Acquisition Collective

Most founders have no idea how messy their books really are—until a deal falls apart. In this episode, Kartheek Mulpuri reveals how to spot the red flags that kill acquisitions and shares the financial due diligence playbook that today’s smartest investors use to buy and scale software and service businesses.

From overstated recurring revenue to cash that doesn’t tie out, Karthik walks us through real stories of how quality of earnings (QoE) uncovers hidden risk—and hidden value. Whether you're buying, selling, or just trying to build a cleaner, more sellable business, this conversation is pure gold.

We break down how to:
✅ Catch fake recurring revenue before it costs you 7 figures
✅ Spot the most common financial misstatements in SaaS deals
✅ Structure COGS, gross margin, and opex the right way
✅ Use contract reviews to find hidden deal risks (or upside)
✅ Clean up equity stacks before they scare off investors
✅ Avoid dead equity, bad SAFEs, and misclassified revenue
✅ Think like a strategic buyer—even if you're a founder

If you're an operator, business buyer, or investor—this is a must-watch.

00:00 From VC to Running a Finance Firm for SaaS & Funds
02:00 What “Quality of Earnings” Actually Looks Like
04:30 The 3-Step Playbook for Due Diligence on Software Deals
06:10 The Credit-Based Revenue Trap Most Buyers Miss
08:00 Cash vs. Accrual: The $1M Revenue Overstatement Mistake
10:15 Why Usage-Based Pricing Creates Hidden Risk
13:30 Seasonality, Pricing Models & Revenue Manipulation Tactics
15:45 Cost of Goods Sold: What's In (and What Shouldn't Be)
18:00 The Customer Success Debate: COGS or OpEx?
21:00 How Accrual Accounting Affects Deal Valuation
23:40 Cap Tables, Dead Equity & Founder Negotiations
27:00 SAFE Notes, Convertible Debt, and Investor Power Moves
30:30 When Cash Doesn’t Tie Out—Walk Away
33:00 Inventory Red Flags in E-Commerce and DTC Deals
35:00 Capitalizing vs. Expensing Dev Costs (And When Founders Get It Wrong)
37:45 How One PE Firm Used a 4X Liquidation Preference to Cram Down
40:10 Why E-Commerce Is a Minefield for Non-Experts
43:00 How to Avoid Overpaying in High-Interest Environments
46:00 The Opportunity in “Ugly but Profitable” Online Businesses
48:30 Milking Legacy Software Products for Maximum Cash Flow
50:00 Scaling Pet Grooming? Yes, Really.
52:00 The Most Egregious Financial Fraud Karthik’s Ever Seen

→ Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
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Follow Karthik Suresh on:
Twitter: https://x.com/kartheekmulpuri

#DueDiligence #QualityOfEarnings #SMBAcquisitions #SoftwareDeals #SaaSValuation #COGS #DeadEquity #CapTableCleanup #FinancialRedFlags #InvestSmart #ContractReview #BusinessValuation #Entrepreneurship #TechM&A #StartupFinance #BuyASmallBusiness #FounderTips #PrivateEquity #StartupAccounting #DealKiller #BusinessPodcast

Learn how to raise capital, structure better deals, and avoid the hidden traps that kill most acquisitions.
In this episode, Judd Goodrich from MainShares breaks down how capital actually gets raised behind the scenes—and why most deals fail after the LOI.
From overpaying for solid businesses to ignoring post-close transition plans, this conversation is a crash course in what makes or breaks investor trust and deal success.

We talk about how to:
✅ Avoid overpaying—and why a 5x multiple is a deal killer
✅ Raise smarter capital with investor-aligned structures
✅ Stress test your returns with realistic EBITDA assumptions
✅ Navigate SBA vs. non-SBA financing (and why it matters)
✅ Build trust with investors through risk transparency
✅ Fix broken pro formats and unrealistic IRRs before it’s too late
✅ Create operator-aligned transitions that actually work
✅ Spot the governance terms that can destroy your cap table

If you're an entrepreneur, investor, or business buyer raising capital or structuring deals, this is a must-watch.

