Acquiring Minds

Sensing untapped potential, Ville-Matias Vilén bought a sub-million manufacturer with good IP and global distribution. Topics in Ville’s interview: Desire to “eat what he kills” 1990’s Finnish Recession Aversion to solving people problems Acquiring a cattle brush manufacturer Funding his deal in Finland Patents as a moat Relocating the manufacturing 5 hours away Sharing ownership with his family’s...

Despite success in corporate, Jarom Wren wanted more freedom, so he traded 5 figures of salary for 7 figures of revenue. Topics in Jarom’s interview: Realizing he was renting himself to a corporation Mid-career risk assessment Searching for a digital business Choosing the lowest cost Q of E “Deals want to die” Risks of a 4-year old e-com business Offering education as well as DIY products Deciding...

Family planning and entrepreneurship converged as Linh & Leo Van Deibel bought their first (and not last) business. Topics in Linh & Leo’s interview: Making the case for business acquisition Taking family planning into account Searching in the UK as a non-citizen Being taken seriously as an Asian woman Their goal of building a holdco Thousands of meetings with sellers Search is a numbers g...

Jacob VosWinkel searched in tertiary markets to find a successful flooring store, his platform to build something big. Register for the webinar: What You’re Really Paying: Net Working Capital & Net Debt Explained - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/49WI4Ao Topics in Jacob’s interview: Recommending markets of 50k-100k people Scraping BizBuySell listings Reaching out to 200 potential investors Raising $1...

George Stern leaned into changing consumer search habits when he bought a digital marketing agency doing mid-7 figures. Register for the webinars:  Which Franchise Industries Make Sense in 2026? - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4jQCN0U What You’re Really Paying: Net Working Capital & Net Debt Explained - Jan 22nd - https://bit.ly/49mgU5Y Topics in George’s interview: Turning around an Amazon sell...

Phil Koller studied the concentration and key man risks in a distribution business well-suited to him — and went for it. Register for the webinar: From W2 to Owner Mindset: How to Think About Your Take-Home Pay - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4r5RsI3 Topics in Philip’s interview: Preferred working in a small company His friend talked him into real estate, then ETA Inspired by Rich Dad, Poor Dad Importa...

Matt Orley wanted to enter the short-term rentals space. Buying a business — and a brand he admired — was his way in. Register for the webinars: DO’s and DON'Ts of the LOI -  TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/3YtLIvp From W2 to Owner Mindset: How to Think About Your Take-Home Pay - Jan 15th - https://bit.ly/4qJ1Xk5 Topics in Matt’s interview: Investment properties as a side hustle Evolving short-term re...

Adam Vandermyde had to be persuaded to acquire the $15m business that he ultimately professionalized and exited to PE. Register for the webinar:  How to Present Your Deal for Maximum SBA Success - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/3KW7aWL Topics in Adam’s interview: Leaving consulting 2 months from making partner Taking on the CEO role at the target before closing Focusing on EBITDA over revenue A construc...

Joe Odell and his partner acquired a business with over $4m in earnings and lots of green flags. It went sideways fast. Register for the webinar:  How to Present Your Deal for Maximum SBA Success - Jan 8th - https://bit.ly/4snUKHY Topics in Joe’s interview: His blue collar, military background Volunteering without pay for a consulting company Ultimately rejecting the tech industry Finding his sear...

The first business Joe Soelberg bought did $400k SDE. The experience and cash flow enabled a second, larger acquisition. Topics in Joe’s interview: Leaving corporate for a chance to manage P&L His toughest pitch was to his wife Acquiring a 3D design firm Pivoting hard during Covid Hiring a manager with a design background Acquiring a branding agency Difference between branding and marketing Re...

Former pro bowler Mike Fagan bought a $2m bowling center with a plan to roll up and rejuvenate these legacy businesses. Topics in Mike’s interview: His professional bowling career Connecting with a bowling-specific broker Economic role of league bowlers The decline of bowling in America Traditional bowling vs Bowlero Buying a traditional, older bowling alley Running leaner to pay down debt Employe...

Tato Corcoran packed a lifetime of learning (and tears) into 18 months when she left tech & bought a tiny manufacturer. Topics in Tato’s interview: Connecting with sellers through direct mail Her “Say yes and figure it out later” approach Difficulty in hiring unskilled labor How she solved her labor issue Being a single woman in a male industry Learning Spanish to communicate with her employee...

The construction services business Christian Bateson bought will do $7.5m in 2024. It also rescued him from the depths. Topics in Christian’s interview: His front row seat to the 2008 financial crisis Qualities of a top salesperson Business acquisition as a way out of a miserable career Shopping around for an SBA loan Choosing to play to his strengths and outsource his weaknesses Difficulty in hir...

