From Software to Concrete Cutting (and $1.4m of SDE)

More from Acquiring Minds All episodes →

1. 

   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…

2. 

   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…

3. 

   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…

4. 

   25 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 24 min

   How to 4x EBITDA in 3 Years Without Growing Sales

   Ned Tomasevic navigated an early crisis then grew EBITDA to $6m and exited at over 8x, four turns higher than he'd paid. Register for the webinar: Transferable Skills: Crafting Your Resume for SBA Lenders - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4v3KOnf Topics in Ned’s interview: Being the first American in his family Utilizing 20 interns for outreach Acquiring with help from a search fund Post-closing discovery led to lawsuit Stress shows up in your body first Getting guidance from his coach and mentors Reducing shrink from 20% to 3% Quadrupling EBITDA in 3 years Taking a year off after exiting His new…

5. 

   22 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 26 min

   Leaving $700s/Yr to Buy an Underperforming Printing Business

   Dominick Smith left a lucrative track in PE to pursue a path that offered more meaning. Buying a business has delivered. Register for the webinars: Overcoming Common Deal Sticking Points - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/3Qx1g0W Transferable Skills: Crafting Your Resume for SBA Lenders - Thu, Jun 25 - https://bit.ly/4uOEqQD Topics in Dominick’s interview: Leaving a lucrative job in his late 20’s Dodging bullets with due diligence Renegotiating purchase price Managing white collar vs blue collar employees Wasting money on ineffective marketing Learning budgeting and frugality Advantages of…

6. 

   15 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 49 min

   Good Bones: Saving a $3m Business in Decline

   Despite his love of operations, Himmat Singh intended to own his acquisition passively. Then the lead sales guy quit. Register for the webinar: Understanding a Quality of Earnings Analysis: What's Included and Why - Thu, Jun 18 - https://bit.ly/4vhhY3t Topics in Himmat’s interview: Operating a business for a billionaire in India Ran traditional search, closed zero acquisitions Targeted recession-proof home care opportunities Became CEO of elder care company he couldn’t acquire Grew EBITDA 4x through operational cleanup and systems Sold company to private equity, remaining CEO Life-changing…

7. 

   11 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 31 min

   How to Buy a $20m Business as a First-Timer

   When Alan Turkus found a business with a mission, he knew he'd found the right fit for the final chapter of his career. Topics in Alan’s interview: Background in book publishing Post-MBA career in tech Taking a career break to raise his son From co-op cashier to co-CEO Seeking security through business ownership Acquiring a home health and hospice franchise Raising equity from search investors Retaining a little over 50% ownership Structuring with 2 forgivable seller notes The advantage of buying a bigger business References and how to contact Alan: LinkedIn Interim Healthcare of Twin Cities…

8. 

   8 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 11 min

   How to De-Risk the Personal Guarantee

   Brendan Burdette and Ryan Conner have launched personal guarantee insurance to enable more — and stronger — SBA buyers. Register for the webinar: Score It or Skip It: A Framework for Fast Deal Evaluation - Thu, Jun 11 - https://bit.ly/3Q1D9qM Topics in Brendan & Ryan’s interview: Psychological weight of the personal guarantee Building a personal guarantee insurance product Taking the risk from a 10 to a 5 Sequence of events after default Targeting mid to late career operators Premiums decrease over time Balancing risk between unequal partners Solving the seller rollover conflict Philosophy…

9. 

   4 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 25 min

   The Origin Story of a Compounder ($80m and Counting)

   Greg Shapiro & Zach Cooper-Vastola are building a long-term, compounding business they see as the anti-PE of the trades. Register for the webinar: Franchising for the ETA Buyer: Resales, Roll-Ups, and Real Deals - TODAY - https://bit.ly/49sKF4H Topics in Greg and Zach’s interview: Founders combined technical and financial expertise Shifted from SaaS to long-term ownership Acquired century-old Manhattan HVAC company High cost and complexities of New York market Avoided SBA limits to scale acquisitions What “Anti-PE” means to them Digitization takes longer than you think Living lean on low…

10. 

    1 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 46 min

    Started as SBA Searcher, Built to a PE Fund

    The first business Joe Wechsler bought had $280k of SDE. Seven years later, he runs a fund with $50m of buying power. Register for the webinar: Franchising for the ETA Buyer: Resales, Roll-Ups, and Real Deals - Thu, June 4 - https://bit.ly/4vnGP5u Topics in Joe’s interview: Background in management consulting Inspired by Rich Dad Poor Dad to own assets Joining an early cohort of the Acquisition Lab Searching is more fun with a partner First deal died 10 days before closing Discovering employees had never been paid overtime Total office staff turnover in first 4 months Acquiring 4 diverse…