Acquiring Minds

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 busine...

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:    Add-Ons and Carve-Outs: How to Get Banks on Board - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4sO0MAt 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 integ...

Jeff Flannery is a great example of how franchising complements ETA, having rolled up 17 units since starting in 2019. Register for the webinars:  Advanced Deal Mechanics: NWC, Net Debt & Purchase Price Adjustments - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4u9KyD6 Add-Ons and Carve-Outs: How to Get Banks on Board - Thu, Apr 30 - https://bit.ly/3OpzRgx Topics in Jeff’s interview: Difference between a pract...

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:  Advanced Deal Mechanics: NWC, Net Debt & Purchase Price Adjustments - Tue, Apr 28 - https://bit.ly/490Ms0q Topics in Nicolás’s interview: First employee at Relay Investments search fund Launched Peru’s first search fund, Colca Capital Covid lockdowns era...

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 searche...

Thanks to strong business-buyer fit, Joe Wynn negotiated great terms to acquire a $600k SDE sales & service business. Register for the webinar:  Real Estate Issues When Buying a Business - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4smYdoQ 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 equ...

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:  Your First Finance Hires After Buying a Business - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/3OvsNic Real Estate Issues When Buying a Business - Thu, Apr 16 - https://bit.ly/3PYIhf8 Topics in Ana Lia’s interview: Wanted flexibility while raising two young children Hit...

Jenna Whigham and her brother bought a large business for a search fund, then grew it 6x larger over the last 5 years. Register for the webinar: The Operator’s Perspective: Running a Business for an Owner - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4va4hUm Topics in Jenna’s interview: Investment banking during the 2008 crisis Launching a traditional search fund with her brother Golden Retrievers led to an acquisit...

Joseph Cruz left a lucrative job in finance to pursue business ownership. Year 1 has gone well (despite losing his GM). Register for the webinars:  What Type of Franchise Is Right for You? - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/48gn6eH The Operator’s Perspective: Running a Business for an Owner - Thu, Apr 9 - https://bit.ly/4m7lSZ7 Topics in Joseph’s interview: Growing up in a Filipino immigrant family Why...

It took Robin Kovitz fours years to find her business, which she has built into an industry leader and her life's work. Register for the webinar: Quality of Technology (QoT) Report: Protecting Your Acquisition - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4d9F2en Topics in Robin’s interview: Upbringing in the meat industry Early career in investment banking and M&A Her 4-year search for a business Always visit t...

Jack Foster & Jake McLaughlin raised $2.8m to buy 10 Meineke stores. That equity has taken them further than expected. Register for the webinars:  Offshore Talent vs. AI for Business Buyers - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4bAIbTj Quality of Technology (QoT) Report: Protecting Your Acquisition - Thu, Apr 2 - https://bit.ly/4rUHngL Topics in Jack and Jake’s interview: Childhood friends turned busi...

Corey Mullins had worked in the trade over a decade when he bought a tiny, failing HVAC business for its phone number. Register for the webinars: What Actually Makes a Good Deal? Patterns from 1,000+ Transactions - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4m4gsy5 Offshore Talent vs. AI for Business Buyers - Tue, Mar 31 - https://bit.ly/4uW6rXG Topics in Corey’s interview: His 20-year career in HVAC Failed buyout...

Eric Donahue quickly grew revenue to $6m thanks to operational enhancements, culture tweaks, and a little good luck. Register for the webinar: What Actually Makes a Good Deal? Patterns from 1,000+ Transactions - Thurs March 26th - https://bit.ly/4lT2ajG Topics in Eric’s interview: Navy SEAL career and retirement Performing the basics at a high level His tree service side hustle Old school propriet...

After 25 years on The Street, Brian Anderson discovered passion in buying small businesses — despite brutal challenges. Register for the webinar: How to Handle Common Employee Issues When Buying a Business - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4sa946l Topics in Brian’s interview: Career in investment banking/hedge funds Closure of his firm Pursuing small business as an asset class Low multiples are fairly va...

