Invest and Scale

Welcome to Episode 34 of the "Invest & Scale" podcast, where we dive into the dynamic world of growing businesses with our insightful guest, Brendan Hsu. Brendan, an entrepreneur with a portfolio of seven companies, joins our host, Gabriel, to unravel the strategies behind scaling successful businesses. Throughout this episode, Brendan shares his journey of building Aerial Canvas, a real estate media company, from the ground up to a $7 million powerhouse. He discusses the pivotal roles of sales, team building, systems, and process optimization in driving growth. Brendan further delves into how he has ventured into mentorship, helping over 70 agency owners double their businesses by offering them a blueprint for success.Listen in as Brendan reveals the art of leveraging multiple businesses, fostering partnerships, and investing mindfully to create a lucrative and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem. Together, Gabriel and Brendan explore the nuances of business operations, the importance of equity agreements, and the decision-making process behind investing capital wisely. Don't miss this captivating conversation that promises to equip you with actionable insights for scaling your business to new heights.00:00 Scaling Aerial Canvas to Success06:31 Premium Real Estate Media Solutions13:32 "Maximizing Impact Through Mentorship"19:00 Leveraging for Outsized Portfolio Growth25:48 "Negotiate Your Worth: Self-Advocacy"28:02 Equity Misunderstandings in Business Negotiations32:45 Streamlining Workflows with Virtual Staffing38:24 Real Estate Market Crash Survivor47:58 Understanding Equity and Perspective51:36 Equity Vesting and Deal Structuring58:48 Modernizing Small Service Businesses01:01:56 Investing with Personal Due Diligence- Discussion on the three pillars of growth: sales, team, systems, and processes.- Overview of consulting services and other business topics covered.- Description of Aerial Canvas, a real estate media company, and its growth from $15k a month to scaling it to $7 million a year.- Discussion on mentorship and consulting company for agency owners.- Investment in various tangential businesses including virtual staffing, video editing, and software development.- Explanation of real estate media production as a tech-enabled service rather than a marketplace.- Insight into employment structures and company benefits.- Comparison of the company's high-quality service approach versus other local, less specialized solutions.- Discussion on scaling, hiring practices, and market adaptation.- Exploration of personal and business partner dynamics.- Brendan's passion for startups and business innovation.- Challenges of working with employees versus entrepreneurs.- Investment in business partners and the importance of mutual value sharing in partnerships.- Examples of creative deals and failures.- Selling and buying businesses as part of Brendan's ventures.- Overview of equity dynamics, rev share, and phantom stock.- Discussion on the challenges and best practices in partner negotiations.- Importance of clear deliverables, vesting, and exit clauses in equity deals.- Decision-making process regarding deploying capital into various ventures.- Insights on structuring deals, leveraging experience, and learning from mentorship.- Advice for newcomers to buying, scaling, or selling businesses.- Importance of learning from experienced professionals.- Reflection on personal experiences and future investment considerations.Resources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanhsu/https://www.aerialcanvas.com/

Welcome to a new episode of Invest & Scale! Today, Gabriel and Jacobo delve into an exciting journey of entrepreneurship, investment, and real estate. They discuss Jacobo's transition from starting an E-commerce business in college to acquiring and scaling Airbnbs, and now venturing into the boutique hotel space. This episode highlights the progression from running product-based businesses to focusing on real estate with underlying assets, providing insights into acquiring cash-flowing properties and leveraging funds for expansion. Tune in as they explore the intricacies of real estate investment, the challenge of navigating through different business models, and the significant role of mindset in achieving business success. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or an experienced investor, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and inspiration for your next big move.00:00 "Leveraging Real Estate for Business Acquisitions"03:11 Digital Marketing Skills Applied to Airbnb07:25 The Lasting Value of Real Estate Investments12:34 Hotel Valuation Through Cap Rate and Appreciation14:58 Shifting Focus: From Airbnb to Business Acquisitions17:50 Ideal Range for Hotel Acquisitions20:31 "Role of Real Estate in Business Acquisition"23:36 Challenges in Analyzing Unsold Properties28:15 Real Estate Investment Financing Strategy30:00 Prolonged Business Execution and Exit Strategy33:16 Strategic Investment and Risk Management36:40 Strategies for Financing Unreported Sales42:24 Real Estate Investment Strategy Overview45:08 Investing in Passion-Driven Business Ventures47:52 Cultivating Mindset for Business Success- Journey from starting an E-commerce brand from scratch.- Risk involved in starting a new business.- Progressing to acquiring businesses with underlying real estate assets.- Leveraging funds and raising capital.- Challenges faced and scale achieved.- Exit strategy from the E-commerce business.- Leveraging skills from E-commerce in the Airbnb marketplace.- Importance of having real estate as an underlying asset.- Challenges of product-based businesses vs. real - estate.- Building a portfolio and scaling the business.- Differences in strategy: starting from scratch vs. leveraging funds.- Selling the Airbnb portfolio to a private equity fund.- Regulations affecting Airbnb and advantages of boutique hotels.- Boutique hotels as commercial Airbnbs with different valuation methods.- Strategy to force appreciation through operations.- Perceptions about real estate being slow and for older people.- Differences between investing in real estate and classic business acquisitions.- Market and off-market strategies.- Dealing with brokers and establishing relationships for deal flows.- Challenges and competition in finding suitable properties.- Analyzing and structuring deals for boutique hotels.- Financing strategies: loans, equity, and bridge loans.- Overcoming risks and ensuring assets cover debts.- Focus on experiential stays and amenities.- Creating unique and attractive projects.- Collaborating with entrepreneurs and using real estate for tax benefits.- Offering diversification and passive income for investors.- Importance of mindset in business.- Visualization and belief in long-term goals.- Podcasts, books, and continual learning.- Importance of networking and personal growth.Resources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobo-hernandez-747299128/https://freedomvestcapital.com/

In today's episode, Gabriel sits down with entrepreneur and consultant Jason to delve into the rapidly evolving business landscape. They'll explore the pivotal roles of documenters, automators, advisors, and migrators in modernizing companies, while emphasizing the importance of leaning on service providers during high-leverage activities like acquisitions. Jason shares his journey from software entrepreneur to fractional integration consultant, discussing the formation of his company "Build Your Org" and its mission to augment the Entrepreneur's Operating System (EOS) with automation and AI. Together, they will unpack creative deal structuring, the shifting entrepreneurial mindset towards autonomy, and how to balance vision and integration within businesses. Tune in for an insightful conversation packed with actionable strategies and inspiring stories for every modern business owner and acquisition entrepreneur out there. Let's dive in! 00:00 Serial entrepreneur starts successful enterprise, sells big. 12:41 Learn from mistakes, focus on small acquisitions. 20:18 Started consulting business, gained confidence in acquisitions. 22:30 "Rocket Fuel" by Winters and Wickman describes visionary-integrator relationships. 31:41 Partnering to build software for business automations. 35:53 Best buyers are those already in business. 38:43 Business relationship in Palm Springs leads to success. 43:23 Comparing $3 million business to $500K. 50:05 Shift from growth to services-led profitability in markets. 57:28 Entrepreneurs seeking roles beyond textbook options. 01:05:02 Camera aids pattern matching for business success. 01:06:41 Adapting tech, improving processes, and facilitating deals. 01:12:13 Business owners should rely on experienced practitioners. - Importance of modernization in business - Key roles: documenter, automator, advisor, migrator - Abstracting core processes in 90 days - Collaboration with automation team - Lead generation and deal facilitation - Partnerships with diligence firms and banks - Post-acquisition integration - Adapting systems for smooth transitions - Importance of executing acquisitions - High-leverage activity requiring support from service providers - Strategy of overpaying for aligned long-term vision - Value of mentors and service providers - Founding "Build Your Works" for post-close migration - Jason's emphasis on vision and support - Jason's struggles and open invitation for connections - Discovery of "Build the Process" website - Collaboration with Adam Schweickart  - Creation of Build Your through a paper swap - Acquisition for EOS integration and coaching - Applying principles to various industries - Business growth experience - First consulting inspired by "Rocket Fuel" - Consulting focus on equity and profit shares - Alternative acquisition models without cash - Hypothetical business acquisition scenarios - Importance of deal structuring - Need for adaptation in EOS - Introduction of facilitator role - Supported by books like "Rocket Fuel" - Move towards non-W2 and K1 income  - Preference for services-led growth - Different structures for income and autonomy - Personal transition experiences - Learning from business acquisition mistakes - Technical aspects and format discussion - Jason's software and entrepreneurship background

