Acquiring Minds

Marco Hsu took over a Porsche upgrade maker run by one person, and now faces the same limits its founder did.
Register for the webinar:
Franchisor Diligence 101 for Searchers - Thu Nov 5 - https://bit.ly/4ySdPnG
Topics in Marco’s interview:
“I never wanted to work for a company”
Discovered Clewett Engineering through Quiet Light
Submitted 3 LOIs for the same business
Ran the business from a small garage
Supplier changes disrupted the business for months
Marco redrew fifty engineering drawings
Profits initially went toward rebuilding inventory
Goals: employees and dedicated workspace
Earning less than his former job
“We’re never fully aware of how hard it’ll be”

References and how to contact Marco:
LinkedIn
Clewett Engineering
Patrick Dunphy on Acquiring Minds: The $150k Hiding in the Business He Bought
Adam Goldberg on Acquiring Minds: How to Reinvent a $1m Candle Manufacturer
Chad Hildebrant on Acquiring Minds: How to Buy a $3m Business with No Books
Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:
Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team
The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:
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 and produced by Pam Cameron

Jeff Thompson took over an unprofitable elevator company as GM, with a pre-agreed right to buy it in pieces.
Topics in Jeff’s interview:
Why elevator companies attract private equity
Turning operational chaos into repeatable processes
Empowering employees to solve technical problems
Improving pricing and expanding customer revenue
Structuring a staged, three-year business acquisition
Aligning incentives between buyer and sellers
Building trust through transparency and fair dealing
Growing revenue beyond $8 million annually
Using hire-to-acquire to reduce acquisition risk
Finding new acquisition opportunities in elevator services
References and how to contact Jeff:
LinkedIn
careers@charterelevator.com
Ben Rizzo on Acquiring Minds: How to Buy, Double & Exit a Turnaround (as a First-Timer)
Mike Bourgeois on Acquiring Minds: First-Timer Buys a $15m Business in Distress
Elias Youssef on Acquiring Minds: Take Over the Business Before You Buy It
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
Contact Jenny to learn how Engage can run people operations in your acquisition:
Jenny Thear: jthear@engagepeo.com
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 and produced by Pam Cameron

Rahib Diwan started a short-term rental company, then bought another one 3x its size without having to use more cash.
Topics in Rahib interview:
From healthcare to short-term rentals
Building the business from scratch
Choosing Nashville as the market
Luxury properties as a niche
Valuing the property management business
Financing through an SBA expansion loan
Sellers retaining 20% equity
Preserving property-owner relationships
Unexpected customer churn after acquisition
Rebuilding operations and booking momentum
References and how to contact Rahib:
LinkedIn
Visit Nashville Now
Matt Orley on Acquiring Minds: Buying for Brand (Then Growing 4x)
Megan McGee on Acquiring Minds: No SBA Loan and $75k Out of Pocket
Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.
Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta.
The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:
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
Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Jon Hyatt was under LOI on a dental practice when a late-night Craigslist search turned up one he couldn't resist.
Register for the webinar: 
Structuring LOIs: Competitive Enough to Win, Bankable Enough to Close - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4s1pAWV
Topics in Jon’s interview:
Using Facebook groups for industry research
Why labor became a search constraint
The abandoned dental roll-up thesis
Discovering E.J. Willis on Craigslist
Falling for a 138-year-old heritage brand
Buying a tiny business
Navigating an asset purchase and carve-out
Selling bells to defense shipbuilders
Building direct-to-consumer bell demand
Reviving forgotten products and company history
References and how to contact Jon:
LinkedIn
E.J. Willis Co.
The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:
The Acquisition Lab
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 and produced by Pam Cameron

Elias Youssef stepped into an unprofitable plumbing company as its GM, grew it 6x, then got an SBA loan to buy it.

Register for the webinar: 
Structuring LOIs: Competitive Enough to Win, Bankable Enough to Close - Thu, Oct 22 - https://bit.ly/4B7XVHU
Topics in Elias’s interview:
Dropping out of community college
Stacking cash as an appliance salesman
Early real estate joint ventures
Breaking even on an assisted living acquisition
Seeking out HVAC mentorship
The brutality of cold calling
Operating before buying
Majority equity is majority work
Buying is easy. Running it is the hard part.
Getting out of operations
References and how to contact Elias:
LinkedIn 
Frost and Flow
Elias’s announcement of Kyle’s acquisition
Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:
Pioneer Capital Advisory
Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.
Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta.
Contact Jenny to learn how Engage can run people operations in your acquisition:
Jenny Thear: jthear@engagepeo.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 and produced by Pam Cameron