Acquiring Minds By cover art

Acquiring Minds

By: Will Smith
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  • Summary

  • 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
    2021 - 2023, Acquiring Minds
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Episodes
  • Building a $10m EBITDA Leader in a Fragmented Space

    Building a $10m EBITDA Leader in a Fragmented Space
    Jul 15 2024

    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/4f2hCGc


    Nick 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 Twitter
    • The future of reliance on generators
    • Serving both residential and commercial customers
    • Separating the business into service and installation teams
    • Doubling the number of employees
    • Atmospheric river caused a crisis 3 weeks after acquisition
    • Being a leader is different than being an employer
    • Developing their own software
    • Where they find their technicians
    • Comparing the risk of an asset purchase and a stock purchase

    References and how to contact Nick and Dillan:

    • Nick Haschka Twitter
    • Nick Haschka LinkedIn
    • Dillan Ferguson Twitter
    • Dillan Ferguson LinkedIn
    • OnPoint Generators

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

    • Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit Aspen HR

    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
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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Buying & Growing a Business While Keeping a Day Job

    Buying & Growing a Business While Keeping a Day Job
    Jul 11 2024

    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 companies
    • Mistakes he made during diligence
    • Revamping service offerings
    • Looking for “diamond in the rough” leaders
    • Expanding from air duct cleaning into HVAC
    • His fetal position moment
    • Being ghosted by his bank
    • Buying a business while expecting a baby
    • Advantage of selling directly to consumers
    • Drawing from his training in the U.S. Marines

    References and how to contact Dominick:

    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Air ASAP
    • Winning Moves by Dan Cremons

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

    • The Acquisition Lab

    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
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 55 mins
  • Buy as Search Fund, Keep as Long-Term Owner

    Buy as Search Fund, Keep as Long-Term Owner
    Jul 8 2024

    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 America
    • Buying a door manufacturer in Guatemala
    • Implementing EOS
    • Moving his focus from “how” to “who”
    • Raising prices 25%
    • Focusing on service, quality, and volume
    • Finding a CEO to replace him
    • Having a liquidity event without exiting the business
    • Transitioning towards a permanent capital model
    • Plan for a holdco

    References and how to contact Juan:

    • LinkedIn
    • Paltus Capital

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

    • Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit Aspen HR

    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
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 51 mins
Leadership Economics Personal Finance
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Profile Image for konner

The BEST Searchfund Advice!

We love Will Smith and the insights his podcast gives to us that is applicable for the whole deal process. He will even bring on guests on years later for them to recap on the transition process and everything in between.

Thanks for everything, Will!

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Profile Image for Sia Bani

The best way to learn about search and acquiring small businesses

I’ve read Buy then Build, and HBR’s Guide to buying a Small Business. Both are great books on the nuts and bolts of ETA, but Will Smith’s podcast is then best way to learn from the experiences of over 100 acquisition entrepreneurs.

Great content, binge worthy, and always easy to listen to at >1.5x speed!

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