Get $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 11th:

• https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDS

John Murphy pushed through divorce, $500k debt, and a bad broken deal to finally buy a 60-year-old business doing $8m.

Topics in John’s interview:

• Losing a deal one week before closing
• Value of peer groups
• How real estate compares to business ownership
• Taking over a company before the deal closed
• Unforseen transition expenses
• Carl Allen’s business buying course
• Leaving his W-2 to search for a business
• Value of joining industry associations
• Restructuring his workforce to increase margins
• Buying a company with a management layer

References and how to contact John:

• LinkedIn
• Dave Cole Decorators
• John@dcd-inc.com

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

Reid Tileston bought a business that relied on $800k trucks, capex he came to love for the fat margins they produced.

Topics in Reid’s interview:

• Working on the business instead of in it
• Writing a book about acquisition
• People are the worst and best part of business
• Power of feedback and relationships for business owners
• The company’s slow temp-to-hire process
• Getting his CDL to be hands-on
• Moving paper processes to the cloud
• Pros and cons of an Employee Stock Ownership Program
• Personally testing field service management tech
• Risks of informing employees of a business sale

References and how to contact Reid:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Grit It Done by Reid Tileston

Work with an SBA broker who focuses exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

• Matthias Smith of 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

Get $200 off your ticket to the M&A Launchpad Conference in Houston on May 11th:

• https://www.malaunchpad.com & enter code ACQUIRINGMINDS

Rafael Quinn shares the story & principles behind buying 3 businesses in Panama then raising $28m to buy more in the US.

Topics in Rafael's interview:

• Selling everything on Craigslist to move to Panama
• Buying his first business Panama from a billboard ad
• How to buy a business with an operator
• How he decided to build a holdco
• Self-identity as investor vs. entrepreneur
• 3-year dry spell not buying any businesses
• Being in "search mode" your whole career
• Breaking his own rule by buying a restaurant
• Why he turned his sights to the US
• How to raise $28m & structure a holdco
• Why buy a furniture retailer

References and how to contact Guest:

• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Athens Pizza
• Hickory Park
• Alternative Holdings

Get a complementary pre-acquisition HR & PEO review for your target business:

• Contact mark@aspenhr.com or visit Aspen HR

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