Acquiring Minds Podcast By Will Smith cover art

Acquiring Minds

Acquiring Minds

By: Will Smith
Listen for free

About this listen

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
  • The $60k Acquisition that Grew to a $77m Exit
    Jun 16 2025

    Register for the webinars:

    • DO’s and DON'Ts of the LOI - Jun 17th - https://bit.ly/441EocM
    • How to Offshore in a Blue Collar Business - July 1st - https://acquiringminds.co/hiring


    Kevin Ramsier bought a "guy in a truck" business for radon mitigation. 10 years later it was a multi-state franchise.

    Topics in Kevin’s interview:

    • Finding ways to earn money as a kid
    • Bouncing back from early career setbacks
    • The Wall Street Journal ad that changed everything
    • Turning around a bankrupt concrete business
    • Building and scaling a radon mitigation company
    • Using franchising to manage growth and quality control
    • 3 questions that transformed his life
    • Transitioning into the role of an independent sponsor
    • Investing in people instead of public markets
    • How he teaches his kids to value money

    References and how to contact Kevin:

    • LinkedIn
    • Sier Capital Partners

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

    • Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

    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 11 mins
  • Hometown Holdco: Geography as Moat
    Jun 12 2025

    Register for the webinar:

    • SBA Loans 101 + Program Updates - Jun 12th - https://bit.ly/3FGQIqB

    Sarah Chiles & Matthew Ferguson left careers in VC to buy the only auto repair shop for 35 miles in their native Aspen.

    Topics in Sarah & Matthew’s interview:

    • Backgrounds in engineering and VC
    • Preserving local fabric by buying businesses
    • The “tackle shop” nature of businesses in small towns
    • Seasonality in a small resort town
    • Gaining the respect of employees
    • Vision of a hometown holdco
    • Crisis management when their operator left
    • Modernizing and restructuring the auto repair business
    • Finding out what each employee wants
    • Long-term commitment to Aspen

    References and how to contact Sarah & Matthew:

    • Sarah’s LinkedIn
    • Matthew’s LinkedIn
    • Aspen Total Automotive
    • Shop Fix Academy
    • STM Holdings
    • Adam Markley on Acquiring Minds: Getting Reps: Helping Others Look at Deals Led to a Holdco
    • Cassi Niekamp on Acquiring Minds: Buying a $1.2m Fencing Business & Earning Trust Quickly

    Get a complimentary IT audit of your target business:

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

    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

    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
    Producer by Pam Cameron

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 42 mins
  • Evolving a Legacy Business to $3.2m EBITDA
    Jun 9 2025

    Register for the webinar:

    • SBA Loans 101 + Program Updates - Jun 12th - https://bit.ly/4jG0FSV

    After Evan Stewart found his footing in his printing business, he pushed it from $1.8m to $3.2m EBITDA in under 2 years.

    Topics in Evan’s interview:

    • Experience in the Acquisition Lab
    • 6 months of imposter syndrome
    • Earning the right to be heard
    • Changes in direct mail printing technology
    • Standing out amongst fierce competition
    • His wife joining the business
    • Moving his family to be closer to the business
    • Accepting investment from friends and family
    • Putting a lien on his house to get the loan
    • Buying into a shrinking industry

    References and how to contact Evan:

    • LinkedIn
    • Direct One
    • Alex Holley on Acquiring Minds: Networking His Way to $800k SDE

    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

    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

    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 23 mins
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro805_stickypopup
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!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.