Acquiring Minds cover art

Acquiring Minds

By: Will Smith
  • Summary

  • Buying a business is an amazing path for many successful entrepreneurs. Learn how to buy a business from the entrepreneurs who have already done it. 2x per week: stories, insights, & valuable advice about acquisition entrepreneurship. Hosted by Will Smith, who is on his own path to acquire a business. Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquiringMinds Sign up for episode summaries at: https://acquiringminds.co
    2021 - 2023, Acquiring Minds
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Episodes
  • Turning $500k into a $38m Holdco (No Investors)
    Jul 1 2024

    Register for the webinars:

    • Thu July 11 - SBA Lender Roundtable: State of the Market - https://bit.ly/3XSdIcG

    • Fri July 12 - Due Diligence Office Hours - https://bit.ly/3W1zQA6


    Garrison Snell enjoyed a modest exit at age 24. By 30, he'd parlayed that into a holdco with $9m EBITDA and a mission.

    Topics in Garrison’s interview:

    • Building and exiting a recording artist marketing agency
    • His objective to do the most good for the most people
    • Early ventures into real estate
    • Buying and quickly selling a restaurant
    • Acquiring in the manufacturing space
    • Understanding and applying Porter’s 5 Forces
    • Advantage of being a low-cost, essential supplier
    • Recent leadership challenges at a new acquisition
    • Building an indefinite holding company
    • Power of a community-minded small business

    References and how to contact Garrison:

    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • garrison.snell@snellventures.com
    • Rafael Quinn’s episode
    • Competitive Strategy by Michael E. Porter

    Smithlist is a new job board for leadership roles at small businesses. If you're not ready to buy a business but want to lead one:

    • Smithlist - Operate & Lead a Business

    Work with an SBA broker who focuses exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

    • Matthias Smith of Pioneer Capital Advisory

    Learn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:

    • The Acquisition Lab

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    • See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
    • Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
    • Follow Will on Twitter
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    1 hr and 47 mins
  • Candid Reflections on 7 Years of SMB Ownership
    Jun 27 2024

    Register here for the webinar, How to Buy a Business & Hire an Operator at Once

    • https://bit.ly/3KJnYwg


    7 years ago Dan Verboski bought a sign business with $650k in earnings. He's doubled it, but ownership has taken a toll.

    Topics in Dan’s interview:

    • Background in the Marines and retail
    • Buying a sign company in Tyler, Texas
    • Culture clashes and problem employees
    • Selling off his real estate to keep the business going
    • How he learned to fire faster
    • Building a new company culture
    • Making personal changes to recover from burnout
    • Standing out by answering the phone
    • What he would do differently next time
    • His growth as a leader

    References and how to contact Dan:

    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Leon’s Signs Inc.
    • ETA Circle in Houston, where Dan will be appearing on July 10th

    Get a complementary pre-acquisition HR & PEO review for your target business:

    • Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit Aspen HR

    Learn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:

    • The Acquisition Lab

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    • See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
    • Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
    • Follow Will on Twitter
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 43 mins
  • Announcing: Minds Capital
    Jun 24 2024

    Register here for the webinar, How to Buy a Business & Hire an Operator at Once

    • https://bit.ly/3KH9RaS


    Will Smith has partnered with Niklas James & Max Lummis in a fund to invest in searcher & independent sponsor deals.

    Topics in this episode:

    • Why raise a fund?
    • How a fund comes together
    • What it was like to raise money from LPs for a blind pool
    • Why a business might be great for a searcher but not an investor
    • How different investors have different needs
    • Why small acquisitions are hard for a fund to invest in
    • Value of community in a fund
    • Minds Capital’s process to assess deals
    • Evaluating deal strengths systematically
    • “Best deal of the month” filter

    References and how to contact Niklas, Max and Will:

    • Minds Capital (to learn more & submit a deal)
    • Minds Capital page for investors
    • Max Lummis
    • Niklas James
    • Will Smith

    Work with an SBA broker who focuses exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

    • Matthias Smith of Pioneer Capital Advisory

    Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

    • Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    • See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
    • Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
    • Follow Will on Twitter
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 8 mins

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