Acquiring Minds cover art

Acquiring Minds

Acquiring Minds

By: Will Smith
Listen for free

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 to 4x EBITDA in 3 Years Without Growing Sales
    Jun 25 2026

    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 role as investor, coach and mentor

    References and how to contact Ned:

    • LinkedIn
    • Searchers Fund
    • Jason Jackson on Acquiring Minds: How to Recover from a Fraudulent Seller

    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 jenny@aspenhr.com

    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 and produced by Pam Cameron

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Leaving $700s/Yr to Buy an Underperforming Printing Business
    Jun 22 2026

    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 staying in the weeds
    • Aggressively pursuing new business
    • Discovering and fixing poor website speeds
    • His intent to sell the business

    References and how to contact Dominick:

    • LinkedIn
    • Printmoz.com
    • Heather Endresen at Viso Business Capital
    • Brendan O’Brien at Huntington Bank
    • Aizik Zimmerman on Acquiring Minds: Founder Mode for ETA: $6m to $25m in 3 Years

    Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

    • Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta.

    The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

    • 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 and produced by Pam Cameron

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 26 mins
  • From Software to Concrete Cutting (and $1.4m of SDE)
    Jun 18 2026

    When the owner refused a seller note in the $6m transaction to sell his business, Tom McCormick had to get creative.

    Register for the webinar:

    • Understanding a Quality of Earnings Analysis: What's Included and Why - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/43sZcKn

    Topics in Tom’s interview:

    • From IBM executive to acquisition entrepreneur
    • Building banker relationships to source better deals
    • Closing on his first LOI
    • Consulting agreement replaced traditional seller note
    • “I wish I would've started this path 15 years ago.”
    • Winning seller’s trust through shared values
    • Using ROBS to buy a larger company
    • A costly lesson about accounts receivable valuation
    • Prioritizing keeping the blue collar workforce happy
    • “I am so much happier now.”

    References and how to contact Tom:

    • LinkedIn
    • Quality Cutting & Coring

    The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

    • The Acquisition Lab

    Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

    • Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta.

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

    • From this page or contact jenny@aspenhr.com

    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 and produced by Pam Cameron

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 38 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet