Acquiring Minds Reward for 17-Month Deal: $1.8m of EBITDA
17 snips
Dec 15, 2025 Robert Gaden, an acquisition entrepreneur and owner of BrightStar Care of Greater Waukesha and Lake Country, shares his journey from finance to home care. He discusses the emotional impact of his father's passing on his career choices and the appeal of the home health care industry. Gaden describes his lengthy 17-month acquisition, revealing insights about revenue growth and the importance of strong seller relationships. With a focus on scaling, he emphasizes prioritizing sales over margins and how operational involvement shaped his success.
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Family-Funded Search And Personal Motivation
- Robert used his father's inheritance and family support to self-fund his search fund and buy a business.
- He closed the deal about 17 months after meeting the sellers and now runs the company in his father’s name.
Balance Self-Funding With Advisor Support
- If you can self-fund, consider it for speed and autonomy, but don't underestimate the advisor network of a traditional search.
- Use advisors to shorten learning curves and access experienced guidance when needed.
Relax Size For Geographic Constraints
- When searching, widen size expectations if you lock geography; go bigger when mentors advise it.
- Prioritize attainable targets in your geography rather than rigid industry or size constraints.