Acquiring Minds

Jon Hyatt was under LOI on a dental practice when a late-night Craigslist search turned up one he couldn't resist. Register for the webinar:  Structuring LOIs: Competitive Enough to Win, Bankable Enough to Close - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4s1pAWV Topics in Jon’s interview: Using Facebook groups for industry research Why labor became a search constraint The abandoned dental roll-up thesis Discoveri...

Elias Youssef stepped into an unprofitable plumbing company as its GM, grew it 6x, then got an SBA loan to buy it. Register for the webinar:  Structuring LOIs: Competitive Enough to Win, Bankable Enough to Close - Thu, Oct 22 - https://bit.ly/4B7XVHU Topics in Elias’s interview: Dropping out of community college Stacking cash as an appliance salesman Early real estate joint ventures Breaking even...

Jay Boren bought a tiny grease tool business run out of a living room, then grew it into a brand with 250 products. Register for the webinar: The Small Things That Sink First-Year Owners - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/3VAOWiq Topics in Jay’s interview: Choosing Vermont over Silicon Valley Solving geography through ETA Discovering LockNLube through Tuck Turning a grease coupler into opportunity Navigat...

Brendan Guerin was 21 when he and 3 friends bought a dog daycare on the side. Today: 6 Midwest locations. Register for the webinars:  Debt Financing Your Deal (SBA & Independent Sponsor) - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4rRpQaY The Small Things That Sink First-Year Owners - Thu, Oct 15 - https://bit.ly/4idBtVx Topics in Brendan’s interview: He bought his first doggy daycare at 21 The first acquis...

Tyler Hoffman has bought 4 telecom companies with no outside equity, and works 15 hours a week to get to $50m. Topics in Tyler’s interview: Lessons from being fired repeatedly Finding and acquiring Metro Wireless Filling experience gaps with charisma Financing the $4.5 million acquisition Navigating a difficult ownership transition Discovering hidden operational problems post-close  Losing half of...

Colin King and his 50/50 partner have paid themselves little since 2018, reinvesting profits back into their businesses.  Topics in Colin’s interview: Growing Circle City Capital’s business portfolio Don’t call them private equity Why Colin stopped wanting operational roles Why critical mass matters for holdcos He still earn less than operators Holdco strategy versus industry-specific rollups The...

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,...

Jack Rauch left politics for a niche Florida business no bank would finance. He's doubled revenue twice since. Register for the webinar:  Sizing an SBA Loan to the Cash Flow - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4hrFwge 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...

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: Protect the Business: How to Diligence Insurance Pre-Close - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4xvNj2E Sizing an SBA Loan to the Cash Flow - Tue, Sep 29 - https://bit.ly/4y1Xr4a Topics in Kyle’s interview: Growing up in a golf family  Running Quail Ridge before becoming...

Manolo Diaz Corrada came home to Puerto Rico to build for decades and keep the wealth from leaving the island. Register for the webinars:  Working Capital: What Buyers Need to Know Before Closing - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4yJUdSX Protect the Business: How to Diligence Insurance Pre-Close - Thu, Sep 24 - https://bit.ly/4rlZei3 Topics in Manolo’s interview: Building a career across engineering,...

Morli Desai bought an e-commerce brand with an SBA loan. Three years later: liquidation, Chapter 11, and gratitude. Register for the webinars: Equity Financing: From SBA Deals to Independent Sponsors - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4r81edB Working Capital: What Buyers Need to Know Before Closing - Tue, Sep 22 - https://bit.ly/4gZWFxh Topics in Morli’s interview: Acquiring a skincare brand Why she felt...

Rob Brooks bought a $1.9m Sarasota HVAC shop, then ignored the advice to wait 90 days before changing it. Register for the webinar:  Equity Financing: From SBA Deals to Independent Sponsors - Thu, Sep 17 - https://bit.ly/3VqwuZu 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 H...

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:  The Deal I Almost Bought (And Why I Passed) - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4hVeKik 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 a...

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:  The Deal I Almost Bought (And Why I Passed) - Thu, Sep 10 - https://bit.ly/4zKAGTN 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 Foun...

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 Berks...

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:  Architecture of an Entrepreneurial Roll-Up - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4gXkwPt Topics in Jonathan & Courtney’s interview: Their background in oil & gas Turning down an offer from Apple Improving their investor pitch Traveling extensively to searc...

Andrew Sova and Alex Clark revived sales at a 40-year-old sign manufacturer, the first acquisition of their holdco. Register for the webinars: New SBA Rules: What Business Buyers Need to Know - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4hGNwMi Architecture of an Entrepreneurial Roll-Up - Tue, Sep 1 - https://bit.ly/4qc7dxx Topics in Andrew & Alex’s interview: Meeting at BCG Partnership provided accountability...

Jeff Homer returns with an update: revenue past $100m, a new dance division, and 50% growth expected this year.  Register for the webinars: Licenses & Regulatory Issues When Buying a Business - TOMORROW! - https://bit.ly/4ccatTW New SBA Rules: What Business Buyers Need to Know - Thu, Aug 27 - https://bit.ly/4c3b6zj Architecture of an Entrepreneurial Roll-Up - Tue, Sep 1 - https://bit.ly/4zdTbj...

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:  Learn to Avoid the #1 Reason Acquisitions Fail - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4qg4P9k Licenses & Regulatory Issues When Buying a Business - Tue, Aug 25 - https://bit.ly/4wTADDf Topics in Neil’s interview: Neil’s previous appearance on Acquiring Minds His b...

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:  Learn to Avoid the #1 Reason Acquisitions Fail - Thu, Aug 13 - https://bit.ly/4wPHY6R 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 J...

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: Learn to Avoid the #1 Reason Acquisitions Fail - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4z0fkBx 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 Unc...

Chibunna Chimezie's seller left $15k in the account. His post-acquisition liquidity is the only reason he made it.  Register for the webinar: Learn to Avoid the #1 Reason Acquisitions Fail - Thu, Aug 13 - https://bit.ly/4wUCNSY 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...

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:  The 3 Paths to Franchising for Acquisition Entrepreneurs - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4yGEhSe 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...

Gabriel Cruz Avila bought a $1.4M remodeling business, weathered a divorce and burnout, then sold it two years later.  Register for the webinar:  The 3 Paths to Franchising for Acquisition Entrepreneurs - Thu, Aug 6 - https://bit.ly/4pY7VOX 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 w...

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...