The SBA Rule Change No One Warned You About is a must-watch for every entrepreneur, business buyer, or M&A professional navigating the world of SBA loans. In this episode, we break down a major SBA rule change that took effect overnight—no warning, no transition, just impact. You’ll learn how this unexpected SBA rule change affects business acquisitions, seller financing, and who qualifies as an investor. Discover why this matters, especially if you're planning to buy a business, raise capital, or structure seller financing with partners.

Understand what the SBA now requires and how the SBA rule change is already reshaping business acquisitions. Don’t get blindsided—stay informed and stay ahead.

Watch now if you’re serious about SBA loans, compliant deal structuring, and maximizing your success in M&A.

We talk about how to:
✅ Avoid getting blindsided by sudden SBA rule changes
✅ Structure seller financing the SBA won’t reject
✅ Navigate investor rules without triggering compliance flags
✅ Understand why SBA loans fail—and how to protect yourself
✅ Use personal guarantees wisely (and why you can’t escape them)
✅ Adapt when “creative lending” strategies get banned

00:00 Intro – Who is Colin McNulty?
02:00 SBA 7a loan sweet spots and real estate focus
06:30 Why 25% of business acquisitions struggle post-close
10:00 Industries most at risk (like commercial construction)
16:00 New rule: No non-US investors, no warning
18:00 Rolling equity is dead—seller must now guarantee loan
21:00 License-dependent businesses: red flags and risk
24:00 SBA lender types: Preferred vs General Processing
26:00 Updated equity rules – 5% cash + 5% seller note
30:00 SBA cracks down on “Do What You Do” flexibility
32:00 Guarantee fee reinstated across all loan sizes
35:00 SBA's $10M limit for manufacturing—what you need to know
39:00 Using multiple SBA loans & industry code loopholes
47:00 100% financing rules for expansion vs acquisition
50:30 MCA loans banned from SBA refinancing
54:00 Perry Passu loans pulled back—why lenders are cautious
57:00 Investor rule: No preferred returns until SBA loan is paid
01:01:00 Draw periods, multiple disbursements, and working capital rules

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#SBARuleChange #BusinessAcquisitions #SellerFinancing #SBAloans #Entrepreneurship #SMBAcquisition #MergersAndAcquisitions #InvestorCompliance #SmallBusinessTips #SBA7a #SearchFund #BuyACompany #BusinessBuying #DueDiligence #DealFlow #BusinessFinance #SBAProblems #AcquisitionTips #FinancialStrategy #BusinessGrowth #FounderAdvice

The Branding Mistake That Costs Millions in Acquisitions could be the blind spot holding your business back. In this video, we uncover the branding mistake that many entrepreneurs, business buyers, and M&A professionals make—often costing millions in acquisitions. Whether you're prepping your business for sale or buying one, your brand strategy can either multiply enterprise value or tank the deal.

You’ll learn how to fix this overlooked M&A branding problem, what investors really look for, and how business branding ties into buyer psychology.

Most home service companies are wasting money on marketing—because their brand sucks. In this episode, Dan Antonelli breaks down how a powerful rebrand can cut your ad spend, double conversions, and create long-term equity.

Dan has rebranded over 3,000 service businesses—including many PE-backed rollups—and shares what actually moves the needle post-acquisition. From increasing average ticket sizes to making a brand “5-mile famous,” this episode is a masterclass in brand strategy that fuels real growth.

If you're involved in M&A deals, this is a must-watch. Don’t let a weak brand cost you your next big acquisition.

We cover how to:
✅ Spot weak brands hiding behind inflated ad spend
✅ Increase booking rates without spending more on leads
✅ Fix bad names that sabotage scaling
✅ Blend history with modern branding (without losing customers)
✅ Create brand assets that boost your exit valuation
✅ Leverage brand equity to lower CAC and build community trust

Whether you're an operator, acquirer, or investor, this episode will change how you value branding in M&A.

