Register for the webinars:

• Thu Sept 12 - How Big a Business Should You Buy? - https://bit.ly/3XmtR8v

• Thu Sept 19 - Due Diligence Office Hours - https://bit.ly/4ghprZb

• Fri Sept 20 - How Much to Budget for a Self-Funded Search - https://bit.ly/4e1Qjeq

Acquiring a $2.5m pallet manufacturer was Michael Kelker's first step to building a legacy business for his family.

Topics in Michael’s interview:

• Self-funded vs. traditional vs. independent sponsorship
• Carrying on his family legacy in manufacturing
• His goal of having control over his work
• Acquiring a custom pallet manufacturer
• Getting the deal done during Covid
• Challenges with the appraisal
• Navigating the lumber price surge
• Hiring a banker as CFO
• Learning from his employees and customers
• Optimism despite pallet industry downturn

References and how to contact Michael:

• LinkedIn
• mkelker@timberlinepallet.com
• GBR Riverdale

Get $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Chicago on October 26th:

• https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDS

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

• Book a call with Tim or email hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring Minds

Work with an SBA broker who focuses exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

• Matthias Smith of Pioneer Capital Advisory

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

• See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
• Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
• Follow Will on Twitter

Register here for the webinar, How Big a Business Should You Buy?

• https://bit.ly/4cSC6is

Topics in Jackson’s interview:

• Fulfilling his dream of living on the beach
• Transitioning from real estate to restaurants
• Buying a nostalgic restaurant with his friend
• Unique aspects of owning a business in a tourist town
• Cashflow advantage in restaurants
• Lack of competition for acquiring restaurants
• Finding and installing an experienced operator
• Evaluating a restaurant’s potential
• Acquiring a second restaurant with 4 locations
• Investing in equipment and technology that increases sales

References and how to contact Jackson:

• Cowboy Group
• Jackson Speaks Twitter
• Jackson Speak's LinkedIn
• Pizza by the Sea
• Cowgirl Kitchen

Get a complementary pre-acquisition HR & PEO review for your target business:

• Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit Aspen HR

Learn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:

• The Acquisition Lab

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

• Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

• See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
• Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
• Follow Will on Twitter

Register here for the webinar, How Big a Business Should You Buy?

• https://bit.ly/4dPunmC

Without backgrounds in business, Julie & Janna Hottinger have grown the $2.1m trades business they bought last year 50%.

Topics in Julie and Janna’s interview:

• Being warned away from the asphalt industry
• Sisters who bought a construction business
• How the seller worked to ease the transition
• Acquiring with no prior business experience
• Slowly taking the all-paper business digital
• Cash flow challenges as a subcontractor
• Building trust with the existing team
• Growing revenue by hiring more employees
• How Covid affected commercial business spaces
• Why industry trends aren’t always accurate

References and how to contact Julie and Janna:

• Janna’s LinkedIn
• Janna Twitter
• Julie’s LinkedIn
• Julie Twitter
• janna@signature-woodworking.com
• julie@signature-woodworking.com
• Signature Woodworking

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

• Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

Get a complementary pre-acquisition HR & PEO review for your target business:

• Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit Aspen HR

Learn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:

• The Acquisition Lab

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

• See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
• Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
• Follow Will on Twitter

An engineer at heart, Mike Dey set his sights on buying a manufacturing business for the next stage of his career.

Topics in Michael’s interview:

• Pivoting from aerospace engineering to business ownership
• Selling his real estate investment to buy a business
• Beware turning your passion into your income
• Buying a business in his 40’s
• How risky is business ownership?
• The risk build-up model of valuing a business
• Saying no to a friend’s investment
• Buying a business bundled with real estate
• Managing a blue collar workforce
• Having to suddenly switch lenders

References and how to contact Michael:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• American Spray Technologies

Work with an SBA broker who focuses exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

• Matthias Smith of Pioneer Capital Advisory

Get $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Chicago on October 26th:

• https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDS

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

• Book a call with Tim or email hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring Minds

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

• See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
• Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
• Follow Will on Twitter

Register here for the webinar, Legal Office Hours: Common Legal Diligence Issues

• https://bit.ly/4dWmPxV

After 5 years of owning a scale business, Matt Bauer & Chris Hartman were burning out. Fortunately they'd created value.

