Thinking about buying a business? Not sure what's real and what's hype?

In this episode of The Scaling Podcast, Aaron Harper sits down with Matthias Smith, founder of Pioneer Capital, to unpack exactly how SBA financing works, what makes a business lendable, and the harsh truths nobody on TikTok is telling you. From seller equity to working capital to divorce derailing deals (seriously), this episode dives deep into the real mechanics of acquisitions — whether you're a searcher, operator, or future franchisee.

Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 3:00 How Matthias helps business buyers get financed 6:50 Where deal flow comes from 10:00 SBA myths (zero money down?) 14:00 Seller equity changes 20:00 Why some businesses can't be sold 25:30 Real talk on finding deals 35:00 Real estate in SBA loans 47:00 Bigger deals & private equity pressure 55:00 Aaron's origin story 1:02:00 Why capital matters when starting

Learn more about Matthias: Website: https://pioneercap.com X (Twitter): @SBA_Matthias

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