Colin King

Colin King, founder of Circle City Capital Group and seasoned SMB acquirer, dives into his entrepreneurial journey from CPA to private equity. He shares how his first acquisition—a trucking business—taught him invaluable operational lessons. Colin discusses the shift to e-commerce and the importance of finding smaller, less complex businesses for acquisition. He emphasizes leveraging AI for efficiency and explores the current private market dynamics while providing sage advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in the search fund space.

Colin King, a finance-focused acquisition entrepreneur with accounting and PE experience, and Joe Van Deman, a serial acquirer who scales small businesses, share their unlikely Craigslist meeting and how they bought 15 companies together. They recount buying an overnight auto-parts delivery route, surviving brutal hands-on nights, hiring operators at odd hours, flipping to PE, and their repeatable sourcing, diligence, and operator-first scaling playbook.

Colin King, Partner at Circle City Capital Group, Inc., specializes in acquiring small private companies and shares his real-world insights into this challenging venture. He debunks the myths surrounding small business acquisitions, emphasizing that it's far from the glamorous stories often depicted online. Colin discusses the complexities of time management when overseeing multiple businesses, the nuances of financial compensation in partnerships, and the tough choices involved in exiting investments. His journey highlights the importance of a strategic, hands-on approach to sustainable success.