Acquiring Minds

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...

Raj Mahajan bought a salon software business, tripled it to $11M ARR. Then his biggest customer launched a competitor. Register for the webinar: Tax Issues: Entity and Deal Structuring - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4frQstm 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 fro...

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:  Working Capital: One of ETA’s Most Expensive Mistakes - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4f8pSGY Topics in Patrick interview: Entrepreneurship in his family Zoom fatigue from remote work Searching in Northeast Ohio Finding a business through his network Meetin...

Brian Jungles bought a $400k direct mail business in Atlanta and skipped SBA by pledging his portfolio as collateral. Register for the webinars: Don't Rush: How to Prepare for a Quality of Earnings Report - TOMORROW! - https://bit.ly/3T4OQOJ Working Capital: One of ETA’s Most Expensive Mistakes - Thu, Jul 23 - https://bit.ly/3T1aELe Topics in Brian’s interview: Leaving his corporate career at Adob...

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: From Working IN the Business to ON the Business: How Owners Make the Transition - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4aKP3fY Don't Rush: How to Prepare for a Quality of Earnings Report - Tue, Jul 21 - https://bit.ly/4feY1DP Topics in Rob’s interview: Geographic...

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: From Working IN the Business to ON the Business: How Owners Make the Transition - Thu, Jul 16 - https://bit.ly/4vRBhk8 Topics in Chris’s interview:  Going through Acquisition Lab First deal fell through on Christmas Eve Acquiring an ecommerce business...

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:  Finance Essentials Before You Close - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4fcxTdK 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 Kee...

Buying a metal fabricator with $1m in earnings pivoted Paul Callahan into the new entrepreneurial chapter of his career. Register for the webinar:  Finance Essentials Before You Close - Thu, Jul 9 - https://bit.ly/4eMaUow 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...

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 mu...

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...

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:  Transferable Skills: Crafting Your Resume for SBA Lenders - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4v3KOnf 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 discove...

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:  Overcoming Common Deal Sticking Points - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/3Qx1g0W Transferable Skills: Crafting Your Resume for SBA Lenders - Thu, Jun 25 - https://bit.ly/4uOEqQD Topics in Dominick’s interview: Leaving a lucrative job in his late 20’s Dodg...

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:  Understanding a Quality of Earnings Analysis: What's Included and Why - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/43sZcKn Topics in Tom’s interview: From IBM executive to acquisition entrepreneur Building banker relationships to source better deals Closing on his first LOI...

Despite his love of operations, Himmat Singh intended to own his acquisition passively. Then the lead sales guy quit. Register for the webinar:  Understanding a Quality of Earnings Analysis: What's Included and Why - Thu, Jun 18 - https://bit.ly/4vhhY3t Topics in Himmat’s interview: Operating a business for a billionaire in India Ran traditional search, closed zero acquisitions Targeted recession-...

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 Ret...

Brendan Burdette and Ryan Conner have launched personal guarantee insurance to enable more — and stronger — SBA buyers. Register for the webinar:  Score It or Skip It: A Framework for Fast Deal Evaluation - Thu, Jun 11 - https://bit.ly/3Q1D9qM Topics in Brendan & Ryan’s interview: Psychological weight of the personal guarantee Building a personal guarantee insurance product Taking the risk fro...

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...

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:  Franchising for the ETA Buyer: Resales, Roll-Ups, and Real Deals - Thu, June 4 - https://bit.ly/4vnGP5u 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 L...

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:  New $10m Limit for SBA Loans: What You Need to Know - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4v3zKXh 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 dre...

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:  Negotiating Working Capital in SMB Acquisitions - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4a2ozGe New $10m Limit for SBA Loans: What You Need to Know - Thu, May 28 - https://bit.ly/49j3V4t Topics in David’s interview:  Drive to earn money as a kid Choosing to skip busin...

Truc Nguyen has acquired 2 nail salons, an overlooked but fragmented industry where businesses trade at low multiples. Register for the webinar: Negotiating Working Capital in SMB Acquisitions - Tue, May 26 - https://bit.ly/4eQfCTR 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 spac...

Gant Elmore and Matt Moldenhauer each bought $2m businesses they built over years. Today their holdco does over $200m.  Register for the webinar: Revenue Recognition & Quality of Revenue in SMB Deals - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4dMvx4w Topics in Matt & Gant’s interview: 3 generations of acquisition entrepreneurs Matt started as operator, became partner Bain mentors warned Matt not to do...

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: Kill It Early: Spot Red Flags Before Spending on Diligence - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4eBVO6E Topics in Zack’s interview: Learning leadership in the Navy Managing chaos with ADHD Undisclosed surprises after acquisition Replacing 8/10 employees Heavy emphas...

Alicia Powers wanted to buy a general contractor but understood the risks in such businesses and negotiated accordingly. Register for the webinar:  Kill It Early: Spot Red Flags Before Spending on Diligence - Thu, May 14 - https://bit.ly/4wqiYU3 Topics in Alicia’s interview: Air Force construction experience Corporate job at an elevator company Leading a shower remodeling startup Layoff motivated...