Welcome back to another episode of Invest & Scale! I'm your host, Gabriel Murillo, and today we're diving into an inspiring conversation with Alex Pikovsky. With a career spanning investment banking, venture capital, private equity, and entrepreneurship, Alex brings a wealth of experience and adaptability to the table. From starting in investment banking focused on natural resources to investing in early-stage tech and scaling businesses in industries like cannabis, psychedelics, and SEO, Alex's journey is nothing short of remarkable. In this episode, he shares invaluable lessons on navigating challenges in family offices, scaling a scented candle brand, and transitioning to funding small business buyers. Grab your headphones and get ready for actionable insights and inspiring stories from Alex Pikovsky on Invest & Scale! 00:00 Built CBD marketplace, pivoted to agency and acquisitions. 08:18 Top VC firms outperform due to high demand.10:08 VCs help more if you're already succeeding. 14:57 Family offices are difficult; consider angel investors. 19:56 Focused on wellness, sourced brands via databases. 24:55 Raised $4M, cannabis promise unfulfilled, maintaining investor trust. 29:10 SBA program unique; venture debt risky alternative. 32:21 Inventory mismanagement hindered growth; strategy improvements boosted success. 37:24 Focus on profitability and omnichannel expansion. 42:21 E-commerce acquisitions are challenging, focus essential. 45:30 Embrace lifelong learning, adapt to new industries. 49:03 Embrace industry evolution; avoid rigid identity labels. - Began in investment banking in 2010 with a focus on natural resources, power, and chemicals. - Obtained a master's degree in oil, gas, and mining at Imperial College London. - Transitioned to venture capital, investing in early-stage technology. - Gained experience across various industries including cannabis, psychedelics, Amazon, and SEO. - Emphasizes the significance of transitioning between industries. - Advocates for continuous learning using the 10,000-hour rule as a metaphor. - Launched the podcast SaaS Minds to explore software-as-a-service (SaaS) businesses. - Characteristics of businesses suitable for private equity. - Use of leverage for acquisition to enhance returns. - Challenges faced in private equity including high valuations and market conditions. - Experience with acquisition strategies, especially in the wellness sector. - Sale of a large German fertilizer business. - Managing pressure due to debt and acquisition strategies. - Discussion on private equity as an asset class, especially in declining valuation periods. - Focus on the wellness sector due to CBD marketplace background. - Methods for sourcing deals, including Amazon scraping, databases, and broker outreach. - Acquisition of a smaller scented candle brand and post-acquisition challenges. - Enhancements in marketing efficiency and product development. - Geographic expansion to the UK, Germany, Canada, and Mexico. - Future opportunities including agency growth, brand sales, and exploring new markets. - Differences between VC and private equity. - Average returns for VC funds and challenges in raising VC. - Networking importance and value creation in VC. - Case studies like Rand Fishkin's Moz for illustrating risks in VC funding. - Raising $4 million and managing investor relations. - Dynamics in the cannabis market following legalization expectations. - Funding mechanisms including venture debt funds and managing high-profit margin acquisitions. - Importance of expanding omnichannel retail and D2C presence. - Discussions about selling the agency for further growth or raising more capital. - Reflections on growing from zero to one million vs. one to ten million in revenue. - Emphasis on singular focus and strategic planning for growth. - Insight into industry trends, operational strategies, and scaling businesses.

Welcome to the I&S podcast, where we delve into the world of business acquisitions, entrepreneurship, and personal development.  In this episode our host Gabriel Murillo engages in a conversation with Chirag Shah, owner of Sit Means Sit, a dog training franchise in Austin. Chirag shares insights into his business acquisition journey, the emotional and practical challenges of staff management, and his strategies for scaling and improving his business's sales processes. From the highs of increasing his close rate to the lows of dealing with staffing challenges, Chirag's experiences provide valuable lessons for any business owner or entrepreneur. Tune in as we explore the rollercoaster ride of owning and growing a business, and the personal growth that comes with it. 00:00 Collar used for attention in dog training. 05:52 Affordable and well-functioning business met expectations. 09:04 Reviewed numerous deals, submitted LOIs, contracted 2. 11:13 Discussing emotional and financial factors in business purchasing. 15:46 Tenant turnover leads to lower income risk. 19:22 Focused on sales, growing company's revenue. Limited expansion. 22:15 Progressing in sales, aiming to scale further. 26:43 Glad you're sharing real, conversational thoughts. 27:35 Dealing with post-deal matters in business. 30:46 Doubts about leadership and decision-making still linger. 36:08 Learn the lesson, take care of sales. 39:15 Reading only when necessary; tired of self-help. 43:17 Training dogs to improve life and relationships. 47:01 Benefits of sharing with a business coach. 49:52 Embrace challenges as opportunities for personal growth. 51:15 Focused on hiring more trainers and consultants. Primary Topic: Chirag's Business Acquisition and Operations - Acquisition of Sit Means Sit franchise in Austin   - Interaction with brokers and VA   - Costs and seller note   - Personal reasons for the acquisition - Business performance and challenges   - Sales improvement and focus on scaling   - Staffing issues and team changes   - Emotional and practical challenges of staff turnover - Impact of team changes on leadership   - Chirag's resolve and determination - Chirag's management and personal routine   - Morning routine, exercise, and meditation   - Emotional fulfillment and impact on sales   - Resolving to move out of sales Business Growth and Sales Strategies - Fulfillment from dog training and business performance   - Increase in reviews and reputation   - Impact of dog training on people's lives   - Analogies of training a business and acquiring leadership - Seeking business coaching and mentorship   - Different coaching types and strategic planning   - Experiences and benefits of coaching Personal and Professional Development - Self-growth and leadership   - Importance of challenging experiences   - Plans to hire and grow the business   - Rapid changes and personal development - Property management and business revenue   - Active involvement in real estate   - Strategies for business growth and efficiency - Deal acquisition process and emotional challenges   - Timeframe and motivation for the acquisition   - Emotional challenges and comparison with property investment

In this episode of I&S, our host Gabriel Murillo sits down with guest Shane, the new owner of North Texas Trailers, a multi-location trailer dealership. Shane shares the inspiring story of his journey from corporate America to acquisition entrepreneurship, discussing the challenges, fears, and motivations that led him to take the leap into business ownership. From navigating the complexities of dealership and manufacturer relationships to his ambitious plans for business expansion, Shane's insights into sales processes, employee experience, and potential acquisitions provide a compelling narrative of growth, determination, and the pursuit of success. Join us as we delve into Shane's fascinating entrepreneurial odyssey and gain valuable perspectives on the trials and triumphs of small business ownership. 00:00 High stress and busy job leads to entrepreneurship. 09:51 Challenges of career loyalty and relationship changes. 13:32 Overcoming job loss, seeking entrepreneurial opportunities. 16:24 Father encourages using 401k, take big risk. 20:08 North Texas Trailers: a trailer dealership summary. 24:41 Car dealerships have manufacturer partnerships, trailer dealerships do not. 26:17 Buying and reselling from manufacturers raises challenges. 29:52 Uncertain about future, considering business expansion options. 33:15 Generate leads, convert to sales, improve processes. 37:02 Outsource, focus on business, and sales strategy. 39:44 Sell to anyone, focusing on government entities. 44:29 Explore all deal-making options to benefit both. 46:44 Evaluate risk versus reward for pursuing entrepreneurial path. - Shane's Journey to Business Ownership   - Influence of Shane's Father's Small Business Ownership   - Transition from Corporate Leadership Roles to Entrepreneurship   - Decision to Pursue Business Ownership After Being Laid Off - The Trailer Dealership Business   - Operations and Relationships Between Dealerships and Manufacturers   - Vision for Expansion and Growth in the Trailer Dealership Business   - Initiatives to Improve Sales Processes and Employee Experience - Business Development and Marketing Strategies   - Investing in New CRM and Customer Communication Platforms   - Focus on Online Sales and Digital Marketing   - Exploring Paid Advertising and Metrics Evaluation - Business Acquisitions and Deal-Making Strategies   - Criteria for Acquiring New Businesses   - Potential Acquisitions and Property Purchases   - The Importance of Creative Deal-Making Strategies and Seller Incentives - Reflections on Entrepreneurship and Business Ownership   - Emotions, Anxieties, and Fears in Decision-Making   - Realization of the Lack of Security in Long-Term Employment   - Rewards and Stress of Business Ownership - Future Plans and Acknowledgement of Potential Opportunities   - Anticipation for Future Connections and Growth   - Conclusion of the Conversation with Mutual Appreciation

Welcome to Episode 29 of the Invest & Scale, "Masters of the Deal: Acquisition Strategies and Growth Insights." Today's episode features a gripping dialogue with Diego Cerezo, an entrepreneur who transitioned from running a Guatemalan craft brewery to mastering the art of business acquisitions in Latin America. Diego tells us about the influences that triggered his shift towards acquiring businesses and shares his personal experiences navigating the unique challenges of Latin America's acquisition landscape. We'll also explore creative financing arrangements, the significance of partnerships and mentorship, and the critical role of strategy in managing a diverse portfolio of companies. Get ready to dive into a world where deal-making meets strategic foresight, and introspection becomes a cornerstone of success in business acquisitions. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or an experienced professional, this episode is brimming with valuable takeaways. Now, let's roll the intro music and get ready for an enlightening session on "Investment Scale" with Diego Cerezo. Stay tuned! 00:00 Diego Cerezo shares journey of buying business. 05:43 Dad's guidance made the first acquisition successful. 07:41 Latin American business culture differs from the US. 11:17 Tough negotiations led to creative payment terms. 15:35 Discipline and commitment lead to business rewards. 18:50 Delegate operations, focus on strategy, oversee projects. 20:28 Admitting humility unlocks greatness in building teams. 24:38 Podcast discusses different ways to acquire businesses. 27:20 Guatemala partner sets up meetings, revenue share. 30:51 Innovative approach to niche ecommerce advertising strategy. 34:43 Considering acquisitions beyond Guatemala: b-to-b, low capex. 37:37 Tips for business: introspection, focus on cash flow, collaboration. 41:10 Excitement and possibility lead to big dreams. - Entrepreneurial shift from craft brewery to acquisitions. - Influence of personal and educational background on decision to enter acquisitions. - Comparison to US acquisition culture. - Challenges of a more relationship-driven market. - Diego's personalized approach to sourcing deals. - The intensive 15-month journey to acquire a tech company. - Creative revenue-share agreements and company acquisition options. - Learning resources for acquisition skills. - Essential tips for first major acquisitions. - Importance of cash management with profit first methodology. - Focus on long-term growth and the strategic role. - The significance of mentors and partnerships. - Benefits of collaboration for business success. - Diego's commitment to investing in education and tourism. - Anticipation of future in-person meetings and continued exchanges. - Diego oversees strategy for multiple companies with varied industries. - Long-term investment vision for portfolio businesses. - Acquiring businesses to facilitate regional growth. - New methods beyond traditional SBA loans for business acquisitions. - Real-life example of a revenue-sharing deal with an option for investment or income. Diego Cerezo's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diegocerezo/?originalSubdomain=gt

Welcome to the I&S podcast, where we delve into the world of entrepreneurship, business acquisition, and personal development. In today's episode titled "Oscar Jaramillo," our host Gabriel Murillo welcomes the inspiring entrepreneur and business owner, Oscar Jaramillo. Oscar shares his journey from a corporate career at Nestle Waters North America to becoming a successful business acquirer. He takes us through the proactive and meticulous process of acquiring a suitable business, emphasizing the impact of personal skills, the importance of human capital, and the need for a balanced approach to entrepreneurship. Join us as we explore Oscar's insights, personal challenges, and the unexpected surprises of business ownership, all while gaining valuable advice and lessons learned from his inspiring entrepreneurial journey.

00:01:34 First acquisition at 22: a restaurant mistake. 00:06:00 Understanding buyer psychology is crucial for success. Empathy is a CEO's biggest tool. Acquisition mistakes can be costly and avoidable. 00:10:32 Cut salespeople, focus on strengths, avoid management. 00:14:58 Switching companies, need familiar people; limit reports. Avoid unnecessary meetings, prioritize scaling. Care for team individually but not in meetings. Working on a 100 million EBITDA opportunity. Acquisition potential in 100-200 million range. It's a game; changing lives; exciting. 00:19:09 Thinking win-win, building wealth for all. 00:23:10 Ecommerce companies struggle with cash flow, unlike agencies. 00:26:30 Avoiding bosses, expanding outdoor brands, supporting struggling founders. 00:28:51 Synergy is crucial, bankruptcies are imminent. 00:35:29 No money down deals, money out of pocket, misconceptions, contracts, trust. 00:38:20 Busy meetings, focused on valuable content. 00:40:42 "Great people and collaboration bring success."

