David C Barnett Small Business and Deal Making M&A SMB
David C Barnett
I discuss buying, selling, financing and managing small and medium sized businesses either alone or with guests.
I've started, bought, sold and closed businesses.
Author of three best-selling business books; 'Invest Local: a guide to superior investment returns in your own community,' 'Franchise Warnings: What you really need to know before you buy' and 'How To Sell My Own Business: A guide to selling your own business without paying a broker's commission.' all available as well as 5 other books on Amazon or from www.DavidCBarnett.com
I've started, bought, sold and closed businesses.
Author of three best-selling business books; 'Invest Local: a guide to superior investment returns in your own community,' 'Franchise Warnings: What you really need to know before you buy' and 'How To Sell My Own Business: A guide to selling your own business without paying a broker's commission.' all available as well as 5 other books on Amazon or from www.DavidCBarnett.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 19, 2026 • 47min
Live Credit Card Points for biz owners with Guest Ross Alcorn
Max out those FREE vacations with your business purchases- Guest Ross Alcorn
New Livestream guest- Ross Alcorn
I’m happy to have Ross join me on a live broadcast.
He’s been helping small business owners game the credit card system for years.
He’s literally built a business out of coaching owners and training their A/P staff on this.
Tune in and as we’ll be discussing how to max out credit card points and other benefits with your business spending.
This is a ‘must see event’ for anyone who owns or will own a small business.
Find Ross online here: https://itineraryboss.com/
Special Xero offer: Get 90% off for 6 months using this link: https://referrals.xero.com/DavidCBarnett_xero . Terms & Conditions apply.*
See the video of my Xero story here: https://youtu.be/LfaGUfwStqo
Sign up for David's email list at https://www.DavidCBarnettList.com
Youtube music licensing code: 5PJWQOE5ZZHTQSRY

Jan 14, 2026 • 30min
Migrating my International Consulting Business to Xero
***New Video Alert!
I take you behind the curtain of how I stayed on top of the numbers in my business and why my old system finally hit a breaking point.
If you’re dealing with manual reconciliations, multi-currency headaches, or duplicated invoicing work, you’ll relate to this.
I’ll show you what wasn’t working, what I wanted instead, and why I’m confident the move to a cloud system was the right call.
Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/LfaGUfwStqo
Cheers
See you over on YouTube
David C Barnett
#SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessBuying #BusinessBroker #BusinessBuyerAdvantage #DavidCBarnett

Jan 12, 2026 • 44min
Live - Online Entrepreneurs- Get your cash faster! with Ariel Blum
Online Entrepreneurs- Get your cash faster!
New Livestream guest- Ariel Blum
I’m happy to have Ariel join me on a live broadcast.
He’s got tons of experience in the payment processing industry.
Tune in to learn how this industry works and how Ariel’s company is disrupting things.
Here’s the AI summary of our pre-call…
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Ariel Blum discussed his company's innovative service with David Barnett, which provides small businesses with immediate liquidity by accelerating their cash flow. The service, which operates off interchange fees and SAS fees for platform partners, allows businesses to access up to 70% of their sales proceeds instantly, without incurring interest or fees. Ariel highlighted success stories from e-commerce and brick-and-mortar businesses, emphasizing the service's role in procurement and ad spend. Despite minor fraud issues, the company is well-capitalized and aims to capture market share from traditional financing methods like factoring and merchant cash advances. Ariel also shared his personal experiences living in Israel during turbulent times.
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This is a ‘must see event’ for people who sell online.
I’m having him on as part of my personal quest to help people avoid getting into trouble with merchant cash advance purveyors.
Find Ariel on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielblum/
Never miss another livestream. Join my email list at https://www.DavidCBarnettList.com

Jan 7, 2026 • 32min
Would You Buy These Tiny Businesses Real Reddit Posts Reviewed by David C Barnett
***New Video Alert!
It’s the holidays, things are quiet, and I thought I’d dig into what real people are posting on Reddit about small business deals.
From landscaping to IT consulting, I’m reviewing what’s worth buying, what’s not, and how to tell if you’re just “buying a job.”
If you want to learn how to analyze real-world small business deals, this video is for you.
Check them out right here: https://youtu.be/fPpKoW3lXxA
Cheers
See you over on YouTube
David C Barnett
#SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessBuying #BusinessBroker #BusinessBuyerAdvantage #DavidCBarnett
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YouTube Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:30 Why look at small business deals online
02:25 Landscaping business for sale: good buy or just buying a job?
08:40 Breaking down the numbers: profit, SDE & equipment costs
14:55 Second post: employee offered to buy boss’s remodeling business
20:10 When it’s not really a business—just a job
24:30 How to structure a fair transition with your boss
28:50 Third post: IT consultant trying to sell a one-person firm
34:05 The problem with “businesses” that are really solo practices
38:20 Final thoughts – When small businesses are worth it (and when they’re not)
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- Join David's email list so you never miss any new videos or important information or insights, RECEIVE 7 FREE GIFTS!!- https://www.DavidCBarnettList.com
****
Do Business with David using these incredible internet links...
- David's Blog where you can find hundreds of free videos and articles, https://www.DavidCBarnett.com
- Book a call with David and let him help you with your project, https://www.CallDavidBarnett.com
- Learn how to buy a successful and profitable business in a risk-controlled way https://www.BusinessBuyerAdvantage.com
- Get help selling your business, https://www.HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com
- Get better organized in your business, https://www.EasySmallBizSystems.com
- Learn to make better cash flow forecasts and write incredibly effective business plans from scratch!, https://www.BizPlanSchool.com
- Learn to build an equity asset with insurance! visit https://www.NewBankingSolution.com
-Did you sign up for an expensive Merchant Cash Advance for your business and now struggle to make the payments? Find out how you can negotiate your way out at https://www.EndMyMCA.com

Dec 31, 2025 • 32min
David's 2026 Small Business Deal Predictions
New Video Alert!
As 2026 begins, I’m sharing my thoughts on what’s ahead for small business buyers, sellers, and dealmakers.
Interest rates, financing, valuations, and buyer behavior are all shifting, and the next year could look very different from what we’ve seen recently.
In this episode, I talk about where lending might go, why seller financing could become more common, and how deal structures and valuations may adjust to a tougher economy.
I’ll also explain why stronger balance sheets and smarter due diligence will matter more than ever.
If you plan to buy, sell, or grow a business in 2026, this video will help you understand what’s coming and how to prepare for it.
Learn more at https://www.BusinessBuyerAdvantage.com
Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/bK16gfxVw8g
Cheers
David C Barnett
#SmallBusiness #BusinessBuying #Entrepreneurship #BusinessValuation #SellerFinancing #BusinessForecast #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessBuyerAdvantage #ExitPlanning #DavidCBarnett
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YouTube Chapters
00:00 – Intro
00:40 – Setting the Stage: Economic Outlook
02:30 – Prediction #1: SBA and Bank Financing Tighten
06:30 – Prediction #2: Seller Financing on the Rise
10:00 – Prediction #3: Multiples and Valuations Deflate
14:00 – Prediction #4: Who the 2026 Buyers Will Be
18:00 – Prediction #5: The “Easy Business” Myth Breaks
21:30 – Prediction #6: Distressed Sales & Cheap Start-Ups
26:00 – Prediction #7: More Deals Fail in Due Diligence
31:00 – Prediction #8: The Balance Sheet Matters Again
34:00 – Final Thoughts & How to Prepare for 2026
****
- Join David's email list so you never miss any new videos or important information or insights, RECEIVE 7 FREE GIFTS!!- https://www.DavidCBarnettList.com
****
Do Business with David using these incredible internet links...
- David's Blog where you can find hundreds of free videos and articles, https://www.DavidCBarnett.com
- Book a call with David and let him help you with your project, https://www.CallDavidBarnett.com
- Learn how to buy a successful and profitable business in a risk-controlled way https://www.BusinessBuyerAdvantage.com
- Get help selling your business, https://www.HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com
- Get better organized in your business, https://www.EasySmallBizSystems.com
- Learn to make better cash flow forecasts and write incredibly effective business plans from scratch!, https://www.BizPlanSchool.com
- Learn to build an equity asset with insurance! visit https://www.NewBankingSolution.com
-Did you sign up for an expensive Merchant Cash Advance for your business and now struggle to make the payments? Find out how you can negotiate your way out at https://www.EndMyMCA.com

Dec 24, 2025 • 2h 23min
2025 XMAS Eve Special
It’s that time of year again!
I’m back on the airwaves for my 6th Annual Christmas Eve Special!
This year, Santa’s squad is loading up with fun, festive small-business surprises—and they’re ready to say hello!
With my Special Guests!
Mike Finger- Exit readiness coach and master of the ExitOasis.com blog site. https://exitoasis.com/
Rocky Lalvani- Fractional CFO to growing businesses everywhere and host of the Profit Answer Man podcast. https://profitcomesfirst.com/podcasts/
Loren Feldman- Renowned small business journalist and host of the 21 Hats Podcast. https://21hats.com/podcasts/
Marc Mawhinney- Tarzan of the Coaching Jungle Facebook group and host of the Natural Born Coaches podcast. https://www.naturalborncoaches.com/
Join my email list at https://www.DavidCBarnettList.com
Business Buyer Advantage: https://www.BusinessBuyerAdvantage.com
Exit Ready https://www.HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com
Austin, TX Jan 16- https://www.BusinessBuyerBoardroom.com
Cheers

Dec 17, 2025 • 34min
Renovo Rollup-Blowup- 7 Questions to Ask When Competing with Private Equity
Magic of a roll-up strategy: https://youtu.be/i_4_shRzEsQ
New Video Alert!
Ever been outbid when trying to buy a business?
Here’s the thing: sometimes losing is actually winning.
This week, I unpack the collapse of Renovo Home Partners, a private equity-backed roll-up that went bankrupt with hundreds of millions in debt and almost no assets left.
I’ll walk through what went wrong, why leverage kills good deals, and the 7 questions you should ask anytime you’re up against big-money buyers.
If you’ve ever wondered how to compete with private equity without overpaying, you’ll want to watch this one.
Helping you buy, grow, and exit small businesses — the smart way.
Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/KnAL7xSc1vA
#BusinessValuation #SmallBusiness #SellMyBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessExit #BusinessValue #BusinessBuyerAdvantage #DavidCBarnett
****
YouTube Chapters
00:00 – Intro
00:45 – The Renovo Home Partners Collapse
02:00 – What a Roll-Up Strategy Really Is
04:00 – How Private Equity Builds (and Breaks) Deals
06:30 – What Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Tells Us
09:00 – Real Human Impact: Customers & Employees
11:00 – Why Roll-Ups Often Fail
13:30 – The Role of Leverage and Rising Interest Rates
15:00 – What Went Wrong at Renovo
17:00 – Why Being Outbid Isn’t Losing
18:30 – The Danger of No Personal Guarantees
20:30 – The “Brittle Machine” Problem
22:00 – My 7 Questions to Spot Risky Overbids
29:30 – How Smart Buyers Avoid These Traps
31:00 – When You Lose a Deal, You Might Be Winning
33:00 – Learn to Buy a Business the Right Way
****
- Join David's email list so you never miss any new videos or important information or insights, RECEIVE 7 FREE GIFTS!!- https://www.DavidCBarnettList.com
****
Do Business with David using these incredible internet links...
- David's Blog where you can find hundreds of free videos and articles, https://www.DavidCBarnett.com
- Book a call with David and let him help you with your project, https://www.CallDavidBarnett.com
- Learn how to buy a successful and profitable business in a risk-controlled way https://www.BusinessBuyerAdvantage.com
- Get help selling your business, https://www.HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com
- Get better organized in your business, https://www.EasySmallBizSystems.com
- Learn to make better cash flow forecasts and write incredibly effective business plans from scratch!, https://www.BizPlanSchool.com
- Learn to build an equity asset with insurance! visit https://www.NewBankingSolution.com
-Did you sign up for an expensive Merchant Cash Advance for your business and now struggle to make the payments? Find out how you can negotiate your way out at https://www.EndMyMCA.com

Dec 15, 2025 • 43min
PREMIERE Casey Berman Your Unique Genius
Finding your Unique Genius for acquisition or career change
New Interview guest- Casey Berman
I’m happy to have Casey join me for a one-on-one interview!
He has turned his back on the law and made a business out of helping others find their passion and unique genius to find a better calling.
Tune in and as we’ll be discussing the concept of Unique Genius as it applies to small business deals and operations.
This is a ‘must see event’ for anyone who is making a change in life or wants to be in business for themselves.
Set yourself a reminder on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/dPPGjaeV47U
It will be going live Monday December 15, 2025 at 1PM Atlantic Time and 12 Noon Eastern Time
See you there!
David C Barnett
Find Casey on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseybermansf/
https://go.leavelawbehind.com/home
https://bermancap.com/
****
- Join David's email list so you never miss any new videos or important information or insights, RECEIVE 7 FREE GIFTS!!- https://www.DavidCBarnettList.com
****
Do Business with David using these incredible internet links...
- David's Blog where you can find hundreds of free videos and articles, https://www.DavidCBarnett.com
- Book a call with David and let him help you with your project, https://www.CallDavidBarnett.com
- Learn how to buy a successful and profitable business in a risk-controlled way https://www.BusinessBuyerAdvantage.com
- Get help selling your business, https://www.HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com
- Get better organized in your business, https://www.EasySmallBizSystems.com
- Learn to make better cash flow forecasts and write incredibly effective business plans from scratch!, https://www.BizPlanSchool.com
- Learn to build an equity asset with insurance! visit https://www.NewBankingSolution.com
-Did you sign up for an expensive Merchant Cash Advance for your business and now struggle to make the payments? Find out how you can negotiate your way out at https://www.EndMyMCA.com