Topics in Matt and Chris’s interview:

• Two military buddies bought a scale business
• Demanding grind of the industry
• Downside of providing a mission-critical service
• Building a sales team to grow the business
• Challenges in training technicians
• Attempting to acquire a competitor
• Doubling earnings in 5 years
• Deciding it was time to sell
• Their 8-figure exit
• Investing in a port-a-potty startup

References and how to contact Matt and Chris:

• Matt Bauer LinkedIn
• Chris Hartman LinkedIn
• Chris Hartman Twitter
• 12 South Capital Partners

----- SPONSORS -----

Get a complementary pre-acquisition HR & PEO review for your target business:

• Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit Aspen HR

Learn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:

• The Acquisition Lab

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

• Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

----- Connect with Acquiring Minds -----

• See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
• Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
• Follow Will on Twitter

Register here for the webinar, Legal Office Hours: Common Legal Diligence Issues

• https://bit.ly/3ySUJ7R

Topics in Meredith & Michael’s interview:

• Buying an employment screening company
• The seller staying on as an employee
• Strict industry regulations serve as a moat
• Upgrading technology after acquisition
• How the seller eased clients through the transition
• Why they’re not worried about AI
• Meredith’s growth as a manager
• Buying a business as a young couple
• Why this may be a difficult industry to roll up
• Personal impact of owning a business

References and how to contact Meredith & Michael:

• Meredith LinkedIn
• Michael LinkedIn
• Meredith Twitter
• Michael Twitter
• BackgroundConnect

----- SPONSORS -----

Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

• Book a call with Tim or email hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring Minds

Get $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Chicago on October 26th:

• M&A Launchpad Conference & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDS

Work with an SBA broker who focuses exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

• Matthias Smith of Pioneer Capital Advisory

----- Connect with Acquiring Minds -----

• See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
• Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
• Follow Will on Twitter

Register here for the webinar, Legal Office Hours: Common Legal Diligence Issues

• https://bit.ly/3YQP2lp

Niklas James, Adam Borcz, and Tony Cappeart reflect on terms, risk & reward of the still-young self-funded search model.

Topics in Search Investor Roundtable:

• White collar buyers of blue collar businesses
• Desirable traits for searchers
• Balancing investor returns and personal gains
• 3 common modeling mistakes
• Role of put options in deals
• How searchers sabotage their own deals
• Realistic expectations for business growth
• Hope is not a strategy
• Operational experience trumps finance knowledge
• Self-funded search terms

References and how to contact panelists:

• Niklas James LinkedIn
• Adam Borcz LinkedIn
• Tony Cappaert LinkedIn
• Adam Borcz’s Acquiring Minds interview
• Niklas James’s Acquiring Minds interview

Work with an SBA broker who focuses exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

• Matthias Smith of Pioneer Capital Advisory

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

• Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

• See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
• Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
• Follow Will on Twitter

Register here for the webinar, Legal Office Hours: Common Legal Diligence Issues

• https://bit.ly/46OH4LN

Ryan Sullivan's group is buying businesses with investor capital, SBA loans & operating partners — but it's not a fund.

Topics in Ryan’s interview:

• “Moneyball approach” to buying businesses
• Making a career change at 48
• Why it’s hard to find a good business
• Buying and holding manufacturing businesses
• Operating a holdco with 5 partners
• Generating returns from cash flows, not exits
• How soon to make changes (and exceptions)
• What he loves about having partners
• Funding deals one at a time
• Moving a business and retaining 100% of staff

References and how to contact Ryan:

• LinkedIn
• North Park Group

Get a complementary pre-acquisition HR & PEO review for your target business:

• Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit Aspen HR

Learn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:

• The Acquisition Lab

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

• See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
• Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
• Follow Will on Twitter