Clayton Collins acquired HousingWire with a big vision for the small media business. 9 years later, it has come to life.

Register for the webinar:

• Overcoming Risks from a Lender’s Perspective - TODAY! - https://bit.ly/3WxDKAs

Topics in Clayton’s interview:

• Hire for your skill gaps
• Flying around the country to meet investors
• Asking for warm introductions
• Selling investors on his strategic vision
• What to look for in a media company
• Direct relationships with advertisers vs. programmatic ads
• Rebuilding the sales team over and over
• Riding the wave of the mortgage industry
• Maintaining the magic of annual events
• Selling print ads differs from selling digital ads

References and how to contact Clayton:

• LinkedIn
• HousingWire
• Nathan Gregory on Acquiring Minds: Business-Buyer Fit in a 42-Year-Old Media Biz

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
Produced by Pam Cameron

Both buyer Jared Lenner and seller Dave Serwitz share their perspectives on the acquisition of a 20-year-old business.

Register for the webinars:

• Investor-Backed Search and SBA: Buy Bigger, Keep Control - TOMORROW! - https://bit.ly/4qABMgn
• Overcoming Risks from a Lender’s Perspective - Thu Nov 6th - https://bit.ly/4qDoJdV

Topics in Jared & Dave’s interview:

• Jared buying Dave’s tutoring business
• Dave’s motivation to sell
• Choosing to work with Search Fund Accelerator
• Their agreement to “assume positive intent”
• Why Dave didn’t sell to private equity
• How the in-person business survived Covid
• Bookkeeper quit right after transition
• “Other people’s money is scarier than a PG”
• Competing with AI in the future
• How it feels to sell your company

References and how to contact Jared & Dave:

• Dave Serwitz LinkedIn
• Jared Lenner LinkedIn
• Grade Potential Tutoring
• Marc Anderegg on Acquiring Minds: So Much Fun: The Buyer of Choice in a Fragmented Industry

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

Shaun Stimpson had worked for two decades before pivoting to buying businesses in a different industry. He's moved fast.

Register for the webinar:

• Tax Issues: Entity and Deal Structuring - TODAY! - http://bit.ly/47CVZui

Topics in Shaun’s interview:

• Staying in corporate was the riskier choice
• Calling 1200 businesses during his search
• Going back to school to learn more about acquisition
• Acquiring with his partner, Robert Wolf
• Raising $6m from outside investors
• Leaning on his professional network
• Choosing his investors carefully
• Acquiring in his mid-40’s
• Long-term hold strategy
• Acquiring 3 businesses in succession

References and how to contact Shaun:

• LinkedIn
• Mitten Fluidpower
• FLN-MAR
• Frank Murken Products

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

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