00:00 Who is Jordan and what is MainShares
02:00 Why good deals get rejected (hint: overpriced)
04:15 What investors really care about in a deal
06:30 When to involve your capital partner (LOI vs. post-LOI)
09:00 The 3-part framework: Management, Alignment, Structure
12:00 How bad debt structures ruin great deals
14:45 Why clean transitions win investor trust
17:30 Stop pricing off last year’s inflated EBITDA
20:00 Realistic IRRs and the truth about payback periods
24:00 How preferred equity and investor protections really work
28:00 Why most capital raises fall apart at the last mile
30:00 Governance red flags: dilution, veto power & more
34:00 Building a platform for transparency and investor confidence
38:00 Two types of capital raises: self-directed vs. brokered
41:00 The top reason deals get rejected on MainShares
45:00 Why structure (not spreadsheets) wins capital
47:30 What successful fundraisers do differently
50:00 The transition trap that kills most deals
53:00 Building trust with clear risks + mitigations
56:00 How overbidding destroys deals—and reputations
58:00 Final tips for founders raising capital the right way

→ Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
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Follow Judd on
→ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/judd-goodrich


#Acquisitions #RaisingCapital #BusinessBuying #DealStructuring #InvestorTrust #IRRReality #BusinessFunding #Entrepreneurship #SMBAcquisitions #DueDiligence #BusinessValuation #SBAFunding #PrivateEquity #DealFlow #FounderJourney #FinanceTips #AcquisitionStrategy #BusinessPodcast #MainShares #ScalingSmart #BusinessOwnership #CapitalRaising #SmallBusinessFinance

Learn how to scale through acquisitions without inheriting chaos. In this episode, James Bates shares hard-won lessons from buying and growing multiple IT and cybersecurity businesses — including the mistakes, the wins, and the frameworks that saved millions.
From navigating toxic cultures, to structuring smarter deals with earnouts, to building operational systems that turn struggling companies into scalable machines — this is a blueprint for founders, operators, and investors serious about winning in small business acquisitions.

We talk about how to:
✅ Spot red flags before you buy (and what due diligence often misses)
✅ Fix toxic cultures and turn chaos into high-performing teams
✅ Use earnouts and creative deal structures to de-risk acquisitions
✅ Scale recurring revenue instead of chasing one-off sales
✅ Transition client and employee relationships the right way
✅ Avoid common cash flow traps that kill acquired businesses

If you're an aspiring entrepreneur, business buyer, or post-exit founder, this episode is a must-watch.

00:00 From Tech Entrepreneur to Multi-Business Acquirer
02:00 Lessons from the First Acquisition (Toxic Culture Warning)
05:00 Why Due Diligence Misses the Biggest Red Flags
08:00 How to Turn Around a Broken Company (Without Burning Out)
11:00 Structuring Smarter Deals: Earnouts, Fixed Notes, and Cash Flow
14:30 Building Recurring Revenue Engines vs. Product-Heavy Businesses
17:00 Fixing Culture: Leadership, Turnover, and Accountability Systems
21:00 Using Brokers and M&A Teams to Source Better Deals
24:00 Managing Integration Across Different Geographies
27:00 Cash Flow Nightmares: How Inventory Nearly Sank an Acquisition
30:00 Lessons from Buying Businesses Out of State
33:00 Leveraging Post-Acquisition Upside (Cross-Selling and Upsells)
36:00 Why Most Acquirers Underestimate the Cost of Turnarounds
39:00 How to Use Earnouts to Share Risk and Maximize Value
41:00 The “Dinner with the Spouse” Test for Better Acquisitions
44:00 Why Real Scalability Comes from Systems, Not Just Sales
47:00 Turning Around Culture Faster: Practical Tips for Operators
50:00 Working Capital Mistakes That Nearly Cost Millions
53:00 What I’d Look for in the Next Acquisition
55:00 Closing Advice for Business Buyers and Entrepreneurs

→ Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
→ Follow for more - @AcquisitionCollective
→ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acquisitioncollective/
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→ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquisitions-collective


#BusinessAcquisition #ScalingBusinesses #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessGrowth #DealFlow #Earnouts #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessTurnaround #RecurringRevenue #SMBAcquisitions #FounderJourney #ScalingUp #BusinessOperations #AcquisitionStrategy #RemoteTeams #SmallBusinessAcquisitions #BuildingCulture #DueDiligence #BuyGrowScale #CashFlowManagement #BusinessPodcast #ITBusiness #CybersecurityGrowth

Learn how Chris turned $10,000 small business acquisition into a $5,000,000 landscaping business using the buy then build strategy. Join him and Jay Bourgana from the Acquisitions Collective to discover the secrets to scaling your business!
From mowing lawns on Mondays with one part-time helper to building a $5M/year landscaping company, this is the no-fluff blueprint for scaling through small acquisitions, grit, and smart systems.

In this episode, Chris Cristillo shares how he: 
✅ Bought his first landscaping route for $10K with no business background
✅ Scaled through 5 acquisitions—including a $250K deal that 5X’d his business
✅ Leveraged high-interest loans, seller financing, and intuition to fund growth
✅ Turned his seasonal work into a year-round lifestyle business
✅ Built a team and layered in management without losing service quality
✅ Designed a scalable system for field crews, management, and maintenance
✅ Navigated culture clashes, employee transitions, and non-competes post-acquisition
✅ Created a second brand to offload smaller clients while keeping top-tier service
✅ Grew exclusively through referrals—no ads, no sales team
✅ Built a business that runs 95% without him

This is a must-watch for: 
 Business buyers considering blue-collar acquisitions
 Founders stuck in owner-operator traps
 Entrepreneurs curious about service-based rollups
 Anyone wondering what a real, sustainable lifestyle business looks like

 Whether you’re eyeing your first million-dollar deal or already running crews, this episode is packed with insights on buying right, growing lean, and building a business that actually buys your freedom.


00:00 From College Dropout to Landscaping Entrepreneur
02:00 Buying His First Route for $10K (and Losing Money)
06:00 His First Acquisition and Learning Seller Financing
10:00 The $250K Deal That Changed Everything
14:30 Culture Clashes & Post-Acquisition Team Integration
18:00 Building a 50-Person Team and $4M in Revenue
22:00 Design-Build-Maintain Model Explained
26:00 Starting a Second Brand to Keep Scaling Without Breaking Ops
29:00 How He Keeps Clients Without Marketing or Ads
33:00 Lessons on Systems, Delegation, and Lifestyle Freedom
36:00 Advice for First-Time Buyers of Blue-Collar Businesses

→ Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
→ Follow for more - @AcquisitionCollective
→ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acquisitioncollective/
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#SmallBusiness #BusinessAcquisition #LandscapingBusiness #BlueCollarBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #SMBAcquisitions #OwnerOperator #SellerFinancing #ServiceBusiness #BusinessPodcast #AcquisitionStrategy #FieldService #StartupTips #ScalingBusiness #BusinessTips #BuildToSell #CashFlowBusiness #RemoteOperations #BusinessPlaybook #WorkSmarter #BuyThenBuild #LifestyleBusiness #FoundersJourney #entrepreneurship #alexhormozi #codiesanchez #hormozi #walkerdeibel

Learn how to find and acquire very profitable wedding venue businesses. 
In this video, Charlie Kao shares his expert advice on how to buy a profitable wedding venue business. Learn about due diligence, mergers and acquisitions, and common red flags to look out for during the process. If you're considering investing in a wedding venue business, this video is a must-watch!

We talk about how to: 
✅ Acquire wedding venues without signing on the loan 
✅ Structure triple-net deals that create passive income 
✅ Spot which venues are businesses (not just pretty barns) 
✅ Monetize Monday–Thursday with non-wedding revenue 
✅ Partner with operators to avoid burnout and maximize margins 
✅ Use deposits as working capital—and a diligence shortcut

If you're a business buyer, entrepreneur, or real estate investor, this is a must-watch.