Naveen Vinta spends weekdays at the business he bought in Milkwaukee, away from home in Virginia. He's making it work. Register for the webinars:  Add-Backs to Cash Flow for SBA Loans - Tue March 17th - https://bit.ly/4luTdgd How to Handle Common Employee Issues When Buying a Business - Thurs March 19th - https://bit.ly/4dnIwtD Topics in Naveen’s interview: Army experience as a tank mechanic Fundi...

After building a masonry business over 5+ years, Justin Escajeda bought his first company in 2018 and never looked back. Register for the webinars:   From Owner to Owner: Business Transition Lessons - TODAY - https://bit.ly/46K82p5 Topics in Justin’s interview: His early career as a stone mason Growing his side jobs into a company Liquidating his real estate investments Focusing on masonry niches...

After Megan McGee pivoted her search fund to a self-funded approach, she bought a business where she wanted to settle. Register for the webinars:    From Owner to Owner: Business Transition Lessons - Thu March 12 - https://bit.ly/4ctCJCw Topics in Megan’s interview: Family background in pest control Internship with previous guest Edward McDonnell Starting out in traditional search Investors declin...

Jonathan Taylor has quickly grown revenue 40% at his acquisition through digitization, process improvement, and sales. Topics in Jonathan’s interview: Searching while working full-time His “now or never” moment approaching 40 Restricting his search to Los Angeles Over-equitizing the deal Structuring a forgivable seller note Accepting 60% ownership Finding long-term hold investors Buying from a non...

After his first ownership experience ended badly, Joe Springsteen bought a $3.2m maintenance business that is thriving. Topics in Joe’s interview: Background in law and operations Divorce as a catalyst for change Acquiring a biohazard cleanup business Doing cleanup himself His original growth thesis failed Selling the cleanup business His “Codie Sanchez phase” Prioritizing geography in his search...

Edward McDonnell bought a local services business via traditional search fund and grew it to 8 branches across 5 states. Register for the webinar:  SMB Cybersecurity: Why Operators Need a Risk Assessment - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4u2GO7d Topics in Edward’s interview: Mechanical engineering at Honda Choosing traditional search for budget Acquiring an indoor plant/landscaping business Going in with...

Scott Crosby weathered the challenges that come with buying a 4.5-employee services business, and Year 2 is looking up. Register for the webinars:  Common Legal Diligence Issues (and How to Handle Them) - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/3OQhm4l SMB Cybersecurity: Why Operators Need a Risk Assessment - Thu, Feb 26 - https://bit.ly/4bY1KWe Topics in Scott’s interview: His 2 major career-defining moments...

Tato Corcoran returns with updates on her ownership of a sink maker that had just $400k in revenue when she bought it. Register for the webinar:  Red Flags That Kill or Reshape Deals - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4rsjvla Topics in Tato’s interview: Growing her top line revenue Finding a mentor at Starbucks Creating an employee handbook Reconfiguring the factory with new equipment How she implements e...

Don Grigg reflects on the different outcomes for 2 businesses he bought in his 30s, one of which became his life's work. Register for the webinar:  Red Flags That Kill or Reshape Deals - Feb 19th - https://bit.ly/468vw6W Topics in Don’s interview: Discovering his passion for manufacturing Searching for “small, broken companies” to acquire Closing on 2 businesses within 6 months How plastics recycl...

In addition to buying his own business, Evan DiLeonardi trades buy-side services for equity in other SMB acquisitions. Topics in Evan’s interview: Entering the Airbnb space Joining Ben Kelly’s acquisition group Buying a commercial cleaning business Being a remote “workaholic” Realizing he bought a business in distress First year in survival mode Getting a team of great managers in place His “Equit...

He started by buying a small flooring business in 2000. Today Paul Lajoie takes home $1m a year and works how he wants. Register for the webinar: Why Deal Flow Isn’t Your Biggest Problem - TOMORROW! - https://bit.ly/4ah8L1E Topics in Paul’s interview: Background in Big Six accounting Buying the first business he looked at Partnering with his brother Downsizing his lifestyle in the beginning Undere...