Timestamps
00:00 The $43M Rebrand That Hit $60M After
02:15 The Real Reason Most Brands Blend In
05:30 How Branding Fixes Overspending on Ads
08:45 Truck Wraps = The Secret Weapon of Local Marketing
11:00 Rebranding 140-Year-Old Companies Without Losing Customers
14:30 Should You Rename After an Acquisition?
17:15 The Hidden Value Most PE Firms Miss
21:00 10x Branded Search. 2x Conversions. Real Data.
25:00 Fixing the “Initials and Last Name” Branding Trap
28:10 Managing Brand Integration Under an Umbrella Company
32:40 From Generic to Sticky: Why Names Matter
35:00 Why Colors and Taglines Aren’t Just Aesthetic
38:00 Internal Buy-In: Getting Your Team Excited About Change
40:20 Brand Perception vs. Reality in M&A
43:00 The Most Overlooked KPI in Branding
47:10 What Bad Branding Costs You—In Dollars
50:00 Success vs. Failure Stories in Post-Acquisition Branding
54:30 Why the Right Brand Doesn’t Need to Evolve Often

→ Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
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Follow Dan Antonelli at:
Website: https://www.kickcharge.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danantonelli/

#Branding #HomeServices #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessGrowth #MarketingStrategy #RebrandToScale #CustomerAcquisition #PERollups #ServiceBusiness #TruckWrapMarketing #HighConversionBranding #DigitalMarketingROI #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPodcast #MarketingROI #LocalMarketing #SmallBusinessTips #BrandIdentity #BusinessPlaybook #ExitStrategy #FounderJourney

Discover How to Make Money Buying Niche Businesses in this step-by-step guide designed for entrepreneurs, business buyers, and M&A professionals. Learn the secrets to identifying profitable niche business opportunities, performing effective due diligence, and negotiating deals that maximize your return on investment. This video reveals proven strategies to help you buy niche businesses with confidence and build a sustainable income stream. Whether you’re new to business acquisitions or an experienced buyer, these insights will boost your success in the niche market. Start making smart moves today with our expert tips on how to make money buying niche businesses!

We cover how to:
✅ Build proprietary deal flow and vet thousands of deals effectively
✅ Identify businesses with strong margins and “maniacal” quality focus
✅ Align incentives with sellers to ensure smooth transitions and growth
✅ Overcome challenges in due diligence including background checks and insurance audits
✅ Leverage operating systems and culture frameworks for scaling
✅ Understand financing options with conservative leverage and attractive terms
✅ Plan long-term holds with patient capital and aligned investor returns
✅ Navigate the emotional and people side of acquisitions, beyond just the numbers

If you’re interested in buying or growing small businesses, this episode is packed with actionable lessons and stories from the front lines.

00:00 Introduction: The Sticker Company Story & Acquisition Journey
07:00 Building Blue Line Ventures: Backgrounds & Vision
15:30 Deal Sourcing: The Funnel and Screening Process
22:00 Importance of People & Culture in Acquisitions
30:00 Due Diligence Lessons: Background Checks, Insurance, & QofE
40:00 Structuring Deals & Aligning Seller Incentives
48:00 Financing Strategy: Conservative Leverage & Equipment Loans
55:00 Long-Term Investment Thesis & Fund Overview
1:05:00 Challenges & Surprises Along the Way
1:15:00 Closing Advice: Discipline, Relationships, and Enjoying the Process

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→ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquisitions-collective

#SmallBusinessAcquisitions #PrivateEquity #BusinessGrowth #DealFlow #DueDiligence #AcquisitionStrategy #B2BInvesting #Entrepreneurship #FounderTips #BusinessOwners #InvestmentStrategies #MergersAndAcquisitions #PrivateEquityInvesting #BuyAndBuild #BusinessSuccess #FundingTips #SmallBusinessInvesting #CapitalRaising #Leadership #BusinessCulture #ScalingBusinesses #InvestorRelations #BusinessStrategy #GrowthHacking #Finance #SMBInvesting

How How Smart SMBs Are Using AI to Win without lifting a finger? In this episode, we dive into the future of AI-powered operations and how smart AI agents are transforming the way businesses systematize knowledge.

Our guest shares how he left Fortune 50 companies like Disney and J&J to help small business owners use AI automation to solve messy operations, clean up processes, and build documentation that actually gets used.

