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After 25 years in corporate, Gina Rosen bought a jewelry wholesaling business with $635k in sales — now on track to $1m. Register for the webinar: Finance Essentials Before You Close - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4fcxTdK Topics in Gina’s interview: Leaving corporate for more family time Decoupling her salary from her value Acquiring the supplier for her side gig Her mistake with buying inventory Keeping her corporate job the first year Going full time in the business to focus on sales Standing out by making sales calls in-person Operating a highly seasonal business How tariffs have affected her…

Acquiring Minds

by Will Smith · English · Business

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 busines

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  1. 20 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 16 min

    No SBA, No Investors: The Liquidity Access Line

    Brian Jungles bought a $400k direct mail business in Atlanta and skipped SBA by pledging his portfolio as collateral. Register for the webinars: Don't Rush: How to Prepare for a Quality of Earnings Report - TOMORROW! - https://bit.ly/3T4OQOJ Working Capital: One of ETA’s Most Expensive Mistakes - Thu, Jul 23 - https://bit.ly/3T1aELe Topics in Brian’s interview: Leaving his corporate career at Adobe Finding a business through his network Acquiring for $400k cash Getting a personal line of credit through his bank Direct mail is still effective Growth is a lot of work Humbling experience of…

  2. 16 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 22 min

    Acquiring a $7m Niche Marketing Agency with 50 Employees

    Rob Belk networked his way to "the most caffeinated guy in town" searching for a local business — then found it online. Register for the webinars: From Working IN the Business to ON the Business: How Owners Make the Transition - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4aKP3fY Don't Rush: How to Prepare for a Quality of Earnings Report - Tue, Jul 21 - https://bit.ly/4feY1DP Topics in Rob’s interview: Geographic search in the Triad of North Carolina Networking with local business owners Finding a business through Axial Buying a marketing and consumer research agency His choice to stay out of the weeds…

  3. 13 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 30 min

    Escaping the J-Curve in a $700k SDE Ecom Business

    Chris Farkas endured a 7-week fetal position moment when he finally found a website bug that had cost him $500k in sales. Register for the webinar: From Working IN the Business to ON the Business: How Owners Make the Transition - Thu, Jul 16 - https://bit.ly/4vRBhk8 Topics in Chris’s interview: Going through Acquisition Lab First deal fell through on Christmas Eve Acquiring an ecommerce business with a warehouse Buying inventory he didn’t want The marketing agencies that hurt his business Business almost tanked due to website glitch Doing $10k in sales per day Hardship of traveling every…

  4. 6 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 27 min

    Career Consultant Who Bought a 7-Figure Manufacturer

    Buying a metal fabricator with $1m in earnings pivoted Paul Callahan into the new entrepreneurial chapter of his career. Register for the webinar: Finance Essentials Before You Close - Thu, Jul 9 - https://bit.ly/4eMaUow Topics in Paul’s interview: M&A, integrations, and private equity experience COVID Zoom fatigue sparked career pivot Atlanta’s crowded deal market challenges Hiring buy-side help while still working Pursuing full ownership without outside investors Navigating two simultaneous LOIs carefully Choosing SBA 504 over 7(a) financing for the real estate Acquiring a high capex…

  5. 2 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 24 min

    (replay) Art of the Roll-Up: 40 Businesses in 4 Years

    Jeff Homer bought a small local music school as a fun side hustle. It turned out to be the opportunity of a lifetime. Topics in Jeff interview: Switching from high finance to music schools Buying his first music school as a side project Raising growth equity after first 2 acquisitions Acquiring a music school every month Artists’ negative predisposition toward selling Comparing profitability of music vs. dance Importance of general managers in scaling Implementing apps to streamline operations Other industries with roll-up potential Rolling up 60+ music/dance schools nationwide References…

  6. 29 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 36 min

    Growing a $5m Metal Business 40% in Year 1

    Caleb Standafer believed in manufacturing and wanted to spend his career there. A multi-year pivot and ETA got him in. Topics in Caleb’s interview: Moving from tech to manufacturing Manufacturing is important for our country 7 years operating before searching The manufacturing concept of “going to Gemba” His 4-year part-time search Taking time weekly to develop his leaders Partnering with his dad Modernizing 1970s technology Managing 75% customer concentration Renegotiating payment terms with his largest customer References and how to contact Caleb: LinkedIn Springfield Tool & Die Get…

  7. 8 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 42 minNew

    The Roll-Up with No Investors & No Clock

    Tyler Hoffman has bought 4 telecom companies with no outside equity, and works 15 hours a week to get to $50m. Topics in Tyler’s interview: Lessons from being fired repeatedly Finding and acquiring Metro Wireless Filling experience gaps with charisma Financing the $4.5 million acquisition Navigating a difficult ownership transition Discovering hidden operational problems post-close Losing half of earnings — and surviving Rebuilding Metro Wireless through operational improvements 3 tuck-in acquisitions Balancing business growth with personal autonomy References and how to contact Tyler:…

  8. 5 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 2 min

    $33m Holdco: Teddy Bears to Insurance Claims

    Colin King and his 50/50 partner have paid themselves little since 2018, reinvesting profits back into their businesses. Topics in Colin’s interview: Growing Circle City Capital’s business portfolio Don’t call them private equity Why Colin stopped wanting operational roles Why critical mass matters for holdcos He still earn less than operators Holdco strategy versus industry-specific rollups The fox versus hedgehog framework Learning through hands-on operating experience Why chasing money can make things harder Costly mistakes and failed acquisitions References and how to contact Colin:…

  9. 1 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 30 min

    The $150k Hiding in the Business He Bought

    Patrick Dunphy acquired a low-seven-figure interpreter agency, then halved its collection times in year one. Topics in Patrick’s interview: From Army aviation to business ownership Why Patrick chose ownership over corporate success Three years searching while working full-time Turning red flags into acquisition opportunities Why intrinsic value matters beyond financial returns Building a scalable, contractor-driven service business Structuring an SBA acquisition without seller financing Cutting payment times in half through better invoicing Preserving trust through a quiet ownership…

  10. 28 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 28 min

    How to Buy a $2.1m Business Without the SBA

    Jack Rauch left politics for a niche Florida business no bank would finance. He's doubled revenue twice since. Register for the webinar: Sizing an SBA Loan to the Cash Flow - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4hrFwge Topics in Jack’s interview: From the White House to entrepreneurship Discovering an overlooked private provider niche Customers helped save the business How private inspections accelerate construction projects Expanding beyond the seller's tiny territory Navigating licensing requirements without industry experience Financing the deal without SBA backing Raising prices and finding…

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