Inspired Or Acquired

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.

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/

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.

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/

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.

David Ensley, an accomplished orthodontist from Austin, Texas, built Celebrate Dental & Braces into a thriving business generating $1.5M in revenue within three years. He shares insights on the pros and cons of building versus buying orthodontic practices. Discussion includes intriguing valuation ranges from 3x to 15x, the dynamics of partnering in a larger DSO, and the importance of accurate financial reporting. Ensley also sheds light on growth strategies and achieving work-life balance in the demanding field of orthodontics.

Shane Ehrsam bought North Texas Trailers just a few years ago. Since then he's grown revenue to $11.5M, improved the team and tech, and maintained healthy margins. We dig into what the business is worth today and if he would sell soon, capital allocation for inventory vs real estate vs new acquisitions, and and how he thinks about building the best business it can be so it's a sellable asset.North Texas Trailers: https://www.northtexastrailers.com/Shane Ehrsam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-ehrsam/Clint Fiore & Bison Business: https://bisonbusiness.com/Patrick Dichter & Appletree: https://appletreebusiness.com/Walker Deibel & Acquisition Lab: https://acquisitionlab.com/

Robert Mayer, the innovative Founder of Arizona Party Bike, discusses his entrepreneurial journey in creating a pedal-powered party bike phenomenon in the US. He highlights the explosive growth of the business in Arizona, driven by tourism and post-COVID demand. Mayer shares insights on navigating business valuation and the unique challenges of a seasonal model. The conversation also dives into exciting expansion plans, including a new party bike boat concept, showcasing how innovation can enhance the party scene while maintaining a strong online presence.

Hayden Slack, a skilled business owner, transformed his family foundation repair company from $4M to $30M and successfully launched a plumbing business. He discusses the thrilling journey of unexpected growth and the challenges of navigating family dynamics while negotiating business deals. Insights into valuing family businesses, the significance of honest communication, and strategic decisions for scaling are shared. Hayden also delves into how digital presence and a strong performance culture play crucial roles in driving success.

This is a special episode of Inspired Or Acquired to celebrate 10,000 downloads, reflect on learnings from prior episodes, share 2025 goals, and answer listener questions. The shows hosts, Clint Fiore and Patrick Dichter, also give some of their career backstory of how they ended up Mergers & Acquisitions (Clint) and Accounting (Patrick). Clint Fiore & Bison Business: bisonbusiness.comPatrick Dichter & Appletree: appletreebusiness.com