In this episode of "Before You Buy or Sell a Business," host Jared Johnson welcomes Conner Young, co-founder of Kairo Data. The conversation centers around Kairo Data's innovative platform, designed to streamline the process of finding and acquiring small to medium-sized businesses. Conner shares his team's journey from traditional wealth management to solving complex acquisition challenges through proprietary databases and off-market deals. Conner provides an in-depth tour of Kairo Data's...

Before you buy or sell a business, perhaps you've read "Buy Then Build." Today's podcast guest, Matt Crowder, talks about how that book set him further down the entrepreneurial path. Matt, a borrower I worked with, recently acquired Western Stairlifts, a business specializing in home mobility equipment. We explore his transition from a traditional career in the tech industry to full-time entrepreneurship. The guest shares the pivotal moments, challenges, and learnings from both their vending...

Before You Buy or Sell a Business, be prepared. That's what today's guest would tell anyone who is looking to buy a business like he did. I am happy that I got to sit down with George Ayomide, a two-time borrower of mine. George is an ambitious entrepreneur who has made significant strides in the business world. From his early business experience in Nigeria to his successful ventures in the United States, George shares his insights on acquiring and transforming businesses, maintaining...

Before you buy a business, ask the seller this question, "What are some problems you've dealt with in the last month?" Keira Hamilton asked that question to the seller before she bought the laundromat that she now owns. Join me in this captivating conversation with Keira Hamilton, a former educator turned entrepreneur. We'll delve into the nuances of due diligence, the realities of owning a laundromat, and the transition from real estate to business acquisition. Discover insights on...

Selling a business is no small feat, and it requires astute planning, risk-taking, and timely decisions. Thomas Perkins, a seasoned entrepreneur, recently shared his wisdom on the "Before You Buy or Sell a Business" podcast. His journey from being a self-employed barber to a successful business owner of a company grossing $3.5 million annually carries valuable lessons for anyone considering embarking on this path. In this podcast episode, I talk with Thomas about the highs and lows he...

Buyers and sellers can be friends, right? Well, what about business partners that work together to scale HVAC businesses? In this episode of the Before You Buy or Sell a Business podcast, I sit down with Marc Chard and Spencer Satorie of Apex Services dive into their journey of expanding HVAC companies, sharing insights on acquisitions, systems implementation, and management across multiple locations. From their initial partnership to acquiring multiple companies, they reveal strategies for...

Before you buy or sell a business, hear Josh Levine on the nuances and evolving trends in the business acquisition landscape. In today’s podcast episode, I am joined again (see episode 5) by Josh Levine of Private Market Labs where we talk about: Importance of Focus: Presenting a clear and specific investment thesis helps you stand out to brokers and streamlines the decision-making process.Role of Brokers: Using brokers can expedite the acquisition process and increase the likelihood of...

In this episode of the Before You Buy or Sell a Business podcast, host Jared Johnson sits down with long-time friends and now business owners, Brandt and Danielle Badouin. The couple shares their journey from their respective corporate careers to purchasing a nail salon, highlighting the challenges and triumphs they experienced along the way. Jared and the Badouins delve into the nuances of transitioning from being employees to business owners, offering invaluable insights and advice for...

Welcome back to another episode of the "Before You Buy or Sell a Business" podcast, host Jared Johnson engages in an insightful conversation with Jeanise Hatcher, a dynamic entrepreneur who transitioned from a corporate career to owning a Pilates studio in Austin, Texas. Initially stumbling upon Pilates during her recovery from a dance injury, Jeanise found a new passion that she decided to transform into a business venture. She candidly shares her journey of acquiring the studio, the...

Welcome back to another episode of the Before You Buy or Sell a Business podcast. Recently, I sat down with Rand Larsen and he shared his journey from startup adventures to carving out a niche in the entrepreneurial through acquisition (ETA) space. The discussion unfolds with an exploratory look into Rand's foray into starting his own company and the lessons learned from its quick demise due to external factors like the pandemic. His pivot to buying businesses and his current focus on...

Welcome back to another episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business. Today, I am happy to introduce a past borrower, Derek Croft, whose recent venture into business ownership presents a unique and fascinating case study for aspiring entrepreneurs. Derek opens up about his transformative journey, beginning with his engineering background, MBA pursuit, and foray into consulting at a top-tier firm. Realizing that his true calling lay in growing and running a business, he embarked on a...

Welcome back to another episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business. Today, I talk with Erik Fike as he shares his experience of buying a business while still working in his current role. He discusses how he found the right business, the challenges he faced during the transaction, and the lessons he learned along the way. Erik provides valuable insights into the due diligence process, the importance of finding the right lender, and the need for mentorship and guidance in the acquisition...