Dec 10, 2025 • 31min
How Much Is My Business Worth? Understanding Real Business Valuation
#BusinessValuation #BusinessExit #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessBuying #SellMyBusiness #DavidCBarnett #BusinessOwner #ExitPlanning #BusinessWorth
See our video on MPSP valuations and learn more about our services to help sell your business at https://www.HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com
Find the Defenders of Business Value here: https://www.defendersofbusinessvalue.com/ep-133-the-story-that-sells-your-business-with-charlie-stanton/
***
Today, I want to tackle one of the biggest questions every business owner faces: How do you put a price on a business?
Whether you’re thinking about selling in a few years or just want to plan for the future, understanding how valuations work — and which type you actually need — can make a huge difference.
Learn more about business pricing, exit prep, and MPSP reports: HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com
Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/6AFQjkl-Mvs
#BusinessValuation #SmallBusiness #SellMyBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessExit #BusinessValue #BusinessBuyerAdvantage #DavidCBarnett
****
YouTube Chapters
00:00 – Intro
00:40 – Why Business Valuation Matters for Owners
02:00 – The Podcast That Sparked This Conversation
03:30 – Different Lenses = Different Prices
05:00 – Buyer Insight vs. Seller Expectations
07:30 – The “Most Probable Selling Price” (MPSP) Explained
09:00 – Why You Can’t Just Average Comparable Sales
11:15 – Understanding Valuation Databases and Multiples
13:00 – Common Misconceptions About Valuation Formulas
15:00 – How Certified Appraisers, CPAs, and Brokers Differ
17:45 – Real Examples: $1.6M vs. $571K Valuations
21:00 – How Bad Assumptions Skew Business Value
23:00 – The Dangers of Discounted Cash Flow for Small Firms
25:30 – Why Buyers Don’t Pay for Your “Future Potential”
27:45 – When and Why to Get an MPSP Report
30:00 – How a Small Margin Change Can Boost Business Value
32:00 – The Real Reward of Business Ownership
34:00 – Tax Tip: Deduct Your Valuation This Year
35:00 – Wrap-Up and Next Steps
****
- Join David's email list so you never miss any new videos or important information or insights, RECEIVE 7 FREE GIFTS!!- https://www.DavidCBarnettList.com
****
Do Business with David using these incredible internet links...
- David's Blog where you can find hundreds of free videos and articles, https://www.DavidCBarnett.com
- Book a call with David and let him help you with your project, https://www.CallDavidBarnett.com
- Learn how to buy a successful and profitable business in a risk-controlled way https://www.BusinessBuyerAdvantage.com
- Get help selling your business, https://www.HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com
- Get better organized in your business, https://www.EasySmallBizSystems.com
- Learn to make better cash flow forecasts and write incredibly effective business plans from scratch!, https://www.BizPlanSchool.com
- Learn to build an equity asset with insurance! visit https://www.NewBankingSolution.com
-Did you sign up for an expensive Merchant Cash Advance for your business and now struggle to make the payments? Find out how you can negotiate your way out at https://www.EndMyMCA.com

Dec 8, 2025 • 34min
Lynn Smargis Using a Book as a marketing tool Edited
Find Lynn online at https://www.writeforyou.me/
or on linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnsmargis/
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Everyone needs a book for their business
New Interview guest- Linda Smargis
I’m happy to have Linda join me for a one-on-one interview!
Linda has been a ghostwriter for years helping people and businesses everywhere gain credibility by becoming an author.
Tune in and as we’ll be discussing what kinds of businesses can benefit from the marketing heft that can come from being an author.
This is a ‘must see event’ for business owners who are looking for an edge over the competition.
I even once spoke to someone who used a book in their search efforts!
Set yourself a reminder on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/f984MII_emU
Premiere will be going live Monday December 08, 2025
See you there!
David C Barnett
****
- Join David's email list so you never miss any new videos or important information or insights, RECEIVE 7 FREE GIFTS!!- https://www.DavidCBarnettList.com
****
Do Business with David using these incredible internet links...
- David's Blog where you can find hundreds of free videos and articles, https://www.DavidCBarnett.com
- Book a call with David and let him help you with your project, https://www.CallDavidBarnett.com
- Learn how to buy a successful and profitable business in a risk-controlled way https://www.BusinessBuyerAdvantage.com
- Get help selling your business, https://www.HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com
- Get better organized in your business, https://www.EasySmallBizSystems.com
- Learn to make better cash flow forecasts and write incredibly effective business plans from scratch!, https://www.BizPlanSchool.com
- Learn to build an equity asset with insurance! visit https://www.NewBankingSolution.com
-Did you sign up for an expensive Merchant Cash Advance for your business and now struggle to make the payments? Find out how you can negotiate your way out at https://www.EndMyMCA.com


