Episodios

  • The Path from $2.5m to $60m in a Tree Business
    Jun 23 2025

    Register for the webinar:

    • How to Offshore in a Blue Collar Business - July 1st - https://bit.ly/406jR5k

    Brian Hartman 3x'd revenue in 2 years at the tree business he bought, then partnered with an investor to grow even more.

    Topics in Brian’s interview:

    • Picking up the phone is crucial
    • Growing so fast the wheels nearly came off
    • Hiring top-tier managers and ops staff early
    • Managing cash flow and receivables through growth
    • Expanding via acquisition, starting in Dallas
    • Ensuring safety for employees
    • Partnering with another Acquiring Minds guest
    • Aiming for $55–70M in revenue by 2030
    • Buying a business with baby #3 on the way
    • How landscaping is different from tree service


    References and how to contact Brian:

    • LinkedIn
    • Northside Tree
    • brian@northsidetreeprofessionals.com
    • Webinar with Brian: Should You Buy a Business?
    • Adrian Pinto and Mike Botkin on Acquiring Minds: One Acquiring Minds Guest Buys Another
    • Adrian Pinto #2: Building a Blue Collar Empire
    • Adrian Pinto #1: How to 2x Sales in a Service Business You Buy
    • Will Gano on Acquiring Minds: After 4 Years of Part-Time Searching, Success
    • John Wilson on Acquiring Minds: Buying Small, Growing Big: From $1m to $26m

    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

    Más Menos
    1 h y 28 m
  • How a First-Timer Pulled Off a $52m Acquisition
    Jun 19 2025

    Register for the webinar:

    • How to Offshore in a Blue Collar Business - July 1st - https://bit.ly/406jR5k


    With no PE background, Nick Huber had to learn quickly as he raised money to acquire a fast-growing offshoring agency.

    Topics in Nick’s interview:

    • Origin of the Sweaty Startup guy
    • Nick’s role in Support Shepherd’s growth
    • Backstory of the Support Shepherd deal
    • How Nick structured incentives to make it worthwhile
    • What turned off investors
    • Inbound leads collapsing in year 1
    • Is building a Twitter following worth it?
    • Big changes to the business since acquisition
    • The value (or not) of distribution
    • Annual cost and org chart of Nick’s media team
    • Why write a book

    References and how to contact Nick:

    • LinkedIn
    • nick@sweatystartup.com
    • Sweaty Startup by Nick Huber
    • Somewhere.com

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

    • From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.com

    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

    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

    Más Menos
    1 h y 45 m
  • The $60k Acquisition that Grew to a $77m Exit
    Jun 16 2025

    Register for the webinars:

    • DO’s and DON'Ts of the LOI - Jun 17th - https://bit.ly/441EocM
    • How to Offshore in a Blue Collar Business - July 1st - https://acquiringminds.co/hiring


    Kevin Ramsier bought a "guy in a truck" business for radon mitigation. 10 years later it was a multi-state franchise.

    Topics in Kevin’s interview:

    • Finding ways to earn money as a kid
    • Bouncing back from early career setbacks
    • The Wall Street Journal ad that changed everything
    • Turning around a bankrupt concrete business
    • Building and scaling a radon mitigation company
    • Using franchising to manage growth and quality control
    • 3 questions that transformed his life
    • Transitioning into the role of an independent sponsor
    • Investing in people instead of public markets
    • How he teaches his kids to value money

    References and how to contact Kevin:

    • LinkedIn
    • Sier Capital Partners

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

    • Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

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

    • Pioneer Capital Advisory

    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

    Más Menos
    1 h y 11 m
  • Hometown Holdco: Geography as Moat
    Jun 12 2025

    Register for the webinar:

    • SBA Loans 101 + Program Updates - Jun 12th - https://bit.ly/3FGQIqB

    Sarah Chiles & Matthew Ferguson left careers in VC to buy the only auto repair shop for 35 miles in their native Aspen.

