Acquiring Minds Will Smith

Register for the webinar:
How (and Why) to Choose a Franchise as an Acquisition Entrepreneur - https://bit.ly/4fa3CKBBrett Kennedy has doubled & strengthened the sub-$1 million moving business he bought — but it hasn't been without pain.
Topics in Brett’s interview:
Being raised in an entrepreneurial familyBuying Furniture Taxi, a moving companyDriving the truck himself when employees don’t showSurprises the seller failed to mentionGood and bad of buying smallDaily stressors of running a small businessHiring a GMDoubling the business despite a shrinking marketYour employees are your customers The next company he wants to buyReferences and how to contact Brett:
LinkedInAdrian Pinto’s episodeAtlanta’s Furniture TaxiWork 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 LabSmithlist 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 Twitter

Register for the webinar:
How (and Why) to Choose a Franchise as an Acquisition Entrepreneur - https://bit.ly/3WwZqNRWhen Dustin Carreon reached a ceiling in his first small business, he used the profits to start buying other businesses.
Topics in Dustin’s interview:
Growing up in his parents’ scrapping businessInheriting and growing Freelance ElectronicsLearning the most from a difficult acquisitionTiming and luck mattersKey person risk in small-staff businessesHis mistake of expanding before establishing expectationsCross-training employees as part of his holdco visionAn investor attitude compared with an entrepreneur attitudeBuilding a holdco without a college educationChallenge of writing down processesReferences and how to contact Dustin:
LinkedInTwitterCOI HoldingsSmithlist 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 BusinessGet a complementary pre-acquisition HR & PEO review for your target business:
Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit Aspen HRGet 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 Twitter

Register for the webinars:
Search Investor Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4cvUOwV
Overcoming Common Deal Sticking Points - https://bit.ly/4cD9z17
How (and Why) to Choose a Franchise as an Acquisition Entrepreneur - https://bit.ly/3LpQEuKHow Adam Markley evaluated thousands of businesses for sale and bought a handful of his own (6 in his portfolio today).
Topics in Adam’s interview:
Using online courses to teach business acquisitionSBA loans vs. seller notesRaising your potential with partnershipsHis holdco of 6 diverse companiesHow acquisitions in the UK and US differPower of personalized outreach2 main tracks to business acquisitionAn operating partner who emptied the bank accountsWorking in a medical staffing agency before buying itLooking at both on and off-market businessesReferences and how to contact Adam:
LinkedInTwitteramarkley@proxcapitalgroup.comPROX Capital GroupAdam’s fractional CFO firm, Veracity CFOTato Corcoran’s episodeLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:
The Acquisition LabWork with an SBA broker who focuses exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:
Matthias Smith of Pioneer Capital AdvisoryConnect with Acquiring Minds:
See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on Twitter

Register for the webinars:
Search Investor Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4cCMyuZ
Overcoming Common Deal Sticking Points - https://bit.ly/3LkCpr3
How (and Why) to Choose a Franchise as an Acquisition Entrepreneur - https://bit.ly/4f2hCGcNick Haschka & Dillan Ferguson are 5 months and 2 acquisitions into a roll-up targeting $50-60m revenue in 5 years.
Topics in Nick and Dillan interview:
How Nick and Dillan met on TwitterThe future of reliance on generatorsServing both residential and commercial customersSeparating the business into service and installation teamsDoubling the number of employeesAtmospheric river caused a crisis 3 weeks after acquisitionBeing a leader is different than being an employerDeveloping their own softwareWhere they find their techniciansComparing the risk of an asset purchase and a stock purchaseReferences and how to contact Nick and Dillan:
Nick Haschka TwitterNick Haschka LinkedInDillan Ferguson TwitterDillan Ferguson LinkedInOnPoint GeneratorsGet a complementary pre-acquisition HR & PEO review for your target business:
Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit Aspen HRGet 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 Twitter

Register for the webinars:
SBA Lender Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4bydwTe
Due Diligence Office Hours - https://bit.ly/3WbVpxT
Search Investor Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/45SWMEY
Purchase Agreement Fights: How to Avoid (or Win) Them - https://bit.ly/4eQ7z79
How Dominick Blue bought an air duct cleaning business and took it into HVAC services, all while retaining his W-2.
Topics in Dominick’s interview:
Keeping his W-2 while acquiring companiesMistakes he made during diligenceRevamping service offeringsLooking for “diamond in the rough” leadersExpanding from air duct cleaning into HVACHis fetal position momentBeing ghosted by his bankBuying a business while expecting a babyAdvantage of selling directly to consumersDrawing from his training in the U.S. MarinesReferences and how to contact Dominick:
LinkedInTwitterAir ASAPWinning Moves by Dan CremonsLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:
The Acquisition LabWork with an SBA broker who focuses exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:
Matthias Smith of Pioneer Capital AdvisoryConnect with Acquiring Minds:
See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on Twitter

Register for the webinars:
SBA Lender Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4eTZ8Yn
Due Diligence Office Hours - https://bit.ly/3WbAs6h
Search Investor Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/4eVYDxc
Purchase Agreement Fights: How to Avoid (or Win) Them - https://bit.ly/4bwcgQx
By doubling a $3m EBITDA business Juan Aguilar bought with traditional search fund terms, he is able to hold it forever.
Topics in Juan’s interview:
Huge challenge of buying a business in Central AmericaBuying a door manufacturer in GuatemalaImplementing EOSMoving his focus from “how” to “who”Raising prices 25%Focusing on service, quality, and volumeFinding a CEO to replace himHaving a liquidity event without exiting the businessTransitioning towards a permanent capital modelPlan for a holdcoReferences and how to contact Juan:
LinkedInPaltus CapitalGet a complementary pre-acquisition HR & PEO review for your target business:
Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit Aspen HRGet 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 Twitter