Acquiring Minds

Will Smith
  • 4.8 (226)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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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

  1. How to Reinvent a $1m Candle Manufacturer

    2D AGO

    How to Reinvent a $1m Candle Manufacturer

    Register for the webinar: Licenses & Regulatory Issues in Acquisitions - Thu April 17th - https://bit.ly/3G9vf9F Adam Goldberg had to adapt his corporate approach after buying a nearly-closed manufacturer whose sales were down 80%. Topics in Adam’s interview: Building & exiting a wholesale costume jewelry businessDeciding he was too young to retireAcquiring a small, distressed candle businessNever go into business with friendsMistakes in over-hiringTrying to be an absentee ownerApologizing to his teamWhy he prefers small business to corporateExpanding beyond candlesCarving out their brand storyReferences and how to contact Adam: LinkedInSeraconGet $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 3rd: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSGet 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 AdvisoryLearn 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 RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron

    1h 26m
  2. Stars Align After 4 Broken Deals

    6D AGO

    Stars Align After 4 Broken Deals

    Register for the webinar:  5 Stages of the Business Buying Process - Fri Apr 11 - https://bit.ly/4ljGigo Keegan Dum wound down his search fund after 2 years without a deal, but he went on to acquire & create a great outcome.  Topics in Keegan’s interview: Choosing traditional searchNo deal after 2 years of searchingSelling the business after 18 monthsFinding a business on his own through consultingRole of software in car washes & auto shopsRenegotiating terms with previous investorsLow churn for you means low churn for your competitorsThe “always on” nature of running an essential businessSpreadsheet vs reality of operating the businessProfitable exit after 18 monthsReferences and how to contact Keegan: LinkedInMatt Bauer & Chris Hartman on Acquiring Minds: Exited but Tired: 5 Years in a Hard Business Get a complimentary IT audit of your target business: Email Nick Akers at nick@inzotechnologies.com, and tell him you’re a searcherDownload the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR: From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.comGet complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program: Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamGet $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 3rd: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSConnect 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

    1h 19m
  3. When Buying a Retail Business Makes Sense

    APR 7

    When Buying a Retail Business Makes Sense

    Register for the webinar:  5 Stages of the Business Buying Process - Fri Apr 11 - https://bit.ly/4ji2UMu Ken Eyjolfson looked at tons of businesses before deciding on a mattress outlet with $500k SDE and 700 5-star reviews.  Topics in Ken’s interview: 8 years with the Soccer Shots franchiseSpending too long searching for the perfect dealBuying a discount mattress retailerHow the Canadian mattress industry worksBuying from a “shady seller”Getting the lowest wholesale mattress pricesStarting with a large Facebook followingExpanding through pop-up shopsPrivate equity acquiring mattress companiesFinancing without the SBAReferences and how to contact Ken: ken@mrliquidator.caLinkedInMr. LiquidatorBuilt to Sell by John WarrillowSeller’s reality TV show The LiquidatorGet a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value): Book a call with Tim or hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring MindsLearn 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 AdvisoryGet $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 3rd: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSConnect 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

    1h 26m
  4. FedEx & Fencing: A Pivot into Ownership

    APR 3

    FedEx & Fencing: A Pivot into Ownership

    Register for the webinar: 5 Steps to the Business Buying Process - Thu April 10th - https://bit.ly/41RC4oN After his foray into SMB ownership went well with FedEx routes, Matt O'Brien bought & doubled a $2.5m fencing business.  Topics in Matt’s interview: Buying and expanding FedEx routesNuances of buying a FedEx routeSelling his routes at peak value during CovidAcquiring a commercial fencing businessKeeping the seller’s son on as presidentInjecting more money for working capitalImpact of equipment on debtTrucking acquisition that failedWhere he finds high quality employeesPrivate equity in the fencing industryReferences and how to contact Matt: LinkedInProfessional Fence Co.Chris Edwards on Acquiring Minds: Buy, Grow, Exit for a 24x Return in 3.5 YearsBrett Kennedy on Acquiring Minds: Reflections on 2 Years in the Knife FightSam Rosati on Acquiring Minds: How to Become an Independent SponsorWork with an SBA broker who focuses exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses: Matthias Smith of Pioneer Capital AdvisoryGet 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 mark@aspenhr.comGet $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 3rd: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSConnect 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

    1h 29m
  5. Why Buy a Travel Agency (Because They Can Crush It)

    MAR 31

    Why Buy a Travel Agency (Because They Can Crush It)