    Topics in Sarah & Matthew’s interview:

    • Backgrounds in engineering and VC
    • Preserving local fabric by buying businesses
    • The “tackle shop” nature of businesses in small towns
    • Seasonality in a small resort town
    • Gaining the respect of employees
    • Vision of a hometown holdco
    • Crisis management when their operator left
    • Modernizing and restructuring the auto repair business
    • Finding out what each employee wants
    • Long-term commitment to Aspen

    References and how to contact Sarah & Matthew:

    • Sarah’s LinkedIn
    • Matthew’s LinkedIn
    • Aspen Total Automotive
    • Shop Fix Academy
    • STM Holdings
    • Adam Markley on Acquiring Minds: Getting Reps: Helping Others Look at Deals Led to a Holdco
    • Cassi Niekamp on Acquiring Minds: Buying a $1.2m Fencing Business & Earning Trust Quickly

    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

    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
    Producer by Pam Cameron

    Más Menos
    1 h y 42 m
  • Evolving a Legacy Business to $3.2m EBITDA
    Jun 9 2025

    Register for the webinar:

    • SBA Loans 101 + Program Updates - Jun 12th - https://bit.ly/4jG0FSV

    After Evan Stewart found his footing in his printing business, he pushed it from $1.8m to $3.2m EBITDA in under 2 years.

    Topics in Evan’s interview:

    • Experience in the Acquisition Lab
    • 6 months of imposter syndrome
    • Earning the right to be heard
    • Changes in direct mail printing technology
    • Standing out amongst fierce competition
    • His wife joining the business
    • Moving his family to be closer to the business
    • Accepting investment from friends and family
    • Putting a lien on his house to get the loan
    • Buying into a shrinking industry

    References and how to contact Evan:

    • LinkedIn
    • Direct One
    • Alex Holley on Acquiring Minds: Networking His Way to $800k SDE

    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

    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

    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

    Más Menos
    1 h y 23 m
  • How to Build $7.5m in Net Worth by Buying a B&B
    Jun 5 2025

    Register for the webinar:

    • How to Outsource Your Search: Understanding Buy-Side Advisory - Jun 5th - https://bit.ly/43PpR4R

    Christine Traylor is bringing entrepreneurial ambition to a business often dismissed as a side gig for retirees

    Topics in Christine’s interview:

    • Pivoting from international development to business owner
    • Acquiring a historic B&B in Dupont Circle
    • A seller who refused to negotiate on price
    • Living on site with her family at the B&B
    • Calculating the value of the real estate
    • Raising 2 small children in their business
    • Long, frustrating buying process
    • Combining SBA, conventional loan and seller note
    • Difficulty in hiring an innkeeper
    • Standing out amongst the hospitality competition

    References and how to contact Christine:

    • LinkedIn
    • christine@swannhouse.com
    • Swann House
    • Instagram

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

    • Pioneer Capital Advisory

    Get a complimentary IT audit of your target business:

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

    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

    Más Menos
    1 h y 29 m
  • How to Grow Revenue 50% in Year 1
    Jun 2 2025

    Register for the webinar:

    • How to Outsource Your Search: Understanding Buy-Side Advisory - Jun 5th - https://bit.ly/44XWwX3

    JD Hasley bought an upscale frame shop doing $600k. One year later, he's returned all his equity & grown it to $900k.

    Topics in JD’s interview:

    • Finding his business on broker’s own website
    • Buying a retail frame shop
    • Why DFW is a great location for a frame shop
    • Learning to do the framing himself
    • Standing out by answering email quickly
    • Getting customers to pay in full up front
    • 50% growth in the first year
    • Online marketing to drive revenue
    • How frame shops scale
    • Empowering employees to implement change

    References and how to contact JD:

    • LinkedIn
    • hasley@uptownframe.com
    • Uptown Frame

    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

    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

    Más Menos
    1 h y 22 m
  • The Entrepreneur Awakens: Pivoting from Tech to Ownership
    May 29 2025

    Register for the webinar:

    • How to Outsource Your Search: Understanding Buy-Side Advisory - Jun 6th - https://bit.ly/43q0JQR

    Kin Sio first tried real estate as he explored a path out of tech, but buying a business was his ultimate destination.

    Topics in Kin’s interview:

    • Immigrating from China
    • Pivoting from tech to entrepreneurship
    • Wanting more flexibility to care for family
    • Deciding against using ROBS
    • Running his Hawaiian business from Seattle
    • Plans to expand to the mainland
    • Building and maintaining a company culture
    • Converting seller hours to human hours
    • Managing hotel room pricing
    • How culture influences risk taking

    References and how to contact Kin:

    • LinkedIn
    • Lights On
    • Doug Johns on Acquiring Minds: Opening Up to Franchises to Buy a Great Business

    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

    Más Menos
    1 h y 48 m