00:00 From Pickleball to Passive Income: How It All Started
03:00 Buying vs. Operating: Smart Roles in the Deal
06:00 The Triple-Net Lease Playbook for Wedding Venues
10:00 What Makes a Venue Worth Buying (Not Just Renting)
14:00 Margin Breakdown: How to Hit 40–70% EBITDA
18:00 Weekday Revenue: Turning Venues Into Multi-Use Assets
21:00 Add-On Income: DJ Kickbacks, Linen Markups & More
25:00 Vetting Operators: Red Flags and Green Lights
30:00 COVID Recovery & Expansion: The "Prove-It" Model
34:00 How to Buy the Real Estate Without Owning the Business
38:00 Scaling Strategy: 5 to 15 Venues Without Breaking Ops
42:00 The Ideal Venue: Size, Revenue, and Seasonality
46:00 Why Banks Hate Wedding Venues—and How to Navigate Lending
50:00 Due Diligence That Actually Matters (Hint: It’s the Deposits)
55:00 Owner Mentality vs. Passion Project—Know Who You’re Buying From
58:00 Staffing, Systems, and the Secret to High-Conversion Sales
01:02:00 How to Compete in the Experience Economy (Horse-Drawn Carriages Included)

→ Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
→ Follow for more - @AcquisitionCollective
→ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acquisitioncollective/
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→ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquisitions-collective

Follow Jason on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlesckao/


#weddingvenuebusiness #weddingvenues #realestateinvesting #businessacquisition #smallbusinessgrowth #smbacquisition #cashflowbusiness #entrepreneurship #businesssystems #passiveincomeideas #buyingabusiness #hospitalityinvesting #creativefinancing #triplenetlease #offmarketdeals #businessstrategy #scalingsmallbusiness #highmarginbusiness #eventvenue #founderjourney #dealstructure #revenuegrowth #biztok #smblending

Learn how to buy the right business and avoid killer small business acquisition mistakes.
We sit down with the Brian Stroh, president of Acquira to break down how they went from a digital deal directory to a full-on buy-side advisory powerhouse, helping acquisition entrepreneurs not just source deals, but close the right ones. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or scaling your acquisition firm, this conversation uncovers how to build a pipeline, avoid bad fits, and accelerate closings with smarter systems and expectations.

You’ll learn how to:
✅ Build a realistic investment thesis that actually converts
✅ Avoid unicorn-hunting mistakes that kill momentum
✅ Structure off-market conversations sellers want to have
✅ Use LOIs as a strategic weapon (not a final answer)
✅ Align with sellers on values—not just valuation
✅ Create an advisory ecosystem that unlocks capital, talent, and trust
✅ Streamline due diligence with the right prep before QofE
✅ Avoid the rookie trap of overanalyzing and missing great deals

Whether you're an entrepreneur, business buyer, or M&A advisor, this episode helps you shift from chasing deals to closing them, confidently and consistently.


00:00 What Acquire Actually Does (It’s More Than “An Accelerator”)
03:00 How Their Deal Flow Engine Works (On vs. Off Market)
06:45 Why Most Searchers Struggle (And How to Fix It)
09:30 How They Vet Investment Theses That Actually Work
13:00 Getting Faster to LOI Without Sacrificing Diligence
17:00 What Makes a Deal Die (And How to Spot Red Flags Early)
22:00 The New Role of Buy-Side Advisors in SMB Acquisitions
25:00 Why It’s Your Deal (And You Need to Lead It)
31:00 The Trap of Over-Delegating in M&A
38:00 Secrets to Off-Market Sourcing that Doesn’t Feel Spammy
42:00 Aligning With Sellers Through Empathy, Not Ego
46:00 What “Right Buyer” Means (With a Real Electrical Biz Example)
50:00 Handling Post-Close Transitions Without Drama
54:00 SBA, LOIs, and Why Price Isn't Everything
01:00:00 Why Flexibility Beats Perfection in Every Deal

→ Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
→ Follow for more - @AcquisitionCollective
→ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acquisitioncollective/
→ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@acquisitioncollective
→ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquisitions-collective

Follow Jason on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-stroh/


#SMBAcquisition #BusinessBuying #BuySideAdvisory #Entrepreneurship #MergersAndAcquisitions #AcquireBusinesses #SearchFund #BusinessDeals #DealFlow #SBAloans #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusinessTips #FounderJourney #AcquisitionStrategy #PrivateEquity #BusinessOwners #StartupAcquisition #ScaleYourBusiness #BuyACompany #BusinessOps #BusinessStrategy #OffMarketDeals #DealSourcing #BusinessTips #BizBuySell #InvestSmart

Discover what really works in business buying from someone who’s analyzed over 300 small business acquisitions. Whether you're an entrepreneur or operator looking to scale through acquisition, this is your roadmap to success. Learn the key patterns, pitfalls, and strategies that separate thriving deals from costly mistakes.

In this episode, we sit down with Jason Ehrlich an investor who transitioned from LP to GP, built a fund for small business buyers and self-funded searchers, and is deploying capital into enduringly profitable B2B businesses across towing, logistics, manufacturing, and more.

This conversation is a playbook for anyone in the ETA (entrepreneuship through Acquistion) space, entrepreneurs, fund managers, and investors alike—who want to create serious returns by backing the right operators and structuring smarter deals.

We break down: 
✅ Why enduring profitability beats high-growth flash 
✅ What LPs need to know before backing a fund 
✅ How to screen operators for character, not just competence 
✅ The structure behind 35% IRR targets and preferred equity returns 
✅ Why brokered deals aren’t the enemy—and proprietary deals aren’t always better 
✅ How to avoid common traps in due diligence (customer churn, working capital shocks, seller misreps) 
✅ Scaling smart: From one tow company to a mini roll-up

If you're an investor, operator, or business buyer serious about building wealth through small business acquisitions, this is a must-watch.

00:00 Investing Shift: From LP to Building a Fund
02:00 Why He Bet on Self-Funded Search
04:20 The $5M Fund, $600–800K Check Sizes
06:30 What Makes a Business “Enduringly Profitable”
09:00 From Two Tow Companies to Roll-Up Value Creation
11:45 The Playbook for Finding Quality Entrepreneurs
14:30 Structuring Preferred Equity + Step-Up Conversions
17:00 The Screening Process: 325 Interviews, 6 Deals
21:00 Red Flags in Due Diligence: Churn, Revenue Misreps
25:00 Real ROI from Avoiding Bad Operators
28:00 Inside Their Ideal Investment Criteria
31:00 Working Capital, Debt, and CapEx Insights
34:00 Why Stability better than Speculative Growth in SMBs
36:00 Operator Incentives, Exit Rights, and Deal Flow
39:00 What Most Searchers Get Wrong
41:00 Brokered Deals vs. Proprietary—The Truth
45:00 Smart Deal Terms: Forgivable Seller Notes, Protections
47:00 Fund Structure: 24% IRR Target, 7% Preferred
50:00 The Next $20M Fund—And Who Should Join

→ Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
→ Follow for more - @AcquisitionCollective
→ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acquisitioncollective/
→ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@acquisitioncollective
→ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquisitions-collective

Follow Jason on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehrlichjason/


#BusinessAcquisitions #SearchFunds #SelfFundedSearch #Entrepreneurship #PrivateEquity #SmallBusinessGrowth #ETA #BusinessBuying #SMBAcquisitions #DealFlow #InvestmentStrategies #BusinessInvesting #CashFlowBusinesses #ScaleSmart #DueDiligence #PreferredEquity #InvestorInsights #FundStructure #B2BBusiness #BusinessPodcast #AcquisitionEntrepreneurship #PassiveIncome #BusinessStrategy

Learn to leverage international talent to grow and scale your business. In this episode, Guy Salani shares the gritty, high-conversion systems he used to scale a roofing sales and marketing company to $12M in four years without ever touching a hammer.

