Acquiring Minds

Despite dire warnings against it, Reg Zeller bought a foundry. He's since bought 6 more & sees a clear path to $100m/yr. Topics in Reg Zeller’s interview:Why he bought a foundry (against everyone’s advice)The famous fetal position storyThe importance of a peer groupHis journey from one acquisition to a holdcoWhy searchers should spend 2 years operating the business they buyReg’s plan to get to $100 millionHow to eliminate key man riskHow Reg found his rockstar COOOpportunities in non-manufacturing spacesThe opportunities in onshoringLinks and how to contact Reg:Twitter CaneKastThe Twitter thread Reg mentionedShoe Dog by Phil KnightHoldCo ConferenceLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:The Acquisition Lab Get a complementary pre-acquisition HR & PEO review for your target business:Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit Aspen HRConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn Follow Will on Twitter

Adrian Pinto returns to reflect on his 1.5 years as owner of a landscaping business that he's grown from $3m to $6m/yr. Topics in Adrian’s interview:Buying and growing Georgia ScapesGrowth through acquisition in landscaping Doubling revenue in 18 monthsHis B2B sales processCompetition in landscapingCommercial vs residential landscapingMaintenance work vs project workDue diligence for a landscaping companyBeyond EBITDA: evaluating size of business to buyRisks in acquiring a landscaping businessLinks and how to contact Adrian:adrian@georgiascapes.comTwitterLinkedIn Georgia ScapesAdrian’s first appearance on Acquiring MindsMike Bodkin on Acquiring MindsLogan and Bradley on Acquiring MindsLearn 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 TeamConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on Twitter

Michael Horowitz was looking to buy an independent business when a different path opened up. Today he owns 20 Wingstops. Topics in Michael’s interview:Pros and cons of searching within franchisesWhy Michael was attracted to QSR’s (quick service restaurants)Buying 7 Wingstop locations in OhioWriting an operating agreement for 3 co-ownersDevelopment agreements with franchisesOperating QSR’s during CovidOpening and closing a ghost kitchenDaily operations of owning 20 Wingstop locationsMotivating hourly restaurant employees Michael’s advice for searchers considering QSR’sLinks and how to contact Michael:LinkedInTwitterMichael Horowitz on Franchise EmpiresConnect with A-players who can run your business remotely:More StaffingGet a complementary pre-acquisition HR & PEO review for your target business:Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit Aspen HRConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on Twitter

Kaustubh Deo reflects on his first year as the owner of a tree business versus his former life in NYC private equity. Topics in Kaustubh’s interview:Buying a tree service businessBuyer’s vs seller’s discretionary earningsReflecting on 13 months as a business ownerPossibility for roll-upsBeing an outsider in the tree industryChange managementHis thoughts on holdcosMeasuring success for his businessLife as a business owner vs. life in private equityHis advice for searchersLinks and how to contact Kaustubh:LinkedInkd@bloomatree.com Kaustubh on Think Like an OwnerBlooma Tree ExpertsGet complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:The Acquisition LabConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn Follow Will on Twitter

Adam Duggins had 650 meetings to find his first business in 2013, not expecting he'd buy 3 more over the next 10 years. Topics in Adam Duggins’s interview:Meeting with 650 people (in person!) during his searchHow Adam found his partner & structured their ownershipHow Adam became a holdco without meaning toHow motivating blue collar workers versus white collar careerists is differentWhy Adam prefers working with blue collar versus white collarBuying businesses in overlooked geographiesA bit about each of Adam's 4 businesses: steel fabrication, commercial HVAC, Jet-Hot, boiler servicesWhat to love about businesses in the construction industryStability vs. growthEarly mistakes as an ownerLinks and how to contact Adam:New Page Capital W.C. Rouse Engineered Steel American Industrial ContractorsJet-HotAdam’s email: adoug@newpagecapital.comGet a complementary pre-acquisition HR & PEO review for your target business:Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit Aspen HRConnect with A-players who can run your business remotely:More StaffingConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on Twitter

Bruce Vann returns to update us on his manufacturing business, and a thesis around the roll-up of window blinds stores. Topics in Bruce Vann’s interview:Buying a stage curtain/shades businessProfitability of the businessTheir curtain and shades productsAcquiring a blinds companyIntegrating his businessesBruce’s vision for expansionThe possibilities for search in window treatmentsThe feast or famine nature of the businessThe long sales cycleInvesting in a ribbon weight machineBruce’s advice to searchersLinks and how to contact Bruce:Bvann@luxout.com LuXout Stage CurtainsConnect with A-players who can run your business remotely:More StaffingGet a complementary pre-acquisition HR & PEO review for your target business:Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit AspenHRConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn Follow Will on Twitter

John Ikalowych shares his traumatic journey of going all-in to buy a hail-repair business, then having to shut it down. Topics in John Ikalowych’s interview:John’s background in commercial bankingBuying a car hail repair businessLosing half his staff just months after acquisitionThe disaster that tanked their financesPivoting from B2C to B2BShutting down the businessHow the business failure changed himClosing a business with a personal guaranteeJohn’s advice to searchersThe importance of peer supportLinks and how to contact John:LinkedIn303-704-2461Entrepreneurs’ OrganizationLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:The Acquisition LabGet complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn Follow Will on Twitter

Morli Desai left corporate to scratch her entrepreneurial itch, using an SBA loan to buy an ecommerce biz with $1m SDE. Topics in Morli Desai’s interview:Leaving her corporate job at 40Joining the Acquisition LabPurchasing an ecommerce businessHow to approach brokersTransitioning an ecommerce businessPurchasing an Australian entityMarketing with PPCAssessing risk in ecommerceProprietary vs brokered searchInventory management in ecommerceLinks and how to contact Morli:LinkedIn4,000 weeks by Oliver BurkemanSam Harris’s appQuiet LightMarket Watch by CenturicaJoe Mcaleer of Multifunding, LLCJoel AnkneyAmaira Natural SkincareOverhaul your website with ongoing support & unlimited edits, all for a flat monthly fee:EversiteConnect with A-players who can run your business remotely:More StaffingConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on Twitter

Pawel Kosicki learned about buying small businesses in July. By January, he'd bought one himself with 7 figures of SDE. Topics in Pawel Kosicki’s interview:Pawel’s background in engineeringValuation of a home theater/automation companyClosing on his very first LOIFinancing a deal in CanadaHis philosophy on risk in businessThe seller staying on as an employeeMitigating risk in a project-based businessHis plans to grow the businessProjected growth in the home automation industryAdvice for Canadian searchersReferences and how to contact Pawel:LinkedInpawel@oakvillesightandsound.caSieva Kozinski Twitter threadOakville Sight and SoundGet complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:The Acquisition LabConnect with Acquiring Minds: See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn Follow Will on Twitter

Damon Chlarson takes a job in tech sales, despite having improved the business he bought & surviving a tough year. Topics in Damon’s interview:Damon bought Pacific Insulation Supply, an online wholesalerDifficulties in scaling the insulation business. Overview of sales in the first year Getting a regular W-2 job again New systems he put in place at the business Training his sales teamThe challenges of working from homeHow he runs a business with bipolar disorderFluctuation in demand for home renovations Managing a sales team in the PhilippinesDamon's original appears on Acquiring Minds:Nailing the Trifecta: B2B + Remote + Scalable - Acquiring MindsLinks and how to contact Damon:Pacific Insulation SupplyTwitterLearn 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 TeamConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on Twitter