In today's digital age, online businesses are thriving, offering investors a unique opportunity to tap into this growing market. In a recent podcast episode, the founder of Black Book Investments discussed their journey in starting and growing a micro private equity company that buys and operates a portfolio of online businesses. This article will explore the key insights shared in the podcast, from the importance of due diligence to investing with Empire Flippers Capital and the future vision of Black Book Investments. The Journey to Black Book Investments The founder of Black Book Investments started working at a startup before experimenting with blogging. While blogging did not bring immediate financial success, it helped develop essential skills in building websites and writing content. This experience eventually led to the first successful venture of buying and selling online businesses. The founder emphasized the importance of learning from scams and focusing on evergreen niches when purchasing businesses. Investing with Empire Flippers Capital The podcast also discussed working with Empire Flippers Capital, a fractional investing platform that bridges the gap between investors and experienced operators. The founder shared an example of one deal where a website's income doubled in just six to eight months by implementing on-page SEO, technical SEO, and other improvements. This success story highlights the potential of investing in online businesses through platforms like Empire Flippers Capital. Blackbook's One-on-One and Group Investment Strategies Black Book Investments works with investors through one-on-one or group buys, helping them find the right business to invest in. They handle the entire deal process, including negotiation, escrow, and business transfer. Black Book charges a 10% finder's fee and provides monthly management services for a retainer starting at $1,500 per month. Investing in Online Businesses: Risks and Rewards The podcast also touched on the historical return on investment (ROI) provided by Black Book Investments, ranging from 20% to 30% annually over the past seven to eight years. First, however, it is essential to understand the risks associated with investing in websites, such as Google updates and Amazon commission cuts. Despite this asset class's high-risk, high-reward nature, the founder envisions Black Book Investments becoming a New Age media company owning multiple high-value brands. Conclusion Investing in online businesses offers a unique opportunity for investors to tap into the growing digital market. Black Book Investments provides a platform for investors to invest in a diverse range of online businesses while benefiting from their expertise in managing and growing these ventures. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, investors looking to participate in and capitalize on the growth of online businesses should consider exploring opportunities with companies like Black Book Investments. Disclaimer: The content presented on the Invest and Scale podcast website is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice. The hosts and guests of the show are not attorneys or financial advisors and do not provide legal or financial advice. The information provided on this website is not intended to create an attorney-client or advisor-client relationship and should not be relied upon as legal or financial advice. Please consult with a licensed attorney or financial advisor in your jurisdiction for legal or financial advice specific to your situation.

In this episode, we have Hunter Durham, who was a Facebook employee who turned into an acquisition entrepreneur. During the interview, he shares his journey from consulting, to join a marketing agency, to buying his first business, to being presented with the opportunity to buy two companies simultaneously. It's a great story, and it's a great mindset about buying a business. In addition, we'll discuss the worst thing that could happen when buying a business. Podcast Highlights: Hunter manages over 7 million in revenue per year and has over 3.6 million in business loans. He talks about how his background led him into eCommerce and digital marketing. He shares the story behind his first business, theylaugh.com, and explains what they offer. In the early part of 2020, Hunter was introduced to search funds, the whole search fund movement, and the ETA movement, and spent basically January to February of 2020 putting together the documents, building the network, starting to reach out to people I thought might be investors, and building the broker list. When e-commerce exploded, they launched an agency and it turned out to be their first successful business into entrepreneurship.   For Hunter, business is about people in general. He shares that he loves reading books and getting powerful information, and that's how it all started for him. Book : Buy then Build Walkers book. I got the buying a small business HBR guy He describes how he acquired his first acquisition and where it came from. As he talks about his first acquisition, he speaks about some challenges and obstacles he encountered. The importance of emotional connection when talking to the seller in the acquisition process.   Hunter believes that the personal guarantee part is what prevents most people from selling their business. Hunter realized that in order to provide the best customer service, he needed home delivery furniture for his second acquisition.. He explained how one deal ended up turning into two. His advice to entrepreneurs and researchers interested in acquisitions. Tweetable Quote: “It's just about trusting that person to be able to do it.” “ I do business to try to impact others and impact people.” “The only unique thing that you have is you and your story and your vision and your goals for their business. And so I think if that's ultimately what's gonna win, you deal over somebody else, it's you.” Resources mentioned: https://theylaugh.com/ https://mobile.twitter.com/huntercdurham https://buythenbuild.com/about/ https://www.amazon.com/HBR-Guide-Buying-Small-Business-ebook/dp/B01KP33K4Y

Jim Edmunds worked in business development for a retailer before graduating from business school. He holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and an A.B. from Harvard. In 2004, he worked for a search fund with someone he had worked with on Wall Street after business school. Eventually, they bought a portrait studio business in the Midwest. A guy named Rich Kelly, who was the lead investor in his deal during the Lehman Brothers recession, asked him to join search fund partners in 2008. Since then, he has been working at SearchFund Partners. Search Fund Partners is a small private equity fund that invests exclusively in traditional search fund entrepreneurs. In the past 15 years, Jim has served on the boards of 15 or 20 companies, and has worked with awesome entrepreneurs and built some pretty exciting companies. Podcast Highlights: Jim talks about how the search fund model world looked in 2018 when he was starting his career. His explanation of why the model differs now from what it was a few years ago is insightful. There was a time when CEOs were not required to have a Ph.D. in computer science to run a company. He describes how their company differs from other search funds. With a traditional search fund model, an entrepreneur has an opportunity to earn up to 25% if it's a single search of the upside and 30% if it's a pair. The search fund business is pretty steady as it goes. Your survival is independent of getting a big new sale or making huge decisions. The main thing they are looking for is a great product that could benefit from a little extra marketing and sales investment, which many very successful small business owners may be happy with what they have built and not want to invest all the time and energy in taking it to the next level of their company. Taking people who have gone to business school and have learned about KPIs, metrics, and measurement is one of the reasons why search funds have been successful. They want to build companies with an incredibly strong culture where employees feel appreciated, valued, and recognized for their performance. They've had a lot of success by paying close attention to culture, and it all starts at the top. A search fund may be the right choice for you if you're willing to take the risk, and you're interested in building a small business, building teams, and helping people develop, and having wide control over your destiny. The risk of search funds is real, but the skills you gain from doing it right will benefit you and your career, regardless of whether you are successful on your first deal. They host an event for active searchers and CEOs every year where everyone they work with is invited. Describes the difficulty of finding a company back in 2007 to 2008, then covid hits in 2020, his partners and he expected a repeat experience of 2009, but it turns out the opposite happened. Jim explains how search funds work, which was hard to learn a while back but is much easier now since all the information is available online. As for their three to five-year vision, they'll maintain the same playbook they have exemplified over the years in supporting good entrepreneurs and resilient businesses. For as long as private equity is booming, there's gonna be a demand for small companies with great managers that reach a certain threshold. His inspiration comes from his love of working with people. People who are willing to take a chance on themselves, who are open to taking the less conventional route. He finds these people very exciting and dynamic, and he just feels lucky that his life is filled with them. Resources mentioned: https://searchfunds.net/ jim@searchfunds.net.

Jeffrey Evenson attended West Point, a military academy in New York. And then he joined the army for just a short time after leaving West Point. After grad school, he earned an MBA, gained a lot of knowledge about finance, and ended up trading stocks as a job. Eventually, he moved from the trading business into investment management, working for a boutique investment manager. Then he became a pension fund manager for Anheuser Busch in St. Louis. While he was managing pension funds there he kind of thought he should probably learn how to sell beer and so he did and became involved in the sales operations side of that business. Then he ended up working in a mergers and acquisitions group. Basically, they were buying and selling distributors of beer and wholesalers of beer. For him, that was the first time he really understood what you learn about mergers and acquisitions in grad school. Podcast Highlights: In 2008, he acquired his first business. He talks about how having the option of actually being his own boss was very compelling. Being in the army and having the leadership skills to build, motivate, and inspire teams has made Jeff's calling to cast a vision for a company. He shares how his military background gave him important core values in his life whether it was leading a company or helping people to buy companies. It is a process of working with a seller for Jeff in order to acquire a business. The person won't sell the business if you haven't built trust with them. He discussed more about his first acquisition. The acquisition process itself is all about building candor and building a relationship with the seller. After the success of his first acquisition, Jeff narrowed down all the other companies they bought in different industries. In order to acquire businesses or acquire equipment, Jeff used SBA loans. For a partnership to work, it requires two adults to enter into a partnership and it requires knowing each other's strengths. Agreeing that we're not the same person and knowing where what holes were filling for the other person. He talks about his day job in The Lion's pride and the organization he started: Thayer Gate Project. Jeff shares his final advice and thoughts for people who want to acquire a business. Resources Mentioned: https://acquisitionlab.com/ https://www.thelionspride.com/ https://www.thayergateproject.com/

