Matt Orley wanted to enter the short-term rentals space. Buying a business — and a brand he admired — was his way in.

Register for the webinars:

• DO’s and DON'Ts of the LOI - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/3YtLIvp
• From W2 to Owner Mindset: How to Think About Your Take-Home Pay - Jan 15th - https://bit.ly/4qJ1Xk5

Topics in Matt’s interview:

• Investment properties as a side hustle
• Evolving short-term rental ecosystem
• Difficult transition with the seller
• Influence of Airbnb on customer expectations
• Importance of clear communication
• Rolling up property management companies
• Concentrating on one region of the country
• Difference between urban and rural markets
• Launching a membership program
• Putting the brand first when making decisions

References and how to contact Matt:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Red Cottage

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

• Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

Get 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 Minds

Get a complimentary IT audit of your target business:

• Email Nick Akers at nick@inzotechnologies.com, and tell him you’re a searcher

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

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

Edited by Anton Rohozov
Produced by Pam Cameron

Adam Vandermyde had to be persuaded to acquire the $15m business that he ultimately professionalized and exited for 7x.

Register for the webinar:

• How to Present Your Deal for Maximum SBA Success - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/3KW7aWL

Topics in Adam’s interview:

• Leaving consulting 2 months from making partner
• Taking on the CEO role at the target before closing
• Focusing on EBITDA over revenue
• A construction mistake that cost the company dearly
• Parsing data to understand “margin per labor dollar”
• Advantages of being in a high-growth geographical area
• Improving customer service to stand out
• Exiting after 5 years
• Adrenaline rush of sharing his payday with employees
• How it feels to be a millionaire

References and how to contact Adam:

• LinkedIn

Get 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 Minds

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

• The Acquisition Lab

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

• 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
  
  

Edited by Anton Rohozov
Produced by Pam Cameron

Joe Odell and his partner acquired a business with over $4m in earnings and lots of green flags. It went sideways fast.

Register for the webinar:

• How to Present Your Deal for Maximum SBA Success - Jan 8th - https://bit.ly/4snUKHY

Topics in Joe’s interview:

• His blue collar, military background
• Volunteering without pay for a consulting company
• Ultimately rejecting the tech industry
• Finding his search partner at business school
• Seeking out a complex business
• Doing traditional search, on his wife’s advice
• Acquiring a home health adjacent company
• Post-close cash crisis
• Losing a key sales rep
• Fatal “pen stroke risk”

References and how to contact Joe:

• LinkedIn

Get a complimentary IT audit of your target business:

• Email Nick Akers at nick@inzotechnologies.com, and tell him you’re a searcher

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

• From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.com

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

Edited by Anton Rohozov
Produced by Pam Cameron

The first business Joe Soelberg bought did $400k SDE. The experience and cash flow enabled a second, larger acquisition.

Topics in Joe’s interview:

• Leaving corporate for a chance to manage P&L
• His toughest pitch was to his wife
• Acquiring a 3D design firm
• Pivoting hard during Covid
• Hiring a manager with a design background
• Acquiring a branding agency
• Difference between branding and marketing
• Retainer model for recurring revenue
• Offering less than listing price
• His hand-off relationship with his businesses

References and how to contact Joe:

• LinkedIn
• Point B Communications
• SONNY+ASH
• Mike Curry on Acquiring Minds: It’s All Your Fault: How to Become CEO of Your Acquisition
• Johannes Hock on Acquiring Minds: Buy and 3x a Project Based Business in Just 2 Years

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

• Pioneer Capital Advisory

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

• Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

Get 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 Minds

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

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

Edited by Anton Rohozov
Produced by Pam Cameron

Former pro bowler Mike Fagan bought a $2m bowling center with a plan to roll up and rejuvenate these legacy businesses.

Topics in Mike’s interview:

• His professional bowling career
• Connecting with a bowling-specific broker
• Economic role of league bowlers
• The decline of bowling in America
• Traditional bowling vs Bowlero
• Buying a traditional, older bowling alley
• Running leaner to pay down debt
• Employee resistance to change
• Success with online bookings
• His goal of managing remotely

References and how to contact Mike:

• LinkedIn
• Tenpins & More
• Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam
• Carlo Santelli on Acquiring Minds: ​​How to Buy a $13m Business with No PG, No Investors
• Webinar: Using a Sale-Leaseback to Buy a Business

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

• The Acquisition Lab

Get a complimentary IT audit of your target business:

• Email Nick Akers at nick@inzotechnologies.com, and tell him you’re a searcher

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

• From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.com

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

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

Edited by Anton Rohozov
Produced by Pam Cameron

Tato Corcoran packed a lifetime of learning (and tears) into 18 months when she left tech & bought a tiny manufacturer.

Topics in Tato’s interview:

• Connecting with sellers through direct mail
• Her “Say yes and figure it out later” approach
• Difficulty in hiring unskilled labor
• How she solved her labor issue
• Being a single woman in a male industry
• Learning Spanish to communicate with her employees
• Hemorrhaging money the first 8 months
• Raising prices 40% without losing customers
• The difference between good growth and bad growth
• Doubling top line revenue

References and how to contact Tato:

• Linkedin
• tatohomes@gmail.com
• The direct mail piece Tato used to reach business owners

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

• From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.com

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

• Pioneer Capital Advisory

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

The construction services business Christian Bateson bought will do $7.5m in 2024. It also rescued him from the depths.

Topics in Christian’s interview:

• His front row seat to the 2008 financial crisis
• Qualities of a top salesperson
• Business acquisition as a way out of a miserable career
• Shopping around for an SBA loan
• Choosing to play to his strengths and outsource his weaknesses
• Difficulty in hiring for construction
• Bouncing back and growing after Covid losses
• Red flags he ignored when acquiring his second business
• How his finance background benefited him
• His $100 million goal

References and how to contact Christian:

• LinkedIn
• Resolute Services

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

• Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

Get 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 Minds

Get a complimentary IT audit of your target business:

• Email Nick Akers at nick@inzotechnologies.com, and tell him you’re a searcher

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

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

Respected consumer brands are not common in lower middle market acquisitions, but Philip Hussey and Chenmark bought one.

Topics in Philip’s interview:

• Chenmark’s acquisition of Thomas Moser
• Leading a furniture business as a non-craftsman
• Chenmark’s hold-forever intention
• Wait times for custom, hand-made furniture
• Long tenure of craftsmen
• Commitment to world-class quality
• Getting away from offering discounts
• Building talent through their woodworker school
• Running a company with a strong legacy behind it
• Downside to owning your manufacturing

References and how to contact Philip:

• LinkedIn
• Thos. Moser
• Chenmark

Get a complimentary IT audit of your target business:

• Email Nick Akers at nick@inzotechnologies.com, and tell him you’re a searcher

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

• The Acquisition Lab

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

• 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

Edited by Anton Rohozov
Produced by Pam Cameron