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Acquiring Minds

Acquiring Minds

By: Will Smith
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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.co2021 - 2023, Acquiring Minds Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • How 1 Couple Bought 2 Businesses
    May 12 2025

    Register for the webinar:

    • How to Use a Buy-Side Advisor to Buy a Business - Thu June 5th - https://bit.ly/3H4mduT

    The original plan was for Lindsay Buckheit to buy a business. As husband Kevin Black got involved, that plan evolved.

    Topics in Lindsay and Kevin’s interview:

    • Their desire to leave corporate life
    • Joining Codie Sanchez’s Contrarian Community
    • No deals after 8 months of part-time searching
    • Enlisting AcquiMatch to help them find a business
    • Closing on 2 businesses
    • Offering a higher sale price in exchange for a seller note
    • Mitigating key man risk in both businesses
    • Finding a bank to finance their acquisitions
    • Why they recommend flat-rate due diligence services
    • The arduous loan application process

    References and how to contact Lindsay & Kevin:

    • Lindsay LinkedIn
    • Kevin LinkedIn
    • Collective Creative Outdoors
    • Holdsworth & Nicholas
    • AcquiMatch
    • Codie Sanchez

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

    • The Acquisition Lab

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

    • Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

    Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

    • Book a call with Tim or hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring Minds

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    • See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
    • Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
    • Follow Will on Twitter

    Edited by Anton Rohozov
    Produced by Pam Cameron

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 25 mins
  • How to Recover from a Fraudulent Seller
    May 8 2025

    Register for the webinar:

    • Deal Structuring Under the New SBA Rules - TODAY May 8th - https://bit.ly/4jFLpX2

    Jason Jackson thought he bought a $1.5m SDE dental practice. In fact, the business was losing money & engaging in fraud.

    Topics in Jason’s interview:

    • Value of pattern recognition in business
    • Missing fraud despite $400k of due diligence
    • Turning around a business with negative EBITDA
    • When to fire a top performer
    • Fixing a broken work culture
    • Why he decided not to sue the seller
    • Hands-on learning in every role
    • Changing their revenue model during Covid
    • Focusing on cash, culture, and communication
    • Why his investors were thrilled with a 2x return

    References and how to contact Jason:

    • LinkedIn
    • Jason’s partner Olaide Lawal
    • Futaleufu Partners
    • The Manager’s Handbook by David Dodson

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

    • Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

    Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):

    • Book a call with Tim or hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring Minds

    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

    Edited by Anton Rohozov
    Produced by Pam Cameron

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Turning a $250k Investment into $7m+
    May 5 2025

    Register for the webinar:

    • Deal Structuring Under the New SBA Rules - Thu May 8 - https://bit.ly/4m7VH47

    Marvin Karlow & his partner bought a powder-coating business with $500k in equity. 8 years later, they sold it for $21m.

    Topics in Marvin’s interview:

    • Going from corporate to blue collar business
    • Buying a business with his best friend
    • Picking a lane and staying in it
    • Biggest customer slashing prices right after transition
    • Putting personal money into the business
    • Losing a major customer
    • The customer that turned it all around
    • Buying 2 turnarounds
    • Merging and exiting the businesses
    • Tax savings through QSBS

    References and how to contact Marvin:

    • LinkedIn
    • marvin.karlow@raincatcher.com
    • Raincatcher
    • Steve Mariani

    Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

    • From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.com

    Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

    • Pioneer Capital Advisory

    Get a complimentary IT audit of your target business:

    • Email Nick Akers at nick@inzotechnologies.com, and tell him you’re a searcher

    Connect with Acquiring Minds:

    • See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
    • Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
    • Follow Will on Twitter

    Edited by Anton Rohozov
    Produced by Pam Cameron

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 27 mins
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All stars
Most relevant  
We love Will Smith and the insights his podcast gives to us that is applicable for the whole deal process. He will even bring on guests on years later for them to recap on the transition process and everything in between.

Thanks for everything, Will!

The BEST Searchfund Advice!

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I’ve read Buy then Build, and HBR’s Guide to buying a Small Business. Both are great books on the nuts and bolts of ETA, but Will Smith’s podcast is then best way to learn from the experiences of over 100 acquisition entrepreneurs.

Great content, binge worthy, and always easy to listen to at >1.5x speed!

The best way to learn about search and acquiring small businesses

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