Russell Benaroya is an entrepreneur with a background in corporate finance and private equity. Prior to becoming a Partner at Stride, Russell was the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development for Higi, a population health enablement company that owns the largest national network of health screening stations. He was an investment professional for the private equity firms Kline Hawkes and Blue Point Capital, where he invested in healthcare, technology, and industrial-based enterprises. He is also an author, entrepreneur, coach and speaker focused on helping people achieve their highest and best use by staying in their genius zones. Podcast Highlights: In the past three and a half years, he purchased a company with some business partners. Now, they own an outsourced back office, accounting, and bookkeeping firm. It's called Stride services. Their desire to purchase the business was really a result of not wanting to enter a business where they didn't have to prove product market fit. How they obtained the idea to find a business that was small enough for them to fund themselves and be able to own it without the involvement of a third-party investor. How did Russell come to decide to purchase a small business? In his book, One Life to Lead, he discusses some components of action. Russell talks about what it is like to be an entrepreneur who wants to buy a business and how and who you surround yourself with. Why he highly recommends organizations like EO for entrepreneurs. Their target business size was one in which they could self-fund and not seek outside funding. How he was open to the possibility of possibilities when he bought his business. His business helps professional service companies with the services it provides: For someone interested in buying a business, he clearly defines stories versus facts. Stories vs. Facts show up in a lot of different ways: between partners, in interpersonal relationships, and among employees. They have an agreed-upon set of principles that guide their business decisions. Even after buying a business, personal principles are very important. Russell talks about energy gains and energy drains. Neutralizing or eliminating entropy in your life. When it comes to goal setting, why does Russell believe it is best to work backwards? Tweetable Quote: “We have a choice: We can either let fear drive us to retreat, or we can be courageous and take a leap knowing, you've always figured it out.” -Rusell Benaroyoa “Patience is a form of action and it's a form of discipline.” -Rusell Benaroyoa Resources Mentioned: https://russellbenaroya.com/ https://stride.services/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/russellbenaroya/ https://www.thebenaroyagroup.com/about https://twitter.com/rbenaroya

Juan was the CFO for a company called Cabify, like Uber in Spain and Latin America. He had previously worked as an engineer in private equity, investing in banking. He considered himself a tech and finance guy. He started his own company Boopos in May 2020 to provide financing to people who want to acquire businesses. He decided to start his own business. And learned about all these aggregators that were buying companies based on data that they were pulling from the Amazon market. The big pain he discovered was that many, many buyers lacked the cash or funding to acquire the businesses they were seeking. So there were a lot of talented people that would. Out of the market because they didn't have the right partners for funding. And that's why in late 2020, he started Boopos to help all these people acquire businesses by providing them M&A financing. Podcast Highlights: Juan wanted to build a reliable source of funding for all those people who were looking to buy businesses and what's really interesting is that from those initial stages, they developed an underwriting model or an analysis model that served as the basis of their current analysis model. He explained a little about his background before he started Boopos. From working as a CFO at Cabify to starting his own company, Boopos. What made him start looking at business acquisitions on Amazon Marketplace. He shared what inspires him to build his Boopos company as a reliable source of funding for people that are looking to buy business. Juan discusses the challenges that eCommerce space and consumption related niches face. For Juan, it's important that you're cautious and selective, and make sure you're buying the right business. In terms of how they work/partner with business brokers, they help them close deals afterward, and they also send buyers on their way. He explains what size business they are considering at the moment. Focusing on smaller deals because they can add the most value in the end. Over time they anticipate dealing with around 5 million, but at the moment between 100k and 2 million. How can they tell if the company is performing poorly/not doing well? He explains their process of analyzing and approving the business in 48 hours. He discusses revenue-based financing in more detail. As he points out, the company's mission is to help as many businesses as possible. Resources Mentioned: https://twitter.com/jgbraschi?lang=en https://www.boopos.com/

On this episode, we talk with Ryan Kulp about his artistic and creative journey, as well as some exciting news about this business portfolio. He is the founder of Fork Equity and MicroAcquisitions.com Podcast Highlights: Ryan explains the meaning and concept of retirement to him. He talks about how he started making money by listing his apartments on Airbnb, and how he saw the patterns and kinds of strategies he could implement to make money. It's not having a boss and someone who depends on me not having big deadlines but being able to express myself creatively. He believes that to be a creative person, you have to create good work that people consume. Describes how he got into NFTs and how he was surrounded by NFTs artists. Ryan's definition of art is something people want to consume. His goal of believing in himself is because he thinks once he believes in himself, he can do anything. To unlock your potential, you must set ambitious goals for yourself. Ryan explains how he creates more leverage so that he can do less work while earning the same amount of money. Over time, his goals have changed, and now he just wants to buy back his time. Ryan discusses how Fork equity.com/Micro Equity Fund got started and how it works. How they tried a lot of different strategies and how they improved this track record by putting all their efforts into improving that asset. His other main distinction is how they have set up their fund with this on-demand - Choose your own adventure style. Ryan shares details about the upcoming Fork 2.0 launch and how it is going to be different from what they are currently doing. In this episode, Ryan announces big news for the first time. He gives advice to people who want to learn more about what they do. Tweetable Quote: "It's like playing Russian roulette." Warren Buffett Resources Mentioned: https://www.ryanckulp.com/ https://fomo.com/ https://www.forkequity.com/ https://www.primary.vc/ https://twitter.com/ryanckulp

Lucas McCann is the owner of CoreAffinity.com, he has acquired over 3 businesses in the past 4 years with his partners. In this episode, he talks about the importance of thinking of acquisitions as a team sport vs. as a solo sport. He shares with us the core strategy they use every time they speak with a potential seller, especially when it comes to off market deals, and how they incorporate these principles and utilize the better together framework. Podcast Highlights: Lucas' background before he got into the Acquisition game. His first acquisition and the lessons he learned to keep improving. He shares his experiences in building the business from scratch. A set of the questions they ask when talking with a potential seller. An overview of Core Affinity programs and how they work. The importance of understanding how the business could look in 10 years. Explain how his third business is completely different from his first and second businesses in terms of what they are offering through core affinity. What strategy do they use to find direct sellers and close deals? The importance of encouraging people to be direct and build relationships when they are selling their business. What Lucas and his team do to make a personal connection with the potential seller. Their goal after they acquired the business and how they will grow the business and add value in the long run. Lucas points out some questions he considers before they even acquire a business. How he learned to know his limits and not do everything himself. Discusses the levels of trust between partners when working in a business. Lucas' 10-year vision for their business. Describes how he loves solving problems in his industry. Advice from Lucas for acquisition entrepreneurs. Tweetable Quote: “Real-life examples have really helped us better our process and better our approach to the relationship and negotiations.” - Lucas McCann “Never burn a bridge.” - Lucas McCann Resources Mentioned: https://coreaffinity.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-mccann/

Ujwal Velagapudi shares in this episode the lessons he learned from every acquisition he has made, how to develop a resilient mindset throughout those acquisitions, and what it takes to move from five-digit to eight-digit deals and beyond. With his real estate investing background, he was able to purchase his first business while also working full-time. Podcast Highlights: He explained what he was doing before he started buying businesses, and what led him to make that decision. How was Ujwal exposed to Acquisition Entrepreneurship? How did he acquire many of his investments/businesses? Ujwal discusses how he also became involved in the online space. Ujwal talks about the first business he bought and how he continued to do real estate deals while also holding a full-time job. In what ways did Ujwal shift his thinking to become an Investor? He provides details about what kind of frontier he is pursuing and where he is in terms of investing and scaling. When it comes to looking for deals, Ujwal explains what he wants and does not want. He talks about how essential cash flow is from a financial perspective. Shares his plans for what he wants to accomplish in the near future and in the coming years. What he recommends when it comes to buying a business and what to avoid. Resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ujwal-velagapudi-4a457a15/

In this episode, we have Jaime Arias, he's an acquisition entrepreneur. He completed his first of a few acquisitions over the past two years. An engineer by trade and a Harvard MBA graduate, he found acquisitions entrepreneurship and fell in love with it; now he's growing an online business and potentially buying more. Podcast Highlights: Jaime discusses how he embarked on his journey to Acquisitions. He shares the challenges he faced while making his decision to be an acquisition entrepreneur. He shared where he learned about acquisition entrepreneurship. What criteria does he use to choose which business to buy? How COVID has affected his search and sourcing process. When he was in business school, what were the differences compared to when he was running his search process and acquisition? Why he didn't like buying agencies. He describes the business he bought and explains what Patients4you does and how it works. How he started his business without a team when he bought it and slowly built it up. Which is the primary source of their clients' leads, Google AdWords or SEO, or both? He shares his plans for his business in the next few years if he intends to acquire more businesses. Jaime answers the question of what he would do differently if he could go back five years. He recounts his experience going through the process of assessing investors. He shares some advice with aspiring entrepreneurial investors. Resources Mentioned: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaime-arias-b37a2278/ https://patients4you.com/ https://store.hbr.org/product/hbr-guide-to-buying-a-small-business/10090

In this episode, we're talking to Yury Byalik from Onfolio, Head of Strategy & Acquisitions. He handles all the deal flow, finds the businesses for sale, reviews them for due diligence, then makes the acquisitions. Onfolio is a holding company that basically acquires and runs online businesses. Over the years, the company's business model has changed slightly, initially helping investors to acquire and manage the business for them, and only about a year ago they began making acquisitions on their own. They used to acquire content-related websites and shifted their strategies after a while. Now, they are mostly interested in productized service agencies, SaaS products, and digital products. Podcast Highlights: Yury explains why finding opportunities for a good deal is a difficult job? Tell us about his team and whether he plans to expand it. He talks about how their management style can win deals even when they aren't the most competitive on price. Explained why it is important to speak with the seller first to know their needs before offering them different models. What are their current focus and ideal size of businesses to acquire? Yury talks about what happened to IncomeStore Fraud and how their company started dying. He shares some of their success stories at OnFolio. What are the biggest challenges they face in the industry? As a Head of Strategy and Acquisition of Onfolio, Yury shares some of the challenges he addresses and identifies with his team, as well as how they overcome them. What is in store for Onfolio in the coming year? In this market, Yury shares some advice for buyers and sellers. Resources Mentioned: https://onfolio.com/ https://www.thrasio.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybyalik/

In this episode, we have Chris Shipferling and Jason Somerville Managing Partner at Global Wired Advisors. Global wired advisors started about two and a half years ago. Founded by three other partners of Global Wired Advisors, Jason Somerville, Joe Hogg, and Chris Bodnar. They want to bring to this part of the market a process that mimics what you would normally get out of a traditional investment banking process, and the idea is happening, the proof of concept has already taken place. They love working with business owners and small business owners, and they enjoy watching them go through one of the largest liquidity events of their lives. Highlights: They describe the difference between an advisor and a broker. How does their company add value to its clients? In what way do they structure their fees for those who wish to sell their business? Do they offer consulting services? Explain the process and the key verticals they consider when assessing prospects. How are metrics different for different types of business? Recommendations for buyers during this Covid time and any outlook for the next year? Share what is the halo effect happening because of this pandemic. Explains the opportunities from a buyer standpoint in the market to potentially take advantage? Referred to the new SBA program and explained the changes. Explain the two main types of loans that are being issued at the moment. The first is a PPP loan and the second is economic disaster aid. An overview of the buy-side search capabilities at their firm. The company's website has a section for acquirers with a set of questions segmented for all their buyers. Resources Mentioned: https://www.globalwiredadvisors.com/potential-buyers/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisshipferling/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-somerville-7273b71a/

In this episode, our guest is Matt Inglot, who began his career as a freelancer and founded the membership agency Tilted Pixel. Over the years they have worked on a lot of awesome membership sites, and some have grown from zero to now making seven figures. Highlights: Matt explains the difference between the membership site and SAS business. What are the amazing benefits of memberships? And what is most important about membership sites? What services can Tilted Pixel offer as a membership site? Are there different membership models inside a membership site? Explains how a community can have its own challenges. What does their agency do to grow your membership site? What assistance can they provide for a client who owns a membership site? Explains how to restructure your membership offering to make it more meaningful. Matthew explains how the company helps people to get a return on investment from their property. What are the common membership site mistakes they encounter? Why is the Dynamite Circle valuable? An overview of his Art of a Build podcast What are some of the biggest benefits when buying a membership site? What advice would you give to people interested in acquiring a membership site? Resources Mentioned: https://www.tiltedpixel.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattinglot/?originalSubdomain=ca

In this episode, we have Jake Jorgovan, the Founder of Content Allies and Lead Cookie. Through these companies he has generated $40M+ in sales for his clients. Jake is the host of the Working Without Pants Podcast, and Leaders of B2B Podcast. He also shares the raw lessons of his entrepreneurial journey at Jake-Jorgovan.com. His aim is to construct a business that runs without you and generates profits. In a similar way, they're like the Gary Vee team that empowers a lot of entrepreneurs who are experts in their field and who want to show the world and create all the content and get all the ideas out. Podcast Highlights: Jake discusses how he decided to start Lead Cookie and how Content Allies is doing. He explains the reasons why he does not like the productized service. In this podcast, he talks about nearly selling Leed Cookie last year and the horrible experience that came with it. What are his thoughts on Partnerships? What are his thoughts on retirement, early retirement or investments? Tweetable Quote: "Trust in yourself and level yourself up and just follow your own journey in that sense, instead of just trying to do what everyone else is doing and eventually pave your own way. I think that's way more satisfying and way more fun.” - Jake Jorgovan “Do one thing and do it well.” - Alex (Jake's Advisor) “Your business is a reflection of yourself. And so if you don't have the results that you want. if your bank account doesn't look like what you want, it's because you need to level up.” - Jakes' business advisor Resources mentioned: Working without pants podcast https://contentallies.com/ https://www.leadcookie.com/ https://jake-jorgovan.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakejorgovan/

Our guest for this episode is Vincenzo Villamena, CPA, the founder of Online Taxman. He has extensive experience in both tax preparation and advising clients in accounting and financial transactions. At Online Taxman, Vincenzo oversees corporate and individual filings. He specializes in offshore structuring for US entrepreneurs abroad and US real estate transactions by foreign nationals and funds. Podcast Highlights: He explained their two brands, Global expert advisors and Online Taxman. What investors need to know about digital assets these days. Two types of merger rights are shared. How Americans are saving capital gains taxes in Puerto Rico. When it comes to selling websites or internet-based companies, what are the most common trends? What makes a good advisor so important, whether you're a big company or on a smaller level? Three types of tax structures are discussed. Structure recommendations for Investors seeking to form their next S Corp, LLC or C Corp. What is a self-directed IRA investment structure? How do they assist entrepreneurs with setting up their IRAs and 401ks? Tweetable Quote: "Don't be penny-wise and a dollar foolish." Resources Mentioned: https://onlinetaxman.com/ http://globalexpertadvisors.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincenzo-villamena-7055815/