Respected consumer brands are not common in lower middle market acquisitions, but Philip Hussey and Chenmark bought one. Topics in Philip’s interview: Chenmark’s acquisition of Thomas Moser Leading a furniture business as a non-craftsman Chenmark’s hold-forever intention Wait times for custom, hand-made furniture Long tenure of craftsmen Commitment to world-class quality Getting away from offering...

Robert Gayden worked for over a year to buy a home care business. Revenue kept growing but the price remained the same. Register for the webinar:  What Killed Deals in 2025 - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/44r1pH5 Topics in Robert’s interview: Influence of his late father The “go bigger” search philosophy Appeal of the home health care industry 17-month acquisition process Choosing to operate “in the...

Scott Duncan endured brutal ups & downs — and personal depression — during his ownership of a doomed tool & die business Register for the webinar:  How to Model an Investor-Backed Search Acquisition - TODAY! - https://bit.ly/3XysjZB Topics in Scott’s interview: Wishing he had listened to his gut The risk of EBITDA (vs. revenue) concentration Managing highly skilled primadonnas  Employee th...

Andy Rougeot launched remote territories of the blue collar business he bought, which led to $1.7m of EBITDA and an exit Register for the webinars:  How to Invest In SMBs (Without Buying One Yourself) - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4rBI4Nb How to Model an Investor-Backed Search Acquisition - Dec 11th - https://bit.ly/4owBkNW Topics in Andy’s interview: His experience as an Army intelligence officer...

Steve Carroll started as an SBA searcher before pivoting to a PE-backed roll-up. It's gone better than he ever expected. Register for the webinars:  How to Run the SBA Deal Race - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/3Xh3WQb How to Invest In SMBs (Without Buying One Yourself) - Dec 9th - https://bit.ly/44Gylv1 Topics in Steve’s interview: Experience working for WalMart corporate Searching while working full t...

Jake Bittner bought an unprofitable carve-out doing $3m. A key pivot grew revenue to $20m and got the attention of PE. Register for the webinar:  How to Run the SBA Deal Race - Dec 4th - https://bit.ly/44whqv6 Topics in Jake’s interview: Building a nest egg before leaving his job Fallout from his father’s failed businesses Calculating the value of a business losing money Disliking the bureaucracy...

Dave Gilbert spent 2 years fixing the model and customer concentration of the $750k SDE family business he bought with SBA debt. Topics in Dave’s interview: Leaving tech to buy a white collar business Meeting with 120 owners while searching Buying a business he initially passed on Risks of family members as employees Financial surprises after the transition Losing 23% of revenue when clients left...

Taylor Mattingly found high-quality revenue in an unusual and sizable B2C business that he happened to be a customer of. Topics in Taylor’s interview: Being Co-CEO with his best friend Buying a business he was a customer of Acquiring a business in his hometown Confusing, deregulated Texas energy market How Energy Ogre differs from a typical broker Keeping his call center in Texas “Set it and forge...

From the acquisition of a tiny refrigeration business, Linh Tran has built an enterprise that earns millions annually. Register for the webinar:  What a Good Investor Pitch Looks Like -TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/3LYM4H2 Topics in Linh’s interview: The "Three Rs" search criteria Being an undercover owner for 18 months Eliminating 70-hour workweeks for his techs Struggling with work-life balance Imple...

Greg Geronemus bought a highly-profitable travel business at favorable terms, helping to ensure a great return on exit. Register for the webinar:  What a Good Investor Pitch Looks Like - Nov 20th - https://bit.ly/47YbVXj Topics in Greg’s interview: Challenges of searching in New York Cobbling together a search fund in earlier days of search Strategy of cold email outreach Acquiring at age 26 Partn...

Gail Azodo discovered a method of buying audiology practices with 100% financing. She's moving quickly to buy and build. Register for the webinar: Financing Your Deal: SBA vs. Non-SBA - TODAY - https://bit.ly/4p4J2Q7 Topics in Gail’s interview: Managing brands at Proctor and Gamble Her vision to run her own company Life changing power of hearing aids Switching her search from Vision to Audiology C...

After chafing under the constraints of being a CEO, Katherine Butler-Dines & Rahul Desai bought a business of their own. Register for the webinar: Financing Your Deal: SBA vs. Non-SBA - Nov 13th - https://bit.ly/47OQpUA Topics in Katherine and Rahul’s interview: Katherine’s early CEO experience Board conflicts pushed her toward majority ownership Acquiring without a traditional bank loan Convi...