Acquiring Minds

George Stern leaned into changing consumer search habits when he bought a digital marketing agency doing mid-7 figures.
Register for the webinars: 
Which Franchise Industries Make Sense in 2026? - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4jQCN0U
What You’re Really Paying: Net Working Capital & Net Debt Explained - Jan 22nd - https://bit.ly/49mgU5Y
Topics in George’s interview:
Turning around an Amazon seller’s agency
Acquiring 2 small ecommerce businesses
Loving the customers more than the product
Selling his camping equipment business
Acquiring an SEO agency
Extreme difficulty getting a loan
Big banks aren’t always better
Choosing cold calling despite challenges
Industry knowledge is overrated
Being a “recovering, type-A control freak”
References and how to contact George:
LinkedIn
Grant and Julia Hensel on Acquiring Minds: Quitting Consulting to Buy a $1m SDE Agency
Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:
Pioneer Capital Advisory
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 [email protected] 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

Phil Koller studied the concentration and key man risks in a distribution business well-suited to him — and went for it.
Register for the webinar:
From W2 to Owner Mindset: How to Think About Your Take-Home Pay - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4r5RsI3
Topics in Philip’s interview:
Preferred working in a small company
His friend talked him into real estate, then ETA
Inspired by Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Importance of having his wife on board
Paused search due to upcoming second child
Bought Roman Enterprises, an automotive paint distributor
Inherited exactly 1 employee
Did door-to-door sales to learn market
Managed customer and supplier concentration risk
Drew perseverance from grandfather’s Holocaust survival
References and how to contact Philip:
LinkedIn
Roman Enterprises
Ben Jasper on Acquiring Minds: How to Buy a Manufacturer with $1m in Cash Flow
Jerod Pierce on Acquiring Minds: From SBA Loan to High 8-Figure Exit 
Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:
From this page or contact [email protected]
Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:
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
Edited by Anton Rohozov
Produced by Pam Cameron

Matt Orley wanted to enter the short-term rentals space. Buying a business — and a brand he admired — was his way in.
Register for the webinars:
DO’s and DON'Ts of the LOI -  TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/3YtLIvp
From W2 to Owner Mindset: How to Think About Your Take-Home Pay - Jan 15th - https://bit.ly/4qJ1Xk5
Topics in Matt’s interview:
Investment properties as a side hustle
Evolving short-term rental ecosystem
Difficult transition with the seller
Influence of Airbnb on customer expectations
Importance of clear communication
Rolling up property management companies
Concentrating on one region of the country
Difference between urban and rural markets
Launching a membership program
Putting the brand first when making decisions
References and how to contact Matt:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Red Cottage
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 [email protected] and mention Acquiring Minds
Get a complimentary IT audit of your target business:
Email Nick Akers at [email protected], 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

Adam Vandermyde had to be persuaded to acquire the $15m business that he ultimately professionalized and exited for 7x.
Register for the webinar: 
How to Present Your Deal for Maximum SBA Success - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/3KW7aWL
Topics in Adam’s interview:
Leaving consulting 2 months from making partner
Taking on the CEO role at the target before closing
Focusing on EBITDA over revenue
A construction mistake that cost the company dearly
Parsing data to understand “margin per labor dollar”
Advantages of being in a high-growth geographical area
Improving customer service to stand out
Exiting after 5 years
Adrenaline rush of sharing his payday with employees
How it feels to be a millionaire
References and how to contact Adam:
LinkedIn
Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):
Book a call with Tim or [email protected] and mention Acquiring Minds
Learn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:
The Acquisition Lab
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

Joe Odell and his partner acquired a business with over $4m in earnings and lots of green flags. It went sideways fast.
Register for the webinar: 
How to Present Your Deal for Maximum SBA Success - Jan 8th - https://bit.ly/4snUKHY
Topics in Joe’s interview:
His blue collar, military background
Volunteering without pay for a consulting company
Ultimately rejecting the tech industry
Finding his search partner at business school
Seeking out a complex business
Doing traditional search, on his wife’s advice
Acquiring a home health adjacent company
Post-close cash crisis
Losing a key sales rep
Fatal “pen stroke risk”
References and how to contact Joe:
LinkedIn
Get a complimentary IT audit of your target business:
Email Nick Akers at [email protected], and tell him you’re a searcher
Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:
From this page or contact [email protected]
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
Produced by Pam Cameron