Our guest this week is Ryan Tansom, who helped turn around his family's business and sold it for eight figures to a local competitor in 2014. He co-founded Arkona where he created International growth, five principles, and a framework, and hosted the popular life after business podcast with over 200 episodes and 300,000 downloads. As an entrepreneur, he enjoys helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses and increase their value by changing their mindset from annual income to focusing on long-term growth. Podcast Highlights: Ryan discusses how he became involved in family businesses, what challenges he encountered, and what changes he made when he took control of the business. We discuss the differences between the ownership and management roles. Ryan talks about how long it took him to sell his business and what it cost. Changing the name of his Life After Business podcast to Intentional Growth - How to grow the value of your coming with the end in mind. What are some of the challenges faced by first-time founders? EOS ®, the Entrepreneurial Operating System. An overview of how to choose the best advisors, lawyers, tax professionals, bankers and brokers. Resources Mentioned: https://arkona.io/podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/intentional-growth/id1132187581

Disclaimer This recorded conversation is for informational purposes only and it is not legal advice, transmission of the conversation is not intended to create and viewing or listening does not constitute an attorney client relationship, viewers and listeners are advised to seek professional help if they are concerned about a specific legal issue. In this episode of Acquire and Scale Show, We discuss the buying business process with Sankeetha Selvarajah, an attorney for start-up businesses. Sankeetha Selvarajah is the Managing Attorney of Selvarajah Law P.C., a civil transactional firm located in Boston, Massachusetts with satellite offices in New York, NY. She is also the CEO of BiztoCo, a business educational platform creating profitable CEOs. She has also worked with startups as an advisor, strategist, and reluctant therapist and outside general legal counsel to over 150 small businesses. She is a business lawyer turned into a deal advisor in the Mergers and Acquisition (M&A) world. Her profession as a lawyer equips her to speak practical recommendations on how to acquire and run your business. Conversation Highlights. Sankeetha shares her journey in the M&A world. She explains her expansion as a deal advisor in investing, buying, selling ventures. Sankeetha's personal gem is Mergers and Acquisition (M&A) dealings. 1st Question when buying an Online Business: Are you buying it to build or are you buying it to acquire? Buying to build means having brand cohesion. 2nd Question when buying an Online Business: What is your gut telling you? For investments, there's a process that must be undertaken: Asking of Questions, Consultation, Walk Through of buying a company, Sending documents to the lawyer. Your service provider team is your default advisory board ( your accountant, lawyer, financial adviser, and your banker). Why, why, and why do you want to buy? What is the return on buying this investment in the next 3 months? Sankeetha's recommendations to buyers LOI and NDA are legal recommendations. Sankeetha narrates some acquisition stories that didn't go well. Sankeetha mentions some common mistakes when buying a company. Practical Tip: If you don't understand the term, go to your service providers. Recommended resource Founder's Pocket Guide, Fair Market Value, and Book Value & EBITDA. Know the different types of valuation. Protect your asset by creating a company shield. Corporation gives you more flexibility for future gains. What is the difference between an asset purchase and stock purchase? Lawyers are not scary; They are available always. Remarkable Quotes: “Everything is negotiable.” “You should firmly be rooted in open and honest communication. It is a transactional relationship but it is still a human relationship.” “Make friends with your service providers. Use them as tools.”

In this episode, we welcome guest Matt Currie, co-founder of OutFlow, a Deal Origination Partner agency that assists mergers and acquisition clients in sourcing deals by delivering exclusive, off-market deal opportunities through vetting qualified Buy-Side or Sell-Side deals. Matt discusses his own experience with exiting a business and provides listeners with advice and tips to do so successfully. He shares helpful insight into what buyers and sellers can do to be prepared and achieve symbiosis throughout the process. Tune in to discover useful approaches to buying and selling and ensure a smooth acquisition process. Episode Highlights: Matt uncovers the importance of understanding how to secure the inflow of business success, whether it be opportunities, money, deals, etc., through the outflow into the marketplace of who your company is and what it offers. We discuss the structure and value Outflow provides, and the emphasis the company places on exclusivity via off-market deal opportunities. Essential advice for business people interested in selling their business to ensure a structured exit and why implementing these practices is crucial. Recommendations for sellers post-sale, including what preparations should be made for a smooth transition after the acquisition. Explanation and deeper understanding of who OutFlow's target market is and the reasoning behind this approach. Outreach tactics for both buyers and sellers that work best to gain trust, achieve transparency, and deliver a thorough understanding. What Matt's vision for the future of OutFlow Tweetable Quote: “At the end of the day, I believe great businesses are built by great people—it's not great products. I think a great product is a critical component, but it comes from having great, unbelievable people. When people are emotional—when there is unnecessary strife, and people are stressed—it causes things to go into chaos mode.” – Matt Currie “There's no such thing as an acquisition. It's a merger because you are merging cultures together.” – Matt Currie Relevant Links: Deal Flow Article: LinkedIn: Matt Currie Email: matt@outflow.capital or matt@outflow.agency Company Website: https://outflow.capital/

In this episode, Doron Wolffberg talks about the salient points in buying and selling websites. His knowledge of SEO and online marketing allows him to buy business websites and grow them into a thousand dollars worth. Doron highlights the importance of taking action fast once you already know what you want to buy. He also points out that identifying your business model is essential in this industry. Given his experiences in this emerging industry, he would make you realize that investing in buying and growing a website is worth a fortune. Learn from the sharing of Doron as he talks about the many aspects of buying and selling of websites. Episode Highlights Doron recalls back his work at yellowHEAD as the head of the SEO that serves as his inspiration in jumpstarting to buying and selling websites. His early days in acquiring websites started in 2017. How is it to work with brokers in this industry? The sales process in buying a website is hard. 1st case study: Amazon affiliate review site, a success 2nd case study: Music instrument site, a success 3rd case study: E-commerce furniture site, a big loss How can you be successful in this industry? What are the struggles of running an affiliate website at this time of the pandemic? The top recommended platforms for affiliate websites (ShareASale, Impact Radius, Commission Junction) Learn from Doron's expert tips in buying websites Red flags before buying content websites. What's the one thing that you would do to double your revenue? The three business models that can help you run your business. Doron's recommendations for buying and selling websites Tweetable Quotes: “You need to know what you want, and when you see it, you have to act fast.” “To be successful for me now means focusing on one business model that you know.” “This whole COVID-19 crisis is pushing a lot of brands into the online world, and now they understand the importance of having a solid website.” Resources Mentioned LinkedIn: https://il.linkedin.com/in/doron-wolffberg-42ba60120 Case Studies: https://empireflippers.com/sell-affiliate-website-case-study/ https://empireflippers.com/building-affiliate-website-to-100k-from-scratch/ https://www.rankxl.com/zero-to-4k-in-less-than-10-months/

