x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Acquiring Minds

Buying a business is an amazing path for many successful entrepreneurs. Learn how to buy a business from the entrepreneurs who have already done it. 2x per week: stories, insights, & valuable advice about acquisition entrepreneurship. Hosted by Will Smith, who is on his own path to acquire a business. Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquiringMinds Sign up for episode summaries at: https://acquiringminds.co

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

84:55

Scaling Sweaty Services with a Brokerage Model

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/12/14

Eddy Zakes has 2x'd revenue and 4x'd headcount at the snow removal brokerage he bought with a traditional search fund. Notes from the conversation with Eddy:His highly-personal outreach approachEarth Development’s unusual business modelNegotiating with an anxious sellerAcquiring during CovidHow being close to a target business changes rapport buildingBuying a highly seasonal businessOperating across multiple statesConvincing a key employee to stayRisk of customers taking relationships off

en

104:34

2.5 Years from Buying to Exiting

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/12/11

Brian Lee Shields bought a barely-profitable property management business intending to improve, grow, & hold it forever. Topics in Brian’s interview:Importance of energy vs talent Brian's partner and their complementary rolesBuying property management companiesImproving their net promoter score (NPS)Building a culture of completion rate measurementRelocating positions and outsourcingImportance of trust in property managementSuccessfully transitioning to a remote-first businessDeciding

en

86:05

Hard but Fun: Transitioning a 77-Year-Old Business

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/12/07

Darryl Lindie did a geo-constrained search in Rhode Island to acquire a sign business with $650k of SDE & 25 employees. Topics in Darryl’s interview:His background in the NavyHow getting an MBA might slow you downSearching in a small geographic radiusBuying a signage companyValuing a business with a lot of cash transactionsGetting comfortable with project-based revenueMistakes in due diligenceImproving the culture in 100 daysHiring a supplier to be his GMRaising a fund for New Majority

en

84:22

The Power of Conviction in Buying a Business

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/12/04

Matt Barnes bought a $400k SDE linen laundry business, channeling his conviction at big decision points along the way. Topics in Matt’s interview:Doing a narrow geographic searchPros and cons of door-to-door proprietary outreach to sellersImportance of having his wife on boardGetting emotionally invested in dealsHis values-based reason for acquiring a businessThe business sustaining fire damage before purchaseBuying a commercial laundry businessNiches within the laundry industryRealities of

en

99:45

3 Perspectives: A Panel on Buying Small Businesses

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/11/30

Recording of a live panel hosted by EO Silicon Valley with Acquiring Minds host Will Smith moderating. Topics discussed:3 stories of buying businessesWhat the search, due diligence, transition was like for each of the 3 entrepreneursSilicon Valley-style entrepreneurship vs. entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA)The napkin math of a business acquisition with an SBA loanMoving from white collar to blue collar environmentsIs there a "type" who buys a business?Graduating from buying your

en

96:06

Escaping Golden Handcuffs by Buying a Business

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/11/27

While not a CPA herself, a clear list of buying criteria led Gretchen Roberts to acquire a 16-person accounting firm. Topics in Gretchen’s interview:Overcoming mental blocks about leaving a good jobUsing her marketing skills for proprietary searchAcquiring an accounting firm without accounting experienceBuilding rapport and trust with the teamChanging the business’s nameBeing comfortable managing a remote teamBalancing business ownership and familyHer plan to recruit accountants through

en

25:17

7 Takeaways from 200 Episodes

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/11/22

Acquiring Minds host Will Smith reflects on 200 episodes, tells the podcast backstory, and teases what's coming in 2024. Topics in today’s episode with Will:Essential lessons from 200 interviews with acquisition entrepreneursHow Acquiring Minds got startedIs Will going to search for a business to buy?Plans for Acquiring Minds in 2024References and how to contact Will:Episode 183 with Brandon Adams: Hiring a General Manager & Buying Business #2Connect with Will on LinkedInFollow Will on

en

93:15

Cash Flows Over Exits: Buying for the Long Term

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/11/20

Sensing untapped potential, Mark Olivito paid cash for a project-based construction business with less than $100k SDE. Topics in Mark’s interview:Buying a business that checked all the wrong boxesWhy he “overpaid” to acquire PAVERARTWhat attracted him to the businessHis passion for building a successful blue-collar businessGlamorization of entrepreneurshipThe importance of showing up and “eating last”The trades as a lucrative alternative to collegeMental health challenges in small business

en

75:35

Skip the SBA: Buying a $4m Biz with a Conventional Loan

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/11/16

Ben Bryer worked with a financial backer to find & buy a 65-year-old niche manufacturing business without an SBA loan. Topics in Ben’s interview:Spending $150K and 18 months on dead dealThe emotional toll of a failed dealFreelancing to partially fund his searchBuying a pin gage manufacturerWhat attracted Ben to the businessChoosing a conventional loan over SBA loanBuilding relationships with lending partnersTech debt as a liabilityThe benefits of having long-term employeesImportance of

en

94:43

Doing It His Way: First-Timer Buys 2 at Once

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/11/13

Mike Okhravi left a cushy tech career to buy a towing business & a flooring business — and within 30 days of each other. Topics in Mike’s interview:Why he passed on the Search Fund AcceleratorHis philosophy on taking more risk by moving fastSigns of a motivated sellerBuying a 4-person garage flooring businessSurprises after acquiring the businessWhy profit dips post-acquisitionDiscarding the “searcher rules”What he loves about the towing businessOperating 2 businesses at once (including