    You thought the internet killed them off, but the travel agency Jared Benoff bought does $1m SDE by dominating a niche. Topics in Jared’s interview: His 9.5 year stint at Twitter/XHelping his dad with the family businessBuying his parents’ destination wedding businessEvolution of travel agenciesHis dad’s successful YouTube videosAdvantages of buying the family businessStanding out with customer serviceThe pain of 4-star reviewsWorking with a loan brokerBuying for 2x SDEReferences and how to contact Jared: LinkedInTwitterVacationeezeShell Zhang on Acquiring Minds: Awakening to Entrepreneurship to Buy a Not-Boring BusinessJordan Evans on Acquiring Minds: White Collar Roll-Up from $700k to $12mLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory: The Acquisition LabGet a complimentary IT audit of your target business: Email Nick Akers at nick@inzotechnologies.com, 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 hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring MindsGet $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 3rd: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSConnect 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

    1h 18m
  6. Deciding to Start, Not Buy, a Small Business

    MAR 27

    Deciding to Start, Not Buy, a Small Business

    Initially drawn to buying a business, Kevin Moyer instead decided to start a project-based blue collar business instead. Topics in Kevin’s interview: Is the franchise fee worth it?Buying 3 de novo Smash My Trash territoriesHis appreciation for reversible decisionsA small business is an extension of the ownerRecurring revenue is overratedSimple is nice, but complexity is a moatStarting a business with his friendAdvantages of having a business partnerResiliency of physical world businessesSimplicity of a binary outcome businessReferences and how to contact Kevin: LinkedInTwitterSmash My TrashGolden Home AccessNick Haschka on Acquiring Minds: Building a $10m EBITDA Leader in a Fragmented SpaceKevin’s substackKevin’s substack post: Changing My Mind & What’s NextJohannes Hock on Acquiring Minds: Buy and 3x a Project-Based Business in Just 2 YearsGet 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 hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring MindsGet a complimentary IT audit of your target business: Email Nick Akers at nick@inzotechnologies.com, and tell him you’re a searcherGet $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 3rd: https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDSSmithlist is a job board for leadership roles at small businesses. If you're not ready to buy a business but want to lead one: Smithlist - Operate & Lead a BusinessConnect 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

    1h 20m
  7. How to Buy a Multinational

    MAR 24

    How to Buy a Multinational

    Register for the webinar:  How to Reduce Surprises with Operational Diligence - Wed Mar 26 - https://bit.ly/4hxp0tj  Seeking a fit with his industrials experience, Adam Salmen bought an 8-figure business with locations around the world. Topics in Adam’s interview: Looking beyond “arts and crafts” businessesPartnering with Novastone to search and acquireAcquiring a multinational industrial companyChina's dominance in steel productionTariffs and the steel industryCrowdfunding attempt that failedDon’t buy a PowerPoint presentationFalse summits in business ownershipBeing inspired by Naval RavikantPutting your name on a businessReferences and how to contact Adam: LinkedInNovastoneCliff & Christine on Acquiring Minds: Behind Every Great Searcher: A Wife’s Journey with SearchDownload the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR: From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.comWork with an SBA broker who focuses exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses: Matthias Smith of Pioneer Capital AdvisoryLearn 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.

    1h 25m
  8. Lessons from 24 Acquisition Nightmares

    MAR 20

    Lessons from 24 Acquisition Nightmares

    Register for the webinar: How to Reduce Surprises with Operational Diligence - Wed March 26 - https://bit.ly/4igNOqzAfter his acquisition failed, Jed Morris connected with dozens of others who'd experienced the same. There are patterns. Topics in Jed’s interview: Pivoting from Air Force to techInterning for the company he boughtAcquiring 2 landscaping companies a few weeks apartInsurance cost increased 30% after acquisitionPros and cons of long-term employeesMisjudging his employability Going out of businessHis upcoming book about business failureWhat bankruptcy really looks likeTop 3 reasons businesses failReferences and how to contact Jed: LinkedInTwitterGet a complimentary IT audit of your target business: Email Nick Akers at nick@inzotechnologies.com, and tell him you’re a searcherDownload the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR: From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.comGet 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

    1h 57m
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    4.8
    out of 5
    226 Ratings

    About

    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

    Information

    • Creator
      Will Smith
    • Years Active
      2021 - 2025
    • Episodes
      347
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © 2021 - 2023, Acquiring Minds
    • Show Website
      Acquiring Minds

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