This episode features Larry and Perry Yu, the founders of High Converting Ads. Larry Yu Twin #1. Online Entrepreneur with close to a decade of experience. Bootstrapped dorm room e-commerce startup to over 100K/mo before selling it to a private buyer. Perry Yu Twin #2. Digital marketer with a specialization in copywriting and paid ads. Written copy for multiple 6 figure campaigns and launches. Managed over $60K/mo in ad spend profitably on Facebook. Larry and Perry share their personal experiences on how they hustle in running their business, and at the same time helping various businesses generate more sales. With their expertise in online marketing, they now share to the world the secrets of scaling facebook Ads. Pay attention to the words of wisdom from the twins as they discuss how high converting Facebook ads can help your business grow. Episode Highlights Reasons why Larry and Perry started High Converting Ads Who are the people they work with? The new trends in advertising on Facebook How To Handle campaigns using the High Converting Ads way 1st success story: A business selling an 8-week coaching program 2nd success story: Facebook Messenger ads for a local business 3rd success story: E-commerce using video ads and pre-sale pages Learn how to run Facebook Ads to accelerate the growth of your business. Plan to sell before you actually sell. Having continuity in your business can increase your valuation. Business Operating procedures can attract buyers. Turn your expenses into profit centers. https://highconvertingads.com/

This episode features Dylan Kelley who is the founder and CEO of Wavebreak, a leading email marketing agency for e-commerce stores. He also hosts the Wavebreak podcast where he talks about ways on how to scale up your e-commerce business into 8-figures. Dylan shares his expertise in e-commerce marketing that will help you in growing your business, particularly in times of uncertainties. He highlights the importance of email marketing as a powerful tool to scale. Given his experiences in this industry, he now shares his proven steps which he termed as the Wavebreak method. Tune in to learn from the experiences of an e-commerce marketing expert. Episode Highlights Dylan shares his journey on how he started with Wavebreak. Email marketing is one of the secrets in the e-commerce industry. How to double your business in two ways? What are the three metrics to increase your business? The Wave Break Method that suggests 4 steps: foundation, acceleration, on-going management, and optimization. Email as the communication aspect of your business. How to evaluate an e-commerce brand before buying it? How to scale up your business? Dylan shares a client success story. The big mistakes in e-commerce and email marketing The impact of messaging in times of uncertainty. The importance of hiring a coach and investing in various programs Dylan's favorite business book is the Ultimate Sales Machine. Tweetable Quotes: “Just get consistent with your email. That's gonna be huge. It's like two to three times a week. If you'll do that, you'll gonna be set on the backend and you'll literally scale up your business so much.” ---Dylan Kelley “Nowadays, with all the uncertainties in the world, you need control in your business, and you need to get back in the driver seat.”--Dylan Kelley Resources Mentioned Website:https://wavebreak.co/about LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylankelley Twitter:https://twitter.com/dylanmkelley?lang=en Podcast: https://www.wavebreakpodcast.com/

In this episode, we interview Nehal Kazim the founder of AdPros. Their focus is working with the fastest-growing direct to consumer GTC brands online. Listen in to learn the emerging trends in online business buying and selling due to the Coronavirus crisis. Episode Highlights: Nehal discusses the commonalities and differences in subscription services that focus on customer acquisition and doing it to scale. He explains that even though a lot of their clients are young (two years or younger) they grow really quickly. Adpros helps them grow their value of revenue which is a different strategy than other advertisement companies. Nehal elaborates on why mindset is so important to scale a company. Why it's crucial to be adaptive in this industry with a 24 to 48-hour turn around so clients don't lose money on ROAS. He gives advice for businesses that are successful without Facebook ads and for those who already have traffic but aren't receiving the desired turnaround. The three types of metrics, Adpros looks at when they are building services for their clients. Ad Scorecard,Offer,Avatar,Funnel,Nurturing,The Ad,The Ad Optimization, Tracking and Decision Making The silent killer in the industry of Facebook ads. How he keeps his mindset sharp and what he plans to do during the quarantine. Tweetable Quote: “High degree with lack of patience when it comes to implementation of Facebook ad campaigns is bad because it's a rush to be very profitable and the phases to get to profitability aren't from zero to profit but zero to break even. It's actually zero to more loss before you even break even and then you start making money.” Relevant Links: Website: https://adpros.com/ LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/nehalkazim

Thinking time and Productized Services Tyler Gillespie In this episode, we interview Tyler Gillespie, a content marketing business owner as he shares his passion for content marketing & freedom that led him to focus on online businesses. Listen in to learn what productizing means and what Nahel's company does to help business with it. Episode Highlight: Why did Tyler start an online business? How a 12-week accelerator program in Santiago de Chile which was pivotal to his journey Learn where you can find programs for entrepreneurs The philosophy behind calling himself the thinking time officer at the Applause lab. Productized Services and a 3000 members community How he has mastered the art of having more dynamic frames and rules in place when running his business over the traditional SOPs. Quotes: “The more people in a mastermind that are doing what you're doing- are ten steps ahead, that's going to be the most valuable place for you to learn.”- Tyler Gillespie “Three-solutions. Anyone you hire no matter where they're in the spectrum of your organization before they come to you with a problem, they have to bring 3 solutions of their own.”- Tyler Gillespie Relevant Links: Applause Lab https://applauselab.com/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerdgillespie Program's website: https://www.f6s.com/

Chris Yates is the founder of Rhodium Weekend and Owner of Centurica. Rhodium Weekend is an event for online Entrepreneurs who own 6- to 8-figure businesses, and for buyers, sellers, and investors of those businesses. Using both structured and unstructured time so each person can learn, network, and share in the way that works best for them. All attendees are curated through an application process to ensure the community is filled with smart, driven members who are willing to pay-it-forward with their own expertise. Episode Highlights: What is it about smaller, more intimate events that's working well? Money hacks versus real business Why is scaling challenging when you get involved in running the business? Insights about productized service businesses A good portfolio and filters work for investment Thoughts on deal structures like seller financing Where to seek for legal and accounting advice? How to build up mentorship and support for yourself Tweetable Quote: “I will buy any deal at any price as long as you let me name the terms. When you think what that means is price kind of irrelevant. I could tell you I will pay you a million for your business right now but I'm going to pay you a penny a day for a million days, that doesn't sound very attractive.” – Chris Yates Resources Mentioned: https://rhodiumweekend.com/ - Rhodium Weekend https://centurica.com/ - Centurica https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismyates/ - Chris Yates's LinkedIn

In this episode, we interview Thomas Smale, the founder of FE International, a market-leading merging and acquisition firm that focuses on SaaS, e-commerce, and content business selling. They have a presence in New York, London, and San Francisco with a 94.1% success rate after selling over 800 companies. Thomas talks about the processes they use in acquiring businesses and making it beneficial for both parties. He shares the categories of companies they work with and the ones that do not meet their standards. Listen in to learn the emerging trends in online business buying and selling due to the Coronavirus crisis. Episode Highlights: Thomas explains how the process of acquisition for internet companies works and how his company has done over 800 deals. He explains the 3 categories of buyers they work with- family-owned businesses, strategic buyers and buyers who have raised money from a group of investors. Why there are no set rules when it comes to performing SaaS transactions. How they approach the valuation of companies during the buying and selling process. Why they don't work with companies that are not profitable and how they work around it for compensation in a situation where expenses are taking up. The overall difference between getting investments for your business and selling it and how the liquidation process works. The recommendations that Thomas has for both business sellers and buyers during the Coronavirus crisis. Why online businesses are doing well during this crisis and the appealing aspect of ‘work from anywhere in the world' business. Thomas talks about how they work towards getting the best deal out of a buyer when it's a well-performing business and how the Coronavirus is affecting the value of businesses. What advice does Thomas have for both buyers and sellers during this crisis? Tweetable Quote: “As a buyer looking for really good bargains and you think you can buy a $1M business at $200k don't waste your time and if you're a seller or a business owner and your business has been affected be patient and don't make any rash decisions.” -Thomas Smale Relevant Links: Website: https://feinternational.com/about-us/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomassmale Twitter: https://twitter.com/thomassmale?lang=en