Whether you’re running an AI automation agency, building an AI automation business, or exploring new AI business ideas, this conversation is a playbook for turning chaos into clarity.

We cover how to:
✅ Turn transcripts and notes into plug-and-play SOPs
✅ Use AI to analyze workflows and reduce manual tasks
✅ Build internal AI agents that replace entire departments
✅ Launch an AI automation agency from scratch
✅ Combine no-code tools and AI for scalable operations
✅ Train AI to think like your best employee—then work 24/7

If you're a founder, operator, or digital entrepreneur looking to scale smart and build leverage into your business, this is a must-watch.

00:00 From Disney Exec to SMB Operator
01:20 Why SOPs Are Broken—and How AI Fixes Them
04:00 Mapping Bottlenecks Using AI Agents
07:45 Building AI Workflows from Real Conversations
12:30 Using AI for Lead Gen, Proposals, and Follow-ups
18:10 Creating Content and SOPs Automatically
22:40 What It Takes to Build a Scalable AI Automation Business
29:00 The Future of AI in SMBs

→ Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
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→ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquisitions-collective

Most founders have no idea how messy their books really are—until a deal falls apart. In this episode, Kartheek Mulpuri reveals how to spot the red flags that kill acquisitions and shares the financial due diligence playbook that today’s smartest investors use to buy and scale software and service businesses.

From overstated recurring revenue to cash that doesn’t tie out, Karthik walks us through real stories of how quality of earnings (QoE) uncovers hidden risk—and hidden value. Whether you're buying, selling, or just trying to build a cleaner, more sellable business, this conversation is pure gold.

We break down how to:
✅ Catch fake recurring revenue before it costs you 7 figures
✅ Spot the most common financial misstatements in SaaS deals
✅ Structure COGS, gross margin, and opex the right way
✅ Use contract reviews to find hidden deal risks (or upside)
✅ Clean up equity stacks before they scare off investors
✅ Avoid dead equity, bad SAFEs, and misclassified revenue
✅ Think like a strategic buyer—even if you're a founder

If you're an operator, business buyer, or investor—this is a must-watch.

00:00 From VC to Running a Finance Firm for SaaS & Funds
02:00 What “Quality of Earnings” Actually Looks Like
04:30 The 3-Step Playbook for Due Diligence on Software Deals
06:10 The Credit-Based Revenue Trap Most Buyers Miss
08:00 Cash vs. Accrual: The $1M Revenue Overstatement Mistake
10:15 Why Usage-Based Pricing Creates Hidden Risk
13:30 Seasonality, Pricing Models & Revenue Manipulation Tactics
15:45 Cost of Goods Sold: What's In (and What Shouldn't Be)
18:00 The Customer Success Debate: COGS or OpEx?
21:00 How Accrual Accounting Affects Deal Valuation
23:40 Cap Tables, Dead Equity & Founder Negotiations
27:00 SAFE Notes, Convertible Debt, and Investor Power Moves
30:30 When Cash Doesn’t Tie Out—Walk Away
33:00 Inventory Red Flags in E-Commerce and DTC Deals
35:00 Capitalizing vs. Expensing Dev Costs (And When Founders Get It Wrong)
37:45 How One PE Firm Used a 4X Liquidation Preference to Cram Down
40:10 Why E-Commerce Is a Minefield for Non-Experts
43:00 How to Avoid Overpaying in High-Interest Environments
46:00 The Opportunity in “Ugly but Profitable” Online Businesses
48:30 Milking Legacy Software Products for Maximum Cash Flow
50:00 Scaling Pet Grooming? Yes, Really.
52:00 The Most Egregious Financial Fraud Karthik’s Ever Seen

→ Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
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Follow Karthik Suresh on:
Twitter: https://x.com/kartheekmulpuri

#DueDiligence #QualityOfEarnings #SMBAcquisitions #SoftwareDeals #SaaSValuation #COGS #DeadEquity #CapTableCleanup #FinancialRedFlags #InvestSmart #ContractReview #BusinessValuation #Entrepreneurship #TechM&A #StartupFinance #BuyASmallBusiness #FounderTips #PrivateEquity #StartupAccounting #DealKiller #BusinessPodcast

Learn how to raise capital, structure better deals, and avoid the hidden traps that kill most acquisitions.
In this episode, Judd Goodrich from MainShares breaks down how capital actually gets raised behind the scenes—and why most deals fail after the LOI.
From overpaying for solid businesses to ignoring post-close transition plans, this conversation is a crash course in what makes or breaks investor trust and deal success.