From turning ex-addicts into high-performing call center reps, to training teachers into 7-figure closers, to building a conversion machine that ran on Google PPC and HomeAdvisor leads this is a masterclass in sales operations, team building, and scalability.

✅ How to build a world-class call center with local talent
✅ The exact sales training system that fueled a 45% close rate
✅ How Guy kept marketing costs under 3.5% of revenue
✅ Structuring comp plans that reward performance (without killing margins)
✅ Why technicians should never be your closers
✅ How same-day closes and two-legged appointments built predictable revenue
✅ Scaling with simplicity: why clarity greater than complexity in sales systems
✅ Leveraging mission-driven hires from recovery communities
✅ The power of emotional storytelling in sales especially in home services
✅ Why firing top reps can be the best move for your culture

If you're building a sales-driven business especially in home services this is required watching.

00:00 Learn to leverage international talent
02:00 From real estate hustler to roofing sales CEO
04:30 How Guy built 4 construction companies and burned out
06:00 From miserable to $12M: How home sales saved his life
09:00 85% demo rate and 45% close rate explained
12:00 Why he recruited reps from women’s recovery groups
14:30 Niche product offers that outperformed big-ticket roofing
17:00 Why they avoided storm chasing, cold calls & insurance jobs
19:00 Training system: 3 days/week, roleplay-heavy, script-first
21:00 Comp plans that created hunger without hurting profit
24:00 Two-legged rule: no pitch unless all decision-makers present
26:30 When to ride along, when to coach, when to cut
30:00 Why same-day closes made their model work
32:00 Sales vs tech: why the best closers aren’t your installers
35:00 Options selling and emotional decision-making
38:00 Systemizing lead assignment by sales rep personality
41:00 Culture rules: simplicity, speed, structure
44:00 Why he fired his top reps and the team got better
47:00 Closing thoughts for founders building sales teams

→ Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
→ Follow for more - @AcquisitionCollective
→ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acquisitioncollective/
→ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@acquisitioncollective
→ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquisitions-collective

Follow Guy on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-michael-s/
Twitter: https://x.com/GuySalani
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guymichaelsalani

#SalesSystems #CallCenterStrategy #RemoteSales #HomeServicesBusiness #FounderJourney #B2CSales #LeadConversion #SMBsuccess #PredictableRevenue #SalesTraining #HiringSystems #SalesOps #Entrepreneurship #VirtualTeams #EmotionalSelling #ScalingUp #GooglePPC #HomeAdvisor #TeamCulture #PerformanceCompensation

Learn to leverage international talent to grow and scale your business, In this episode, John Matzner shares how he scaled multiple companies using a global talent, automation, and systems thinking.

From replacing entire departments with international hires, to using automations that save hundreds of hours, to raising capital through immigration-linked investments—this conversation is a blueprint for founders who want to build real, scalable businesses instead of jobs that trap them.

We talk about how to:
✅ Hire smarter (not cheaper) from around the world
✅ Systematize your company to reduce founder dependence
✅ Use AI as your secret weapon for ops, hiring, and scaling
✅ Get off-market deal flow using global SDRs
✅ Reinvest savings into top-tier local talent—and outpay competitors
✅ Build a media funnel that prints credibility and capital

If you're an entrepreneur, business buyer, or investor, this is a must-watch.

