Acquiring Minds  By  cover art

Acquiring Minds

By: Will Smith
  • 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
  • 2 Welders and a Shop... to $3.8m in Sales
    Jun 10 2024

    Register here for the webinar, The DO's & DON'Ts of the LOI (legal office hours)

    • https://bit.ly/3VeWF1B


    Matt Pohl & his wife bought a small welding business with extreme key person risk. They 4x'd the business in 2 years.

    Topics in Matt’s interview:

    • Starting, growing and selling his own business
    • Acquiring a welding business with his wife
    • Learning how to hire welders
    • The difficulties of hiring through a staffing agency
    • Transient nature of welders
    • Growing while maintaining margins
    • Stress of running a business
    • Comparing zero-to-one to acquisition
    • Cashflow management in a project-based business
    • Using ReWild’s methods to grow the business

    References and how to contact Guest:

    • mpohl@rewildgroup.com
    • LinkedIn
    • The Rewild Group

    Smithlist is a new job board for leadership roles at small businesses. If you're not ready to buy a business but want to lead one:

    • Smithlist - Operate & Lead a Business

    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
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    1 hr and 44 mins
  • Buying a Bankrupt 117-Year-Old Manufacturer
    Jun 6 2024

    Register here for the webinar, The DO's & DON'Ts of the LOI (legal office hours)

    • https://bit.ly/3yCQaOw


    Despite having no experience in manufacturing, Jens Grudno jumped when he heard about a failing straight-razor business.

    Topics in Jens’s interview:

    • Buying a bankrupt razor manufacturer
    • Embracing risk in German business culture
    • Cleaning out and moving a 116-year old business
    • Another company poaching their clients
    • Pitfalls to avoid when buying a business
    • Developing a new, innovative product
    • Operating a company six hours from home
    • Comparing start-ups to acquisition
    • Value of going where there's less competition
    • The craft of manufacturing

    References and how to contact Jens:

    • j.grudno@dovo.com
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • DOVO Online

    Smithlist is a new job board for leadership roles at small businesses. If you're not ready to buy a business but want to lead one:

    • Smithlist - Operate & Lead a Business

    Register for the Self-Funded Search Conference, September 13th - 15th in Dallas:

    • Self-Funded Search Conference

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

    • The Acquisition Lab

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

    • Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit Aspen HR

    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 57 mins
  • Rolling Up EBITDA and Rents with Auto Repair Shops
    Jun 3 2024

    Register here for the webinar, The DO's & DON'Ts of the LOI (legal office hours)

    • https://bit.ly/4538koZ


    Stephen Quindlen & Paul Westhart have found powerful multipliers that could yield huge returns in an unlikely industry.

    Topics in Stephen and Paul’s interview:

    • Acquiring auto repair shops
    • Retaining talent by adding employee benefits
    • Fleet vs. passenger car business
    • Almost losing a foreman on day one
    • Why they love the Mountain West
    • Recruiting California workers to Idaho
    • Innovative real estate and business acquisition strategy
    • Offering quality service and strong warranties
    • Executing the SBA 504’s Green Loan strategy
    • Limitations of the SBA 7(a) loan for roll-ups

    References and how to contact Stephen and Paul:

    • Stephen Quindlen - LinkedIn
    • Paul Westhart - LinkedIn
    • stephen.quindlen@bluewrench.com
    • paul.westhart@bluewrench.com
    • Blue Wrench

    Smithlist is a new job board for leadership roles at small businesses. If you're not ready to buy a business but want to lead one:

    • Smithlist - Operate & Lead a Business

    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

    Register for the Self-Funded Search Conference, September 13th - 15th in Dallas:

    • Self-Funded Search Conference

    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 57 mins

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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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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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