We talk about how to:
✅ Avoid overpaying—and why a 5x multiple is a deal killer
✅ Raise smarter capital with investor-aligned structures
✅ Stress test your returns with realistic EBITDA assumptions
✅ Navigate SBA vs. non-SBA financing (and why it matters)
✅ Build trust with investors through risk transparency
✅ Fix broken pro formats and unrealistic IRRs before it’s too late
✅ Create operator-aligned transitions that actually work
✅ Spot the governance terms that can destroy your cap table

If you're an entrepreneur, investor, or business buyer raising capital or structuring deals, this is a must-watch.

00:00 Who is Jordan and what is MainShares
02:00 Why good deals get rejected (hint: overpriced)
04:15 What investors really care about in a deal
06:30 When to involve your capital partner (LOI vs. post-LOI)
09:00 The 3-part framework: Management, Alignment, Structure
12:00 How bad debt structures ruin great deals
14:45 Why clean transitions win investor trust
17:30 Stop pricing off last year’s inflated EBITDA
20:00 Realistic IRRs and the truth about payback periods
24:00 How preferred equity and investor protections really work
28:00 Why most capital raises fall apart at the last mile
30:00 Governance red flags: dilution, veto power & more
34:00 Building a platform for transparency and investor confidence
38:00 Two types of capital raises: self-directed vs. brokered
41:00 The top reason deals get rejected on MainShares
45:00 Why structure (not spreadsheets) wins capital
47:30 What successful fundraisers do differently
50:00 The transition trap that kills most deals
53:00 Building trust with clear risks + mitigations
56:00 How overbidding destroys deals—and reputations
58:00 Final tips for founders raising capital the right way

→ Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
→ Follow for more - @AcquisitionCollective
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Follow Judd on
→ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/judd-goodrich


#Acquisitions #RaisingCapital #BusinessBuying #DealStructuring #InvestorTrust #IRRReality #BusinessFunding #Entrepreneurship #SMBAcquisitions #DueDiligence #BusinessValuation #SBAFunding #PrivateEquity #DealFlow #FounderJourney #FinanceTips #AcquisitionStrategy #BusinessPodcast #MainShares #ScalingSmart #BusinessOwnership #CapitalRaising #SmallBusinessFinance

Learn how to scale through acquisitions without inheriting chaos. In this episode, James Bates shares hard-won lessons from buying and growing multiple IT and cybersecurity businesses — including the mistakes, the wins, and the frameworks that saved millions.
From navigating toxic cultures, to structuring smarter deals with earnouts, to building operational systems that turn struggling companies into scalable machines — this is a blueprint for founders, operators, and investors serious about winning in small business acquisitions.

We talk about how to:
✅ Spot red flags before you buy (and what due diligence often misses)
✅ Fix toxic cultures and turn chaos into high-performing teams
✅ Use earnouts and creative deal structures to de-risk acquisitions
✅ Scale recurring revenue instead of chasing one-off sales
✅ Transition client and employee relationships the right way
✅ Avoid common cash flow traps that kill acquired businesses

If you're an aspiring entrepreneur, business buyer, or post-exit founder, this episode is a must-watch.