00:00 From Pen Guy to Foreign Service to Business Owner
02:00 What “Leverage” Really Means (It’s Not Just Debt)
04:20 Hiring Global Talent vs. Outsourcing
06:30 Building Companies Without U.S. Employees
09:00 How He Grew a Home Services Biz to $5M in 30 Months
11:45 The Hidden Power of No-Code, AI, and Automation
14:30 Global Hiring Strategy by Country (Argentina, Philippines, India & More)
17:00 Why He Pays Techs More by Saving on Admin
19:45 The GTI Role: Global Talent Integrator Explained
22:20 Building Systems to "Earn the Right" to Delegate
26:00 Writing Memos in the Jacuzzi—With Voice + AI
28:40 Automating Follow-Ups, Proposals, and Review Requests
30:00 The Pyramid of Leverage: Capital, Global, AI, Owner
32:00 Leveraging Global Talent for Deal Flow in SMB Acquisitions
35:00 Getting $3K Value with $30 Worth of Global + AI Support
38:10 Using Global Hiring to Outcompete for Skilled Labor
41:00 Why Most Founders Stall at $5–10M (And How to Break Through)
44:00 Using Foreign Direct Investment Capital (E-2 Visa Strategy)
47:00 The Costco of Global Talent: How He Built His Recruiting Company
50:00 Twitter as Media Leverage—$1.2M in ARR from One Channel
52:00 GoPro + Septic Tank = Full Marketing Funnel? (Yes.)
55:00 We’re All in the Content Business Now
57:00 Why You’ll Never Raise Capital the Hard Way Again
59:00 Closing Thoughts & Actionable Advice for Founders


 → Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
 → Follow for more - @AcquisitionCollective
 → Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acquisitioncollective/
 → Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@acquisitioncollective
 → Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquisitions-collective

Follow Jon Matzner on:
Twitter: https://x.com/MatznerJon
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-matzner

#Leverage #GlobalTalent #SmallBusinessGrowth #BusinessSystems #Entrepreneurship #AIForBusiness #SMBAcquisitions #AutomationTools #RemoteTeams #ScalingBusinesses #VirtualAssistants #BusinessPlaybook #OutsourcingVsHiring #EfficiencyHacks #StartupTips #FounderJourney #BusinessOperations #RemoteHiring #DigitalLeverage #BusinessStrategy #BusinessAutomation #NoCodeTools #ScaleSmart #BusinessPodcast #WorkSmarter #Sagan

How This Private Equity Veteran Is Quietly Buying Businesses With His Own Money

After 20+ years leading private equity deals at one of Canada’s most respected firms, Mark walked away. He helped build ONCAP from scratch, scaled 30 platform companies with 150+ add-ons, and generated 4x+ returns across multiple funds. But now? He’s quietly buying overlooked small businesses—using his own capital—and unlocking massive yield without the institutional noise.

In this candid conversation, Mark reveals:

Why fund managers are paying 15x EBITDA for companies worth half

The real reason value investing "died" in private equity

How he uses real estate-heavy businesses and dealer networks as hidden cashflow machines

The only 3 business models he’ll invest in now

And the one phrase he never wants to hear from a founder: “We’re growing 20% a year.”

Whether you’re raising a search fund, doing your first acquisition, or already own a portfolio of small businesses—this conversation will sharpen how you think about value, structure, and risk.

00:00 – Intro & Background
01:00 – Building ONCAP & 20+ Years in PE
03:00 – Why He Left Institutional Private Equity
06:00 – What Value Investing Looks Like Today
08:00 – How to Think About Fund Size vs. Deal Strategy
12:00 – Platform vs. Add-On Strategy
16:00 – Mistakes in Fund 1 and Learnings
20:00 – Fund 2’s Car Wash Roll-Up That 8x’d
24:00 – How China Changed Manufacturing Investing
27:00 – Deal Flow vs. Homework Projects
31:00 – His Favorite Business Models (Explained)
35:00 – Why “Reason to Be” Matters More Than Growth
38:00 – Why PE Firms Can’t Touch These Hidden Gems
42:00 – How He Buys Real Estate-Backed Businesses With No Outside Capital
47:00 – Solving for Cycles with Structure
50:00 – What Institutional Capital Gets Wrong About Small Biz
56:00 – The Best Deals He Sees Right Now
01:00:00 – How to Partner, What He’s Looking For Next


 → Join our community - https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
 → Follow for more - @AcquisitionCollective
 → Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/acquisitioncollective/
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