Acquiring Minds

Register for the webinar:  Anatomy of a Franchise Holdco - Thu May 1 - https://bit.ly/4k8HKBd Jan Roll bought a $6m residential contractor, a harrowing experience he calls one giant ambiguous ball of figure-it-out. Topics in Jan's interview: Contracting means learning 25-30 trades Margin of safety in a residential construction business Value of paying vendors immediately Engendering trust in a low...

Register for the webinar: Anatomy of a Franchise Holdco - Thu May 1st - https://bit.ly/3RWj0Qh In 2019, Matt Kopp bought a supplier to elementary schools with $350k SDE. 6 years later, he has a portfolio of them. Topics in Matt’s interview: Business buying market in Australia Eliminating interruptions at work Tracking email open rates to improve his outreach Buying a science class supplier Challen...

Register for the webinar: Should You Buy a Business? A Live Panel with Lab Members - Wed Apr 23rd - https://bit.ly/3EBvXvN Joe Ziolkowski found the deal of a lifetime — a $10m manufacturing business — by expanding his filters on BizBuySell. Topics in Joe’s interview: Investing with a friend in real estate Backing out of a Mr. Rooter deal Acquiring a restoration business Dealing with insurance in r...

Register for the webinar: Licenses & Regulatory Issues in Acquisitions - Thu April 17th - https://bit.ly/4i7vsY5 With 300 employees across 5 companies, the holdco that Chris Fredericks is building has an uncommon feature at its core. Topics in Chris’s interview: What is an Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP)? Finding purpose and meaning at work Concept of dignity at work What ESOP employee...

Register for the webinar: Licenses & Regulatory Issues in Acquisitions - Thu April 17th - https://bit.ly/3G9vf9F Adam Goldberg had to adapt his corporate approach after buying a nearly-closed manufacturer whose sales were down 80%. Topics in Adam’s interview: Building & exiting a wholesale costume jewelry business Deciding he was too young to retire Acquiring a small, distressed candle bus...

Register for the webinar:  5 Stages of the Business Buying Process - Fri Apr 11 - https://bit.ly/4ljGigo Keegan Dum wound down his search fund after 2 years without a deal, but he went on to acquire & create a great outcome.  Topics in Keegan’s interview: Choosing traditional search No deal after 2 years of searching Selling the business after 18 months Finding a business on his own through co...

Register for the webinar:  5 Stages of the Business Buying Process - Fri Apr 11 - https://bit.ly/4ji2UMu Ken Eyjolfson looked at tons of businesses before deciding on a mattress outlet with $500k SDE and 700 5-star reviews.  Topics in Ken’s interview: 8 years with the Soccer Shots franchise Spending too long searching for the perfect deal Buying a discount mattress retailer How the Canadian mattre...

Register for the webinar: 5 Steps to the Business Buying Process - Thu April 10th - https://bit.ly/41RC4oN After his foray into SMB ownership went well with FedEx routes, Matt O'Brien bought & doubled a $2.5m fencing business.  Topics in Matt’s interview: Buying and expanding FedEx routes Nuances of buying a FedEx route Selling his routes at peak value during Covid Acquiring a commercial fenci...

You thought the internet killed them off, but the travel agency Jared Benoff bought does $1m SDE by dominating a niche. Topics in Jared’s interview: His 9.5 year stint at Twitter/X Helping his dad with the family business Buying his parents’ destination wedding business Evolution of travel agencies His dad’s successful YouTube videos Advantages of buying the family business Standing out with custo...

Initially drawn to buying a business, Kevin Moyer instead decided to start a project-based blue collar business instead. Topics in Kevin’s interview: Is the franchise fee worth it? Buying 3 de novo Smash My Trash territories His appreciation for reversible decisions A small business is an extension of the owner Recurring revenue is overrated Simple is nice, but complexity is a moat Starting a busi...

Register for the webinar:  How to Reduce Surprises with Operational Diligence - Wed Mar 26 - https://bit.ly/4hxp0tj  Seeking a fit with his industrials experience, Adam Salmen bought an 8-figure business with locations around the world. Topics in Adam’s interview: Looking beyond “arts and crafts” businesses Partnering with Novastone to search and acquire Acquiring a multinational industrial compan...

Register for the webinar: How to Reduce Surprises with Operational Diligence - Wed March 26 - https://bit.ly/4igNOqz After his acquisition failed, Jed Morris connected with dozens of others who'd experienced the same. There are patterns. Topics in Jed’s interview: Pivoting from Air Force to tech Interning for the company he bought Acquiring 2 landscaping companies a few weeks apart Insurance cost...

Register for the webinar: How to Reduce Surprises with Operational Diligence - Web March 26 - https://bit.ly/4kVYn3U Recently laid off and a baby on the way, Shaugn Lindley pivoted into SMB ownership by buying a business with $550k SDE. Topics in Shaugn’s interview: Getting laid off from tech Reaching out to 600 local landscaping companies Finding a mentor through Acquiring Minds Why he decided ag...