00:00 From Tech Entrepreneur to Multi-Business Acquirer
02:00 Lessons from the First Acquisition (Toxic Culture Warning)
05:00 Why Due Diligence Misses the Biggest Red Flags
08:00 How to Turn Around a Broken Company (Without Burning Out)
11:00 Structuring Smarter Deals: Earnouts, Fixed Notes, and Cash Flow
14:30 Building Recurring Revenue Engines vs. Product-Heavy Businesses
17:00 Fixing Culture: Leadership, Turnover, and Accountability Systems
21:00 Using Brokers and M&A Teams to Source Better Deals
24:00 Managing Integration Across Different Geographies
27:00 Cash Flow Nightmares: How Inventory Nearly Sank an Acquisition
30:00 Lessons from Buying Businesses Out of State
33:00 Leveraging Post-Acquisition Upside (Cross-Selling and Upsells)
36:00 Why Most Acquirers Underestimate the Cost of Turnarounds
39:00 How to Use Earnouts to Share Risk and Maximize Value
41:00 The “Dinner with the Spouse” Test for Better Acquisitions
44:00 Why Real Scalability Comes from Systems, Not Just Sales
47:00 Turning Around Culture Faster: Practical Tips for Operators
50:00 Working Capital Mistakes That Nearly Cost Millions
53:00 What I’d Look for in the Next Acquisition
55:00 Closing Advice for Business Buyers and Entrepreneurs

→ Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
→ Follow for more - @AcquisitionCollective
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#BusinessAcquisition #ScalingBusinesses #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessGrowth #DealFlow #Earnouts #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessTurnaround #RecurringRevenue #SMBAcquisitions #FounderJourney #ScalingUp #BusinessOperations #AcquisitionStrategy #RemoteTeams #SmallBusinessAcquisitions #BuildingCulture #DueDiligence #BuyGrowScale #CashFlowManagement #BusinessPodcast #ITBusiness #CybersecurityGrowth

Learn how Chris turned $10,000 small business acquisition into a $5,000,000 landscaping business using the buy then build strategy. Join him and Jay Bourgana from the Acquisitions Collective to discover the secrets to scaling your business!
From mowing lawns on Mondays with one part-time helper to building a $5M/year landscaping company, this is the no-fluff blueprint for scaling through small acquisitions, grit, and smart systems.

In this episode, Chris Cristillo shares how he:
✅ Bought his first landscaping route for $10K with no business background
✅ Scaled through 5 acquisitions—including a $250K deal that 5X’d his business
✅ Leveraged high-interest loans, seller financing, and intuition to fund growth
✅ Turned his seasonal work into a year-round lifestyle business
✅ Built a team and layered in management without losing service quality
✅ Designed a scalable system for field crews, management, and maintenance
✅ Navigated culture clashes, employee transitions, and non-competes post-acquisition
✅ Created a second brand to offload smaller clients while keeping top-tier service
✅ Grew exclusively through referrals—no ads, no sales team
✅ Built a business that runs 95% without him

This is a must-watch for:
Business buyers considering blue-collar acquisitions
Founders stuck in owner-operator traps
Entrepreneurs curious about service-based rollups
Anyone wondering what a real, sustainable lifestyle business looks like

Whether you’re eyeing your first million-dollar deal or already running crews, this episode is packed with insights on buying right, growing lean, and building a business that actually buys your freedom.


00:00 From College Dropout to Landscaping Entrepreneur
02:00 Buying His First Route for $10K (and Losing Money)
06:00 His First Acquisition and Learning Seller Financing
10:00 The $250K Deal That Changed Everything
14:30 Culture Clashes & Post-Acquisition Team Integration
18:00 Building a 50-Person Team and $4M in Revenue
22:00 Design-Build-Maintain Model Explained
26:00 Starting a Second Brand to Keep Scaling Without Breaking Ops
29:00 How He Keeps Clients Without Marketing or Ads
33:00 Lessons on Systems, Delegation, and Lifestyle Freedom
36:00 Advice for First-Time Buyers of Blue-Collar Businesses

→ Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
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#SmallBusiness #BusinessAcquisition #LandscapingBusiness #BlueCollarBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #SMBAcquisitions #OwnerOperator #SellerFinancing #ServiceBusiness #BusinessPodcast #AcquisitionStrategy #FieldService #StartupTips #ScalingBusiness #BusinessTips #BuildToSell #CashFlowBusiness #RemoteOperations #BusinessPlaybook #WorkSmarter #BuyThenBuild #LifestyleBusiness #FoundersJourney #entrepreneurship #alexhormozi #codiesanchez #hormozi #walkerdeibel