Advertise on podcast: Acquiring Minds

Nicolás Lulli bought a document storage business in Peru. 6 years later, it is a $25m leader in the Andean region. Register for the webinar:  Advanced Deal Mechanics: NWC, Net Debt & Purchase Price Adjustments - Tue, Apr 28 - https://bit.ly/490Ms0qTopics in Nicolás’s interview: First employee at Relay Investments search fundLaunched Peru’s first search fund, Colca CapitalCovid lockdowns erased profits almost overnightRebuilding the business into a tight submarineFrom $0 EBITDA to $5m in one yearShifted focus toward acquisitions for faster growthRecords storage is a real estate businessInvests in other searchers to pay it forwardThe cradle-to-grave strategy in records managementBuilding a searcher community in PeruReferences and how to contact Nicolás: LinkedInColca CapitalGet a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.  Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta. The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business: The Acquisition LabWork with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses: Pioneer Capital AdvisoryConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Greg Hirsch wants more seasoned professionals to understand how valuable their experience can be to an ETA journey. Topics in Greg’s interview: Fifteen years learning systems at Sysco FoodsFailed startup revealed builder, not founder pathHelped scale trucking roll-up through industry consolidationRevisiting his “heck no” pileInvests in timeless blue-collar essential industriesLate-40s searches benefit from life experienceSpouse alignment essential before risking family securityHis wife’s perspective on the processGrowth comes from removing operational frictionHis wife’s perspective on the processReferences and how to contact Greg: LinkedInHirsch VenturesGet a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value): Book a call with Tim or [email protected] and mention Acquiring MindsDownload the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR: From this page or contact [email protected] complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program: Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Thanks to strong business-buyer fit, Joe Wynn negotiated great terms to acquire a $600k SDE sales & service business. Register for the webinar:  Real Estate Issues When Buying a Business - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4smYdoQTopics in Joseph’s interview: Trading a mid–six-figure salary for business ownershipWanting to “build his own ladder” instead of climbing someone else’sBuying a medical equipment distribution and service companyDesigning and outfitting hospital operating rooms45% net margins on $2M in revenueRaising service prices 20–50% in his first six weeksNavigating “lumpy” project-based revenue cyclesStructuring a $1.35M deal with seller financingPutting only $120K down with no personal guaranteeA post-closing banking freeze that forced him to cover payrollReferences and how to contact Joseph: LinkedInSurgical Specialties of GeorgiaIris Levine on Acquiring Minds: $6m Business, 3 Minutes From Childhood HomeBrian Hartman on Acquiring Minds: The Path from $2.5m to $60m in a Tree BusinessThe ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business: The Acquisition LabGet a complimentary IT audit of your target business: Email Nick Akers at [email protected], and tell him you’re a searcherDownload the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR: From this page or contact [email protected] with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron

Constrained in her job and seeking more time for her kids, Ana Lia Barragan bought a $385k/yr, 30-year-old business. Register for the webinars:  Your First Finance Hires After Buying a Business - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/3OvsNicReal Estate Issues When Buying a Business - Thu, Apr 16 - https://bit.ly/3PYIhf8Topics in Ana Lia’s interview: Wanted flexibility while raising two young childrenHit promotion ceiling in corporate tech ladderJoined Beta Accelerator, buying businesses training programTreat LOIs like conversations, not commitmentsDIY diligence first to avoid costly mistakesSBA rule changes complicated future acquisition financingRecurring revenue lower than seller originally claimedLost major client after leadership cost-cutting shiftBuilt custom AI app for operations trackingBought a job first, business laterReferences and how to contact Ana Lia: LinkedInKelly GreenAna Lia’s LinkedIn post on how the new SBA rules affect herAna Lia’s LinkedIn post on the pre- and post-closing gap in understanding her business Gabe Perez on Acquiring Minds: One Couple, 4 Kids, and a Business 3 Hours AwayDarryl Lindie on Acquiring Minds: Hard but Fun: Transitioning a 77-Year-Old BusinessNick Haschka on Acquiring Minds: How One Small Acquisition Led to 9 More in 5 YearsWork with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses: Pioneer Capital AdvisoryGet complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program: Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamGet a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value): Book a call with Tim or [email protected] and mention Acquiring MindsConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron

Jenna Whigham and her brother bought a large business for a search fund, then grew it 6x larger over the last 5 years. Register for the webinar: The Operator’s Perspective: Running a Business for an Owner - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4va4hUmTopics in Jenna’s interview: Investment banking during the 2008 crisisLaunching a traditional search fund with her brotherGolden Retrievers led to an acquisitionAcquiring a $100 million companyFinancial risk of being a “price taker”Expanding through M&ASoftware “Trojan Horse” strategyHow they decide which states to expand toManaging a 25% staff turnover rateRealities of home care and compliance incidentsReferences and how to contact Jenna: LinkedInAbound HealthGet complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program: Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamGet a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value): Book a call with Tim or [email protected] and mention Acquiring MindsGet a complimentary IT audit of your target business: Email Nick Akers at [email protected], and tell him you’re a searcherConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron

Joseph Cruz left a lucrative job in finance to pursue business ownership. Year 1 has gone well (despite losing his GM). Register for the webinars:  What Type of Franchise Is Right for You? - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/48gn6eHThe Operator’s Perspective: Running a Business for an Owner - Thu, Apr 9 - https://bit.ly/4m7lSZ7Topics in Joseph’s interview: Growing up in a Filipino immigrant familyWhy aging infrastructure creates long-term opportunityThe laundromat that started it allRunning an “oh sh*t” business Construction seasonality in ChicagoLast-minute GM retirement before closingRunning the business while still working his W-2 jobThe scramble to digitize knowledge stuck in employees’ headsBuilding systems, vendor lists, and shared documentationSetting the company’s “emotional temperature” as the ownerReferences and how to contact Joseph: LinkedInA&A LinkedInA&A Equipment and Supply Co. Articles by Joseph: From Spreadsheets to Steel-Toed Boots: Lessons from the First Few Months as an EntrepreneurSmall Businesses are Small for a Reason: What It Really Takes to Modernize a 40-Year-Old Distribution BusinessThe Real Work Begins: Midway Through My First Year as a Business OwnerTop 10 lessons from my first year of owning a businessDownload the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR: From this page or contact [email protected] with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses: Pioneer Capital AdvisoryIf you’re serious about buying a business, learn why Acquisition Lab members have a 40% success rate: The Acquisition LabConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron

It took Robin Kovitz fours years to find her business, which she has built into an industry leader and her life's work. Register for the webinar: Quality of Technology (QoT) Report: Protecting Your Acquisition - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4d9F2enTopics in Robin’s interview: Upbringing in the meat industryEarly career in investment banking and M&AHer 4-year search for a businessAlways visit the competitorsCritique of the 2-year search clock"Long-termism" and becoming a B CorpHer 3 non-negotiablesTurning around the gift basket businessSolving their storage problemThe payoff and price of high ambitionReferences and how to contact Robin: LinkedInBaskitsGet a complimentary IT audit of your target business: Email Nick Akers at [email protected], and tell him you’re a searcherIf you’re serious about buying a business, learn why Acquisition Lab members have a 40% success rate: The Acquisition LabWork with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses: Pioneer Capital AdvisoryConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Jack Foster & Jake McLaughlin raised $2.8m to buy 10 Meineke stores. That equity has taken them further than expected. Register for the webinars:  Offshore Talent vs. AI for Business Buyers - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4bAIbTjQuality of Technology (QoT) Report: Protecting Your Acquisition - Thu, Apr 2 - https://bit.ly/4rUHngLTopics in Jack and Jake’s interview: Childhood friends turned business partnersLeaving Goldman Sachs, KKR, and Baird for entrepreneurshipWhy they chose the franchise roll-up modelConsolidating units within the Meineke systemApplying a first-principles approach to an unfamiliar industryPaying royalties as the price of product-market fitTechnician recruiting advantages of a strong franchise brandWhy they passed on car washes and quick lubeThe real timeline of the EV threat to auto repairBuying real estate and using sale-leasebacks for growth capitalReferences and how to contact Jack and Jake: Jack Foster’s LinkedInJake McLaughlin’s LinkedInMeinekeGet a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value): Book a call with Tim or [email protected] and mention Acquiring MindsDownload the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR: From this page or contact [email protected] complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program: Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Corey Mullins had worked in the trade over a decade when he bought a tiny, failing HVAC business for its phone number. Register for the webinars: What Actually Makes a Good Deal? Patterns from 1,000+ Transactions- TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4m4gsy5Offshore Talent vs. AI for Business Buyers - Tue, Mar 31 - https://bit.ly/4uW6rXGTopics in Corey’s interview: His 20-year career in HVACFailed buyout of the family businessSimultaneous launch and acquisitionBuying a truck and a phone numberBuild-to-sell philosophyGrowth through online marketingWaiting too long to hire managersTaking vacations no matter whatEvolution of the “Trade Dad”Exiting to private equity in under 4 yearsReferences and how to contact Corey: [email protected] By DesignPatrick LangePatrick Norris on Acquiring Minds: Buy & Build a Trash Business to a $4.4m ExitWork with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses: Pioneer Capital AdvisoryGet a complimentary IT audit of your target business: Email Nick Akers at [email protected], and tell him you’re a searcherGet a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value): Book a call with Tim or [email protected] and mention Acquiring MindsConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron

Eric Donahue quickly grew revenue to $6m thanks to operational enhancements, culture tweaks, and a little good luck. Register for the webinar: What Actually Makes a Good Deal? Patterns from 1,000+ Transactions - Thurs March 26th - https://bit.ly/4lT2ajGTopics in Eric’s interview: Navy SEAL career and retirementPerforming the basics at a high levelHis tree service side hustleOld school proprietary searchBuying an off-market paving companyForgoing SBA for a conventional loanWorking in the field to learn the asphalt trade40% revenue growth in 13 monthsSplitting his crew to keep the team productiveUsing his military clearance to win jobsReferences and how to contact Eric: LinkedInPeninsula PavingHunter at Hanger LawLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory: The Acquisition LabGet complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program: Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamDownload the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR: From this page or contact [email protected] with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron

After 25 years on The Street, Brian Anderson discovered passion in buying small businesses — despite brutal challenges. Register for the webinar: How to Handle Common Employee Issues When Buying a Business - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4sa946lTopics in Brian’s interview: Career in investment banking/hedge fundsClosure of his firmPursuing small business as an asset classLow multiples are fairly valuedAcquiring in manufacturingLearning every operational function himselfAcquiring with no debtBeing away from his family M-FHis big mistake during CovidSelling to his COOReferences and how to contact Brian: LinkedInHis essay on the experience: Deco Manufacturing Summary and LessonsDownload the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR: From this page or contact [email protected] a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value): Book a call with Tim or [email protected] and mention Acquiring MindsLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory: The Acquisition LabConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton Rohozov Produced by Pam Cameron

Naveen Vinta spends weekdays at the business he bought in Milkwaukee, away from home in Virginia. He's making it work. Register for the webinars:  Add-Backs to Cash Flow for SBA Loans - Tue March 17th - https://bit.ly/4luTdgdHow to Handle Common Employee Issues When Buying a Business - Thurs March 19th - https://bit.ly/4dnIwtDTopics in Naveen’s interview: Army experience as a tank mechanicFunding his MBA with his G.I. BillCapitalizing on “onshoring” tailwindsGetting brokers to take him seriouslySearching for a business one plane hop awayAcquiring an aerial work platform businessModifying lifts to make them “explosion proof”9-12 month sales cycleImproving employee moraleBeing away from his family during the weekReferences and how to contact Naveen: LinkedInBailey CranesGet complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program: Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamWork with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses: Pioneer Capital AdvisoryGet a complimentary IT audit of your target business: Email Nick Akers at [email protected], and tell him you’re a searcherConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron

After building a masonry business over 5+ years, Justin Escajeda bought his first company in 2018 and never looked back. Register for the webinars:   From Owner to Owner: Business Transition Lessons - TODAY - https://bit.ly/46K82p5Topics in Justin’s interview: His early career as a stone masonGrowing his side jobs into a companyLiquidating his real estate investmentsFocusing on masonry nichesAcquiring his first business for a 1.3 multipleRecruiting managers based on work ethicHis flat compensation and guaranteed bonus structureHow he prevents fraud and mismanagementKeeping company names the same after buyingThe personal cost of overseeing 11 companiesReferences and how to contact Justin: LinkedInEscajeda HoldingsGet a complimentary IT audit of your target business: Email Nick Akers at [email protected], and tell him you’re a searcherLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory: The Acquisition LabWork with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses: Pioneer Capital AdvisoryConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron

After Megan McGee pivoted her search fund to a self-funded approach, she bought a business where she wanted to settle. Register for the webinars:   From Owner to Owner: Business Transition Lessons - Thu March 12 - https://bit.ly/4ctCJCwTopics in Megan’s interview: Family background in pest controlInternship with previous guest Edward McDonnellStarting out in traditional searchInvestors declined to support a deal she lovedPivoting to self-funded searchDeciding not to buy her dad’s businessBuying Virginia Guesthouses without an SBA loanBuying from a young sellerManaging 75 propertiesHer profitable first yearReferences and how to contact Megan: LinkedInTato Corcoran’s recap episode: How to 4x a Small ManufacturerEdward McDonnell on Acquiring Minds: Taking a Single-City Acquisition NationwideMatt Orley on Acquiring Minds: Buying for Brand (Then Growing 4x)GuesthousesGet a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value): Book a call with Tim or [email protected] and mention Acquiring MindsDownload the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR: From this page or contact [email protected] complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program: Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron

Jonathan Taylor has quickly grown revenue 40% at his acquisition through digitization, process improvement, and sales. Topics in Jonathan’s interview: Searching while working full-timeHis “now or never” moment approaching 40Restricting his search to Los AngelesOver-equitizing the dealStructuring a forgivable seller noteAccepting 60% ownershipFinding long-term hold investorsBuying from a non-retiring sellerChristian stewardship principlesGrowing revenue 40%References and how to contact Jonathan: LinkedInAEK TechnologyPhil Koller on Acquiring Minds: Comfortable Concentration for a $800k SDE BusinessShaun Stimpson on Acquiring Minds: Started Mid-Career, Grew to $38m in 3 YearsLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory: The Acquisition LabGet complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program: Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamGet a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value): Book a call with Tim or [email protected] and mention Acquiring MindsConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron