Most first-timers shy away from buying across borders. Not Christi Loucks, whose Canadian acquisition did $550k of SDE. Topics in Christi’s interview: Buying a business for personal fulfillmentPainful broken dealsChallenges of buying a cross-border business in CanadaThe positive role emotions play in dealmakingLosing (and regaining) 55% of her clients after transitionThe line between cold outreach and spamConstant change in the tech industryUnexpected expenses after transitionPlanning for her...

Get $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 11th: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSGarth Fasano searched part time for 5 years before finding a target with very sticky revenue & great business-buyer fit. Topics in Garth’s interview: Searching for 5 yearsBenefiting from the SBA looking at calendar-year financials (not TTM)Top Dog’s unique business modelWhy this business should be bought, not builtHis relationship to a dog...

Robert Graham & Aaron Blick's first acquisition did $1.2m SDE. Four years later, their roll-up generates $15m in EBITDA. Topics in Robert & Aaron’s interview: Going from lifelong friends to business partnersImpact of private equity on industry roll-upsRunning their companies remotelyA competing business poaching employeesFinancial shocks after taking ownershipWhy they believe in buying bigNecessity of hiring presidents to operate their businessesCompany presidents guaranteeing the SBA...

Get $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 11th: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSJohn Murphy pushed through divorce, $500k debt, and a bad broken deal to finally buy a 60-year-old business doing $8m. Topics in John’s interview: Losing a deal one week before closingValue of peer groupsHow real estate compares to business ownershipTaking over a company before the deal closedUnforseen transition expensesCarl Allen’s business buying...

Reid Tileston bought a business that relied on $800k trucks, capex he came to love for the fat margins they produced. Topics in Reid’s interview: Working on the business instead of in itWriting a book about acquisitionPeople are the worst and best part of businessPower of feedback and relationships for business ownersThe company’s slow temp-to-hire processGetting his CDL to be hands-on Moving paper processes to the cloudPros and cons of an Employee Stock Ownership ProgramPersonally testing...

Get $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 11th: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSRafael Quinn shares the story & principles behind buying 3 businesses in Panama then raising $28m to buy more in the US. Topics in Rafael's interview: Selling everything on Craigslist to move to PanamaBuying his first business Panama from a billboard adHow to buy a business with an operatorHow he decided to build a holdcoSelf-identity as investor...

The construction services business Christian Bateson bought will do $7.5m in 2024. It also rescued him from the depths. Topics in Christian’s interview: His front row seat to the 2008 financial crisisQualities of a top salespersonBusiness acquisition as a way out of a miserable careerShopping around for an SBA loanChoosing to play to his strengths and outsource his weaknessesDifficulty in hiring for constructionBouncing back and growing after Covid lossesRed flags he ignored when acquiring...

Get $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 11th: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSPatrick Norris bought a small trash business doing $625k. Five years later and 4.5x bigger, a strategic got interested. Topics in Patrick’s interview: Why acquiring a trash business is easier than starting oneIntricacies of trash disposal pricingNiches within trash servicesCompetition and cooperation in trash servicesThe first question you should ask...

Only after Matt Jackson bought a roofing business in the hurricane state did he realize just how big the opportunity is. Topics in Matt’s interview: His experience with AcquiraKeeping the seller as an employeeWhy he likes roofing despite drawbacksHow he satisfied his licensing requirementMoats around spray foam roofingStanding out in the roofing industryHis vision for organic growthHow insurance companies drive demand for new roofsUsing ROBS for financingWhy he won’t buy the ROBS ownership...

Get $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 11th: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSAt age 63, Maurice Thomas wasn't ready to retire, so he bought an electrical contractor with $1m in earnings instead. Topics in Maurice’s interview: Buying a business after age 60Learning the right amount of diligence to do before submitting an LOIImportance of a target statement for searchersHis values-first approach to businessImportance for...

How Andrew Stordeur bought a 25-year-old furniture manufacturer in Alberta without having to use any of his own capital. Topics in Andrew’s interview: Taking a startup to an IPOCompetition in the wood furniture spaceFinancing without the SBAAdvice for Canadian searchersGetting a 35% seller noteHis 100% financed dealHis plan to increase direct-to-consumer salesBeing the sole breadwinner for a family of 6Deciding not to buy with a partnerHow his company ships faster than AmazonReferences and...

Register here for the webinar, Working Capital 101 https://bit.ly/3IGEZWQGet $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 11th: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSStephen Olmon & Collin Trimble set out to roll up the alarm industry in Texas. Alarm Masters is their first acquisition. Topics in Stephen and Collin’s interview: All about the alarm, fire, & security industryTheir roll-up strategyMoats in the form of risk and licensing...

Register here for the webinar, Working Capital 101 https://bit.ly/3veZaYPAlan Lochridge left a career in consulting to buy a 20-year-old $5.5m hardscaping contractor with strong fundamentals. Topics in Alan’s interview: Years of searching before acquiringUnderstanding the ROBS financing strategyReiterating company values weeklyHis day-to-day role as ownerRestructuring to do more with fewer peopleEmbracing digital marketing and CRM toolsWhy he’s so comfortable with project-based...

Register here for the webinar, Working Capital 101 https://bit.ly/3IFObuBGet $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 11th: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSDespite an overwhelming transition, today Dan Tagliatela has 17x'd his initial investment and delegated the day-to-day. Topics in Dan’s interview: His background in investingWhat margins indicate about a businessReturn on assets as a quality metricAcquiring a pavement sealing...

John Wilson bought & grew a very small plumbing business 26x over the last 7 years, and today has plans to reach $100m. Topics in John’s interview: Growing up in his family’s home services businessTaking over the business at 23Acquiring a turnaround to grow his businessHis first time doing layoffsUsing CertainPath’s model to growTripling his ad spend during CovidWhy he believes in buying smallHis take on installing an operatorHis plan to get to $100MThe taxonomy of blue collar...

Get $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 11th: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDS Danny Fields & Steve Reis bought a decades-old utility supplier seemingly ripe for growth. It was harder than it looked. Topics in Danny and Steve’s interview: Their shared background in the militaryEducating their investors about oil and gasDramatically increasing their cold outreach response rateBuying a business with $1M+ in revenue per...

SBA lender Chad Fondriest got the itch to get in the game himself & bought a couple's hobby business doing just $150k. Topics in Chad’s interview: Keeping his W-2 while running the businessQuadrupling revenue in 2 yearsGetting listed on WayfairTradeoffs of selling on AmazonHigh importance of inventory management Explosive growth during CovidHow he estimated market sizeDifficulty of competing in ecommerceForecasting trends a year in advanceGrief and joy of managing creativesReferences and...

Get $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 11th: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSTato Corcoran packed a lifetime of learning (and tears) into 18 months when she left tech & bought a tiny manufacturer. Topics in Tato’s interview: Connecting with sellers through direct mailHer “Say yes and figure it out later” approachDifficulty in hiring unskilled laborHow she solved her labor issueBeing a single woman in a male...

14 months ago, Russ Hadlock bought an auto glass business with $2.3m in sales. Today he is struggling to keep it alive. Topics in Russ’s interview: Inventing the Peloton handlebar trayHis life-changing exit from his companyLooking for stability and safety through acquisitionFear of buying a company that was too big to operateExpenses skyrocketing after transitionImpact of asset purchase on rent and insurance costsLayoffs and belt tighteningRenegotiating his SBA loanConsolidating locations as...

Ben Rizzo bought an unprofitable, 4th-generation elevator business then stabilized, doubled, and sold it within 2 years.  Topics in Ben’s interview: His wife-funded search in PittsburghSourcing deals through lawyers and accountants vs brokersAcquiring an elevator repair business in distressQuickly making changes after transitionPouring his own money into the company to stay operationalSurviving the challenges of CovidDoubling the business and selling to private equityCalculating the risk of...

Nathan Gregory left the music industry to buy Autobody News, a business that could benefit from his experience in media.  Topics in Nathan’s interview: Building and exiting a beer koozie brandManaging brand partnerships for pop starsEducating himself on business acquisitionPivoting away from home servicesBuying a media company with a partnerWhy print media isn’t dead His audience-first approachCommitment vs passion for the industryServing a hybrid workforceThe business model for trade...

Register here for the webinar, How to Raise Equity to Buy a Business https://bit.ly/3SUJhzQ Get $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 11th: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSPeter deBaptiste bought a 35-person plumbing business with 2 very technical, hands-on owners 1 hour away from his house. Topics in Peter’s interview: Building operational skills in a start-upAcquiring Joe Cole PlumbingHis disappointing first day as ownerBuying...

Register here for the webinar, How to Raise Equity to Buy a Business https://bit.ly/3uwHx6yWill Wright bought a big event rental business in December 2018. When Covid hit, he turned crisis into opportunity. Topics in Will’s interview: Benefits of a traditional search fundFeeling like a “wartime president”His brutal first year as ownerValue of a strong company cultureScrambling to fulfill contracts after a large warehouse fireLayoff and salary cuts during CovidBuilding and strengthening the...

Register here for the webinar, How to Raise Equity to Buy a Business https://bit.ly/3SAWZXdAdam Borcz bought & unlocked growth in a niche-y, 35-year-old blue collar business, almost tripling earnings in 4 years.  Topics in Adam’s interview: Adam’s experience working for a fundless sponsorPros & cons of having the federal government as a customerDoubling his work force in a “tough labor market”Why overhead doesn't need to scale with labor forceDoing nothing for the first six months as...