nail space
  • Bargaining power of good nail techs
  • Square footage and number of chairs matters
  • Documenting SOPs for her first salon
  • Staffing a 7-day-a-week business
  • Creating a great company culture
  • The changing face of nail salons

References and how to contact Truc:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

The Origins and Future of a 9-Figure SMB Holdco18 May 202601:49:57

Gant Elmore and Matt Moldenhauer each bought $2m businesses they built over years. Today their holdco does over $200m. 

Register for the webinar:

Topics in Matt & Gant’s interview:

  • 3 generations of acquisition entrepreneurs
  • Matt started as operator, became partner
  • Bain mentors warned Matt not to do ETA
  • Goal of owning 50 companies by 2050
  • Being the Ferrari in a price-competitive industry
  • Why they prefer holding to exiting
  • Challenge of giving control to an operator
  • Gant and his dad teach ETA together
  • War stories from small business operations
  • Demand exceeds supply of great businesses

References and how to contact Matt & Gant:

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Too Good to Be True: Year 1 in a $700k SDE Business14 May 202601:24:52

Zack Mutnik thought he bought a $1.5m electrical contracting business for 2.3x. The numbers weren't what they seemed.

Register for the webinar:

Topics in Zack’s interview:

  • Learning leadership in the Navy
  • Managing chaos with ADHD
  • Undisclosed surprises after acquisition
  • Replacing 8/10 employees
  • Heavy emphasis on company culture
  • Deciding to change the business name
  • Training his employees to be independent
  • Growing revenue despite a rocky start
  • Marketing is not a quick fix
  • Finding employees in a rural market

References and how to contact Zack:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

How to Structure Around Risk in a $250k SDE Acquisition11 May 202601:17:16

Alicia Powers wanted to buy a general contractor but understood the risks in such businesses and negotiated accordingly.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Alicia’s interview:

  • Air Force construction experience
  • Corporate job at an elevator company
  • Leading a shower remodeling startup
  • Layoff motivated her toward acquisition
  • Why franchising isn’t for her
  • Acquiring a small construction business
  • Getting her general contractor license
  • Specializing in home additions/ADUs
  • Tailwinds in the San Diego area
  • Surprisingly long sales cycle

References and how to contact Alicia:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Buying Small to Build for the Long Term ($300k SDE)07 May 202601:23:53

Brendan Duebner's goal is to build a healthy, long-term business of 20-40 people. Buying a $1.2m MSP was his first step.

Topics in Brendan’s interview:

  • Learning to lead in the Army
  • Summer internship with Josh Medow
  • Cold calling is unpleasant but effective
  • Living and acquiring in the Bay Area
  • Working in the business before closing
  • Signs of seller integrity
  • 85% seller note with no personal guarantee
  • Implementing EOS himself
  • Choosing to only hire local
  • His mission of building a tribe

References and how to contact Brendan:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

A $800k Business to Start, $60m Portfolio Today04 May 202601:05:55

Andrew Blazenko has made 6 acquisitions over the last ten years. Pairing businesses with operators is key to his model.

Topics in Andrew’s interview:

  • Background as a business broker
  • Wanted the exit joy for himself
  • Danger of low barrier to entry
  • Finding great operators to run his businesses
  • Business acquisition requires reps
  • Executive in Residence program
  • Requiring operators to invest in the business
  • Difficulty of raising equity in Canada
  • Shipping costs as a natural moat
  • Living as a “gentleman of leisure” 

References and how to contact Andrew:

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Buying Then Losing a $2.1m HVAC Business30 Apr 202601:53:21

Dan Burnside thought he got a great deal on an $800k SDE business. Instead he'd bought bad faith and years of struggle.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Dan’s interview:

  • Buying in a small, rural area
  • Discovering seller fraud after acquisition
  • Key employee leaves and starts competing business
  • Working to integrate himself into the community
  • HVAC techs resisted technology changes
  • Wife and kids unhappy in the new place
  • Getting his Master Mechanical Contractor license
  • Customers not paying their invoices
  • Hiring challenges in rural areas
  • Bankruptcy and his new AI venture

References and how to contact Dan:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

From $1m to $25m in 6 Years27 Apr 202601:56:07

Jeff Flannery is a great example of how franchising complements ETA, having rolled up 17 units since starting in 2019.

Register for the webinars: 

Topics in Jeff’s interview:

  • Difference between a practice and a business
  • 18 years of running a procurement recruiting firm
  • Acquiring a failing Hand and Stone location
  • Improving the franchisee playbook
  • Ask franchisees for the actual profit margins
  • Mastering the business from the bottom up
  • Working 100-hour weeks for years
  • Implementing enrollment fees
  • Running spas in California through Covid
  • Building an inbound and outbound offshore call center

References and how to contact Jeff:

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

The Searchers Building a $10m EBITDA Powerhouse23 Apr 202601:08:11

Nicolás Lulli bought a document storage business in Peru. 6 years later, it is a $25m leader in the Andean region.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Nicolás’s interview:

  • First employee at Relay Investments search fund
  • Launched Peru’s first search fund, Colca Capital
  • Covid lockdowns erased profits almost overnight
  • Rebuilding the business into a tight submarine
  • From $0 EBITDA to $5m in one year
  • Shifted focus toward acquisitions for faster growth
  • Records storage is a real estate business
  • Invests in other searchers to pay it forward
  • The cradle-to-grave strategy in records management
  • Building a searcher community in Peru

References and how to contact Nicolás:

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition. 

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Buying a $40m Business as a 49-Year-Old First-Timer20 Apr 202601:31:40

Greg Hirsch wants more seasoned professionals to understand how valuable their experience can be to an ETA journey.

Topics in Greg’s interview:

  • Fifteen years learning systems at Sysco Foods
  • Failed startup revealed builder, not founder path
  • Helped scale trucking roll-up through industry consolidation
  • Revisiting his “heck no” pile
  • Invests in timeless blue-collar essential industries
  • Late-40s searches benefit from life experience
  • Spouse alignment essential before risking family security
  • His wife’s perspective on the process
  • Growth comes from removing operational friction
  • His wife’s perspective on the process

References and how to contact Greg:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

How Business-Buyer Fit Led to 2.2x and No PG16 Apr 202601:33:57

Thanks to strong business-buyer fit, Joe Wynn negotiated great terms to acquire a $600k SDE sales & service business.

Register for the webinar: 

Topics in Joseph’s interview:

  • Trading a mid–six-figure salary for business ownership
  • Wanting to “build his own ladder” instead of climbing someone else’s
  • Buying a medical equipment distribution and service company
  • Designing and outfitting hospital operating rooms
  • 45% net margins on $2M in revenue
  • Raising service prices 20–50% in his first six weeks
  • Navigating “lumpy” project-based revenue cycles
  • Structuring a $1.35M deal with seller financing
  • Putting only $120K down with no personal guarantee
  • A post-closing banking freeze that forced him to cover payroll

References and how to contact Joseph:

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

Get a complimentary IT audit of your target business:

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov
Produced by Pam Cameron

Buying a Business to Balance Ambition and Kids13 Apr 202601:45:47

Constrained in her job and seeking more time for her kids, Ana Lia Barragan bought a $385k/yr, 30-year-old business.

Register for the webinars: 

Topics in Ana Lia’s interview:

  • Wanted flexibility while raising two young children
  • Hit promotion ceiling in corporate tech ladder
  • Joined Beta Accelerator, buying businesses training program
  • Treat LOIs like conversations, not commitments
  • DIY diligence first to avoid costly mistakes
  • SBA rule changes complicated future acquisition financing
  • Recurring revenue lower than seller originally claimed
  • Lost major client after leadership cost-cutting shift
  • Built custom AI app for operations tracking
  • Bought a job first, business later

References and how to contact Ana Lia:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov
Produced by Pam Cameron

© My Podcast Data · Projet indépendant · Données issues d'Apple & Spotify
À proposMéthodologieContactMe soutenirPolitique de confidentialitéMentions légales