From W-2 Job, To Startup Life, To Acquisition Entrepreneurship
Feb 24, 2025
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Brian Seeling, CEO of PGM Service, shares his unique journey from software engineer to acquisition entrepreneur. He discusses the contrasting paths of startups versus acquisitions, emphasizing how to evaluate business opportunities. Brian highlights the advantages of a preventative maintenance model, transforming revenues from episodic to recurring. He also delves into the challenges of leadership transitions and the importance of operational systems in driving growth and profitability. Listening to his experiences offers valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs in acquisition entrepreneurship.
Brian Seeling's transition from IT and startups to acquisition entrepreneurship illustrates the advantages of acquiring businesses for established cash flow and growth potential.
His strategic implementation of preventive maintenance not only fosters recurring revenue but also enhances customer relationships and service value in the commercial food equipment sector.
Deep dives
Early Entrepreneurial Spirit
Brian Sealing's journey into entrepreneurship began in his childhood, where he demonstrated an entrepreneurial mindset from a young age. Growing up in a working-class family in the Washington, D.C. area, he learned to create opportunities for himself, such as starting a car wash service to save for desired items. His formative years instilled a problem-solving mentality, pushing him to pursue ventures that not only fulfilled his personal goals but also addressed local needs. This foundation led him through various professional roles, including IT positions, which eventually paved the way for him to embrace entrepreneurship more fully.
Transition from Startup to Acquisition
After several years in IT consulting and engaging in startups, Brian discovered that entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) offered a more stable path compared to starting a business from scratch. He recognized the significant risks involved in launching a new venture, where many small businesses fail within the first five years. By contrast, acquiring an existing business provided him with a customer base and established cash flow, allowing him to focus on enhancing and scaling operations. Looking to channel his skills into a business poised for growth, he set out to find a suitable acquisition target.
Finding and Evaluating the Right Business
Brian’s search for a business began with platforms like BizBuySell, where he focused on identifying B2B opportunities rather than B2C. He specifically ruled out home services, as he sought businesses that could be managed without the constraints of customer-specific cash flow challenges. His criteria centered around running a business remotely, particularly in Florida, where he planned to relocate. Eventually, he acquired a company involved in the maintenance and repair of commercial food equipment, a sector that offered the potential for steady revenue through emergency repairs and preventive maintenance services.
Implementing Preventive Maintenance and Growth Strategies
Upon acquiring the business, Brian recognized the importance of transitioning from reactive emergency services to a proactive preventive maintenance model. He initiated a preventive maintenance program to build stronger customer relationships and create recurring revenue streams. This strategic shift not only provided customers with ongoing support but also positioned his business as a vital service provider within the commercial food equipment sector. Additionally, Brian is exploring opportunities to expand services to include cold-side maintenance, leveraging the existing customer base for cross-selling potential, ultimately enhancing the business’s revenue capabilities.
In May of 2024, after a self-funded search, Brian Seeling became CEO of PGM Service, a Florida-based company that focuses on maintenance, service, and repair of commercial food
equipment. His journey to become an acquisition entrepreneur is distinct in that he first worked as a software engineer, was then involved in startup life for a number of years, and only recently embarked on the ETA path. In this episode, Brian reflects on the decision to pursue ETA, including his experiences of entrepreneurship through startup versus through acquisition; how implementation of a preventative maintenance service is empowering him to turn an episodic revenue business into a recurring revenue business; his thoughts on Rick and Royce’s suggestion to focus on synergies and cross-selling opportunities via the acquisition of a cold-side business; and more! Brian bought a company in which there are “many ways to win”, an important attribute in assessing acquisition opportunities, and listeners will learn a great deal from Brian’s accomplishments in the ETA space.
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