

Inspired Or Acquired
Clint Fiore, Patrick Dichter
The show where business owners get a valuation and share if they would sell or want to hold on. Real conversations, real numbers, real life.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 22, 2025 • 46min
Kyle Ewing - Hire a CEO Or Sell a $12M business?
Kyle Ewing is the founder of Terraslate, which manufactures and prints waterproof, and rip-proof paper designed to replace traditional lamination. Kyle shares how he scaled the business to over $10M in annual revenue while maintaining 100% ownership and fending off overseas knockoffs. We discuss the business valuation and if he would sell or not. Kyle Ewing on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleewing/Ideas To Empires newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/ideas-to-empires-7295591098423357440/Eversite - show sponsor & digital marketing: Eversite.com/inspiredClint Fiore & Dealonmy: https://www.dealonomy.com/Patrick Dichter & Appletree: https://appletreebusiness.com/

May 13, 2025 • 46min
Brett McManus - Building $1M Equity In 1 Year With Apres Inn
Brett McManus, owner of a motel and hotel in Killington, Vermont, shares his inspiring journey of renovating a dilapidated motel with his wife, Casey. They dive into the highs and lows of their renovations, the impressive value increase in just one year, and their ambitions to acquire another hotel. Brett discusses their tech startup, aimed at supporting independent hospitality businesses, while exploring the benefits of using SBA loans to finance such ventures. Their story offers a fresh, behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and triumphs of the hospitality industry.

Apr 23, 2025 • 44min
Cassi Niekamp - Growing A Fencing Business 5x
Cassi Niekamp, owner of Bowden Fence Company in Columbus, Ohio, is a former corporate sales professional who transformed her company after acquiring it four years ago. She shares her journey of growing revenue from $700,000 to $3.3 million and the stress that comes with rapid growth. Cassi discusses the challenges of balancing profitability with expansion, the complexities of navigating debt and asset appreciation, and the importance of a strong team in transitioning to commercial markets. Her passion for fencing and dedication to improving business structure shines through as she looks towards the future.

Apr 16, 2025 • 43min
Daniel Magazu - Not Selling Before $5M Profit
Daniel Magazu's first entrepreneurial venture was a landscaping and mulch business he started during college. With the mulch business he cracked the code on Facebook group marketing, and has since gone all in on scaling his marketing agency business, Ride The Wave. It's growing very quickly and has 96% retention rate. We discuss what the mulch business might sell for today, what the agency might sell for, and Daniel's long term goals. Daniel Magazu on X: https://x.com/DannyMagazuRide The Wave: https://ridethewave.info/Clint Fiore & Dealonomy: https://dealonomy.com/Patrick Dichter & Appletree: https://appletreebusiness.com/

Apr 2, 2025 • 48min
Christian Kobes - Fast Growth Employee Benefits Firm
Christian Kobes is quickly scaling 19:21 Consultants Co, an independent health insurance and employee benefits firm. They've found their niche providing better, modern service to clients with +50 employees. Christian expects revenue to nearly double again this year. We discuss the M&A landscape in health insurance, what their company might be worth today, and if they'd sell soon. Christian Kobes on X: https://x.com/christian_kobes19:21 Consultants: https://www.1921consultants.com/Clint Fiore & Dealonomy: https://www.dealonomy.com/Patrick Dichter & Appletree: https://appletreebusiness.com/

Mar 26, 2025 • 48min
Furkan Yuce - Inspiring Story of Scaling Elevation Flooring
Furkan Yuce, founder of Elevation Flooring, shares his inspiring journey from a modest beginning to leading a company projected to hit $10-12M in 2025. He discusses unique strategies that fueled this growth, like developing proprietary software and managing a back office in Turkey. Furkan reflects on the challenges of scaling during economic shifts, the importance of financial management, and what it might take for him to consider selling the business. His insights on entrepreneurship and navigating the construction industry are both enlightening and motivational.

Mar 19, 2025 • 41min
Tim Ryan - 4 Pool Business Exits & Building SaaS
Tim Ryan has successfully built a pool cleaning business from scratch and sold it - 4 times over! Why does he keep doing it? He's been building a software for pool cleaning companies and is committed a scalable SaaS venture. We discuss what he learned with each exit, the sale multiples, and what his software company, Symbri, might be worth today.Tim Ryan on X: https://x.com/KenziesPoolBoySymbri: https://symbri.com/Clint Fiore & Dealonomy: https://www.dealonomy.com/Patrick Dichter & Appletree: https://appletreebusiness.com/

Mar 7, 2025 • 44min
Brendan Dawson - What buyers might pay the most for Accident Plan?
Brendan Dawson, founder of Accident Plan, shares insights from his innovative software designed for trucking companies to manage accident risks. He dives into the valuation complexities of his business, debating whether a strategic partner or a cash flow buyer would meet his price. The discussion highlights the importance of modern risk management in trucking and the potential of merging with telematics systems. Dawson also reflects on the emotional aspects of business valuation and the strategic decisions involved in growth and partnerships.

Feb 27, 2025 • 46min
David Barlev - Would you sell Goji Labs for $20M or hold on?
David Barlev started Goji Labs with his business partner 10 years ago. Goji Labs is a digital product agency building custom software, apps, and tools to drive business outcomes. They're grown steadily to $6.5M revenue and +35% EBITDA margins. We discuss what Goji might be worth today, if they'd sell the business or not, and what a deal structure could look like. David Barlev on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbarlev/ Goji Labs: https://gojilabs.com/Clint Fiore & Bison Business: https://bisonbusiness.com/Patrick Dichter & Appletree: https://appletreebusiness.com/

Feb 20, 2025 • 53min
Matt Glaros - Health Insurance Exit & Buying Print Shops
Matt Glaros, who transformed his family health insurance brokerage and sold it to Hub International, shares his unique journey into the print industry. He discusses the strategic decisions behind selling at an impressive multiple and reflects on the lessons learned from the transition. Glaros highlights the advantages of acquiring print shops, likening their operations to insurance. He emphasizes the importance of financial understanding and relationships in navigating this new business landscape.