In this episode, host Jared Johnson interviews Eric Pacifici, an attorney specializing in small and medium-sized business (SMB) mergers and acquisitions (M&A).  Eric shares valuable insights and advice for buyers and sellers in the acquisition process. He emphasizes the importance of having legal representation and discusses key contractual terms such as indemnity and non-compete clauses. Eric also addresses the cost of legal services and the benefits of a fixed fee model.  He highlights...

In this episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business, host Jared Johnson welcomes back Tommy Speigner to share his journey and lessons learned from acquiring a business in an industry he had never explored before. Tommy discusses the process, challenges, and triumphs he experienced in finding and buying a company. The conversation dives into the nuances of engaging with investors and the strategic approaches for buying and growing a business successfully. From the decision-making strategies...

In this episode of, host Jared Johnson interviews Daniel Cox, a serial entrepreneur who recently purchased a restaurant. Daniel shares his background and journey from construction to law enforcement to the mental and behavioral health industry. He discusses how he found the listing for the restaurant and the due diligence process he went through before making the purchase. Daniel also provides insights into the challenges and opportunities he faced during the transition and the importance of...

In this episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business, host Jared Johnson interviews August Felker, an entrepreneur with experience in buying and selling businesses, particularly insurance brokerages. August shares his journey from starting a search fund to acquiring his first business, the challenges he faced during the negotiation process, and the emotions he experienced as a seller. He also discusses his transition into supporting others in the acquisition process and provides insights...

In this episode, Jared Johnson interviews Ryan Hutchins, the founder of Peak Business Valuations. They discuss Ryan's background and journey into the world of business valuation, as well as the services provided by his firm. Ryan explains the different approaches used to value a business, including the asset approach, market approach, and income approach.  He also shares insights on the importance of accurate financials, the role of inventory and equipment in valuation, and the challenges of...

In this episode, host Jared Johnson interviews Jesse Carlson, the owner of a FedEx business. Jesse shares his journey from working in the entertainment industry to becoming a business owner. He discusses the challenges he faced during the acquisition process and the importance of thorough due diligence. Jesse also highlights the key factors that attracted him to the FedEx business model and the lessons he has learned since taking over the business. This episode provides valuable insights...

In this episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business, host Jared Johnson interviews John Hannum, the founder of PPS Solutions, about the importance of having a fractional CFO for small and growing businesses. John shares his insights on the biggest mistakes business owners make, the key things to focus on when selling a business, and the trends he has observed in the small to medium business market. He also provides valuable advice for buyers looking to acquire a business and discusses the...

In this episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business, Eric and Joy Rose share their journey of buying a sushi restaurant in Salt Lake City. They discuss their backgrounds, including their experience working for the federal government and living overseas. They explain how they decided to buy a restaurant and why they chose a sushi restaurant. They also talk about the negotiation process and the challenges they faced in securing financing. Despite the obstacles, they were able to successfully...

In this episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business, Scott Fournier shares his experience of buying a meat market business in Magnolia, Texas. He talks about his background, the process of finding and evaluating the business, and the financing and closing process. He also discusses the transition period and his plans for the future, including expanding the business and implementing new systems. Business | Ainsworth Meat Market Key Takeaways: ➡️ Scott's motivation for buying a business was...

Mark Basile, a CPA with a background in mergers and acquisitions, shares his experience of buying a landscape business. He discusses his background, the process of finding and acquiring the business, and the challenges he faced during the transition. Mark emphasizes the importance of due diligence and having a clear exit plan when buying a business. Key Takeaways: Mark's background in mergers and acquisitions gave him the necessary skills and experience to buy a business.He looked for a...

In this episode of the Before You Buy or Sell a Business podcast, Jeptune Lupiter shares his journey of buying a restaurant and the challenges he faced during the process. He talks about his background in the restaurant industry and how he decided to look for a business to buy. Jeptune discusses the importance of properly managing finances and being transparent with lenders. He also emphasizes the need for focus and determination in running a business. His goal is to grow the restaurant...

About The Guest: Tommy Speigner is an experienced IT professional with a background in sales and technical knowledge. He has worked in various industries and has a passion for entrepreneurship. Tommy is currently based in Las Vegas and is actively looking to buy a business. Summary: Tommy Speigner, an IT professional with a background in sales, shares his experience of trying to buy an art framing business in Las Vegas. He discusses his background, how he ended up in the business world, and...