How to Buy, Scale, and Exit a Business the Smart Way — with Chad Peterson

In this episode of All Things LOCS, we sit down with Chad Peterson, founder of Peterson Acquisitions and author of Quantum Stack Investing, to discuss the real-world strategies of buying, scaling, and selling businesses.

With over 25 years of experience in M&A, Chad breaks down the truth behind:

- The actual process of buying and selling businesses

- Why most gurus are misleading you with “easy” acquisition strategies

- How to build a business that doesn’t fall apart when you leave

- Red flags in the “buy a boring business” movement

- Why your business needs boundaries, systems, and cash flow to be valuable

- How to align business with your personal exit vision

This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, business owners, and anyone considering an acquisition or preparing for a profitable exit.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro to Chad Peterson & M&A Basics

01:04 – The snake oil in today’s “buy a biz” space

02:31 – Why buying/selling is an art—not a formula

04:47 – Chad’s first exit & how he fell into M&A

06:41 – Lessons from flying & rebuilding post-9/11

10:46 – The problem with “easy” acquisitions

14:05 – Red flags in online business advice

17:09 – Tax strategy vs. cash flow strategy

20:14 – Why scaling without strategy leads to failure

23:10 – Building teams vs. emotional attachment

26:12 – The myth of “semi-absentee” ownership

30:02 – Aligning strategy with personal vision

35:50 – Preparing to sell: profit, process & posture

39:12 – What buyers really care about

42:00 – Is starting a business in 2025 a bad idea?

44:22 – Add-backs & valuation insights

46:47 – Final thoughts & connect with Chad

📅 Book your FREE call now: 👉https://calendly.com/bestpracticestrategies/strategy-call?month=2025-02

Follow Chad at chadpeterson.com

📢 Don’t forget to:

👍 Like this video

💬 Drop a comment — What part of Chat’s story inspired you the most?

📌 Subscribe to the ALL THINGS LOCS Podcast

📤 Share this with someone chasing purpose and building legacy