en

51:18

The Upside & Downside of Search, from a 20-Year Veteran

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/11/09

A fireside chat with veteran searcher & investor Kent Weaver recorded at the Self-Funded Search Conference in Dallas. Topics in Kent's interview:Kent's history: his search & how he evolved into an investor in searchersHow the first 2 or 3 years post-acquisition are different in a self-funded search vs. a traditional search fundHow traditional search feels different today vs. its early daysWhat is a "3am business"?The power of choosing a quality industry to buy a business inThe power

en

99:41

Passion, Meet EBITDA: The Joy of Buying an Art Gallery

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/11/06

Sean Moore looked at a handful of businesses, but a fine art gallery with over $1m SDE won the art collector's heart. Topics in Sean’s interview:Pulling $1M out of his 401k to buy an art galleryHow his gallery brings in $1M in SDEThe ecommerce aspect of the galleryThe additional revenue stream of a frame shopOpportunities to improve the gallery websiteHis peer group that supported his searchChoosing a passion business over a “boring” oneForming a connection with the sellerUsing ROBS for

en

64:34

Growing EBITDA from $750k to $2m: Time to Sell?

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/11/02

John Hubbard returns to share how "chasing EBITDA over revenue" has benefited the trailer fabricator he bought in 2021. Topics in John’s interview:Losing largest customer (25% of revenue)Earning $2m EBITDA on $6m revenue vs. $25m revenueDon't chase revenue, chase EBITDAMentally transitioning from buyer of a business to the seller of itWhy he's thinking about sellingSelling vs. hiring an operator & holdingHow difficult finding a good operator isAppreciating how precious it is when you

en

98:31

How to Buy a SaaS Business with an SBA Loan

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/10/30

It CAN be done. Andrew Swiler acquired a SaaS business with $650k SDE using an SBA loan (and while living in Spain). Topics in Andrew’s interview:Why he preferred buying a SaaS business to an ecommerce oneKey trait to being a successful acquisition entrepreneurDownside protection in a SaaS businessThe appeal of the Microsoft ecosystemDeferred revenue (and explaining it to a seller)Buying a SaaS business as a non-technical personHow a SaaS business is valuedHistory of Lanteria, the business

en

83:10

Boom, Bust, Boom: Buying a Whiplash Business

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/10/26

Chandler Reed reflects on buying a project-based business in 2021, seeing sales soar, then crash, then surge again. Topics in Chandler’s interview:His unconventional entrance into the search spaceBuying a commercial lighting contractorIncentivizing the sole employee to stay onThe challenges of managing peopleThe ups and downs of project-based revenueHow interest rates affected his deal flowInvolvement with Sam Rosati’s boot campChoosing a business based on desired lifestylePros and cons of

en

99:08

Partnering with an Operator to Buy a Business

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/10/23

Landon Mance bought a $1.7m tree business alongside a minority partner who's operated the business full-time from Day 1. Topics in Landon’s interview:Crossing paths with a financial criminalBuying a tree service business with his friend as operatorWhere “follow your passion” falls shortWhy the business had high margins at acquisitionNegotiating with the sellers over ZoomBurning through the capex budget in 90 daysThe importance of putting everything in the contractHis operator’s equity stake

en

75:19

How to Survive Going from Hedge Funds to SMB Owner

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/10/19

Neil Finneran had worked in hedge funds & as a CFO when the opportunity to buy a pest control business presented itself. Topics in Neil’s interview:His career pivot from finance to mosquito sprayingBuying a business in mid-lifeThe value of a supportive spouseHiring, firing and incentivizing blue collar employeesImportance of retaining customers in a recurring revenue businessWhat he likes about being part of a franchiseThe view from 6 months of ownershipThe advantage of knowing how to

en

83:33

A Reward for Widening Search to $300k SDE

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/10/16

A year into his search Jesse Sunquist realized he needed to lower his SDE floor to find a business to buy in his market. Topics in Jesse’s interview:Being motivated by achieving job flexibilityWhy he initially resisted franchisesBuying 2 Mosquito Joe territories What he loves about his franchisorDealing with customer complaintsManaging tricky situations with employeesCalculating potential earnings in a territoryChange management in a seasonal businessOperational improvements he madeBuying

en

45:48

When Buying Small Goes Right (3x Growth)

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/10/12

George Vallone returns to share how he has grown revenue 3x in 2.5 years and laid a foundation for multi-city expansion. Topics in George’s interview:His incentive program to ensure quality from contractorsHow quality gives him pricing powerSales process for apartment turnover servicesHow geographic expansion could track his existing client relationshipsHeadcount & revenue growth at Nuveldy’sHiring a VP of operationsThe power of being in a growing marketBuilding custom techExpanding to

en

103:09

Buying a $3m Candle Manufacturer That Had No Books

Acquiring Minds ·

2023/10/09

Chad Hildebrant knew the best deals have hair on them. The trick is finding the right hair, turning red flags green. Topics in Chad’s interview:Buying a business that was not financeableGetting a 60% seller noteReconstructing 3 years of financial recordsDeal fatigue during negotiationsBurning himself out in the first quarter post-transition3 explanations for chaos in a businessComparing management to parentingThe 3 types of candle makersHow he generates new salesThe importance of having

en

429 results

Similar Podcasts

TaxTalent.com The Golden Rule Podcast

Adam Golden

TaxTalent.com Podcast

Tony Santiago

Handelsblatt Crime - spannende Streitfälle der deutschen Wirtschaft

Ina Karabasz, Solveig Gode, Sönke Iwersen

Deffner und Zschäpitz – Der Wirtschafts-Talk von WELT

WELT

Black Box - La scatola nera della finanza

Guido Brera e Gian Luca Comandini -...