Register for: Employee Issues & Non-Competes When Buying a Business - Thu March 13th - https://bit.ly/41vg9SL The live Q&A with Harley on March 27th - https://bit.ly/43vYX24 Harley Sitner bought a struggling VW van repair shop for $100k in 2013. Today it's an 8-figure business and brand. Topics in Harley’s interview: His career in software First business acquisition: West Coast Nurseries H...

Register for: Employee Issues & Non-Competes When Buying a Business - Thu March 13 - https://bit.ly/3F6dasG The live Q&A with Nick on March 25th: https://bit.ly/3DoZfgD Industry outsider Nick Munsee bought a traffic engineering firm for a good price, carefully de-risking the acquisition. Topics in Nick's interview: Managing from out of state The white whale: a deal that almost happened Les...

Register for the webinars: 5 Stages of the Business Buying Process - Thu March 6 - https://bit.ly/3QEgIoA Employee Issues & Non-Competes When Buying a Business - Thu March 13 - https://bit.ly/4koXrFb Live Q&A with Sean Daly - Tue March 18 - https://bit.ly/41yzjZ7 Day 1 changes? Yes please. Sean Daly brought a spirit of experimentation, iteration, and speed to a small HVAC business. Topics...

Register for: Live Q&A with Jonathan Bournigal - Thu March 19 - https://bit.ly/41lwPwc Webinar: 5 Stages of the Business Buying Process - Thu March 6 - https://bit.ly/41m0o0i Jonathan Bournigal returned to his native Dominican Republic to buy a business. He found a small one and has 6x'd it. Topics in Jonathan’s interview: Boomer-owned businesses vs family-run businesses Avoiding the label of...

Register for the webinar: 5 Stages of the Business Buying Process - Thu March 6 - https://bit.ly/435spfe Barker Squire has grown his crane servicing business gradually over 6 years. Now he turns his attention to what's next. Topics in Barker’s interview: Leading teams in the Marine Corps Getting a conventional loan instead of SBA Keeping his ears open in seller meetings Pros and cons of government...

Register for the webinar: First 100 Days: Survive & Thrive as a New Business Owner - Wed Feb 26 - https://bit.ly/4hFqGle 24 hours into Jack Carr's ownership of a tiny HVAC business, disaster struck. Just 2.5 years later, it did $3m in sales. Topics in Jack’s interview: All HVAC techs quit on the first day Buying an HVAC business with no physical location Why he feels like his 2x multiple was t...

Register for the webinars: Using a Sale-Leaseback to Buy a Business - Thu Feb 20 - https://bit.ly/3QjGZYR First 100 Days: Survive & Thrive as a New Business Owner - Wed Feb 26 - https://bit.ly/4hCxC2G Subscribe to the new podcast, Meeting of the Minds: On YouTube Spotify & Apple links coming soon! Lucas Philips bought a niche manufacturer with $200k SDE, aiming to make it an ecommerce/DTC...

Register for the webinars: Using a Sale-Leaseback to Buy a Business - Thu Feb 20 - https://bit.ly/3X1BqSQ Subscribe to the new podcast, Meeting of the Minds: On YouTube Spotify & Apple links coming soon! Cliff & Christine Nelson navigated him buying a big but remote business while she was pregnant, then a first-time mom. Topics in Cliff and Christine’s interview: Highs and lows of the 2-ye...

Register for the webinars: Legal Aspects of Debt Financing - Thu Feb 13 - https://bit.ly/4aOwtlM Using a Sale-Leaseback to Buy a Business - Thu Feb 20 - https://bit.ly/4hQbn9e It took Alex Holley a few months of daily meetings to find a $4.5m home services business in his local Louisville, KY. Topics in Alex’s interview: Networking through 100 meetings in 4 months Buying 2 businesses at once Learn...

Register for the webinars: Legal Aspects of Debt Financing - Thu Feb 13 - https://bit.ly/414vOtc Using a Sale-Leaseback to Buy a Business - Thu Feb 20 - https://bit.ly/42I4dPY Former guest Chris Edwards has sold the $1.7m flooring business he bought with $200k of his own money and an SBA loan. Topics in Chris’s interview: Why he chose to sell his flooring business Deciding not to rebrand Owning an...

Register for the webinars: 5 Stages of the Business Buying Process - Thu Feb 6 - https://bit.ly/4aNHmEz Legal Aspects of Debt Financing - Thu Feb 13 - https://bit.ly/3PXBEX6 Industry-agnostic Trip Biesanz brought his sales skills to a glass fabrication & install business doing $3m in revenue. Topics in Trip’s interview: Being a franchisee for 7 years Networking through MBBI and XPX Working wit...

Register for the webinars: 5 Stages of the Business Buying Process - Thu Feb 6 - https://bit.ly/3En1vFu Legal Aspects of Debt Financing - Thu Feb 13 - https://bit.ly/3EjjOex 7 months into ownership of a $2m fencing business, Kirk Olson is learning how to manage culture, tech, and cash flow. Topics in Kirk’s interview: Achieving financial independence, but deciding not to retire Buying a business f...