Acquisition Collective

In this episode of the Acquisition Collective, I sit down with Ben Surdi to discuss his incredible journey from launching PureDry Restoration to scaling it into a multi-million-dollar business and exiting for $40M to private equity—with no earnout!

We Cover:
✅ How Ben started in carpet cleaning and pivoted into restoration
✅ The challenges of acquiring a business with hidden debt
✅ Scaling from $3M to $16M in revenue and tripling EBITDA
✅ Private equity deal structuring – 47 letters of interest, 27 LOIs, and securing the best offer
✅ How to negotiate all-cash exits and maximize your second bite of the apple
✅ What makes restoration businesses attractive to buyers & how to prepare for a sale
✅ The emotional toll of selling and adjusting post-exit

This is a must-watch for anyone interested in business acquisition, home services, and private equity-backed exits!

🕒 TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro: From Carpet Cleaning to Restoration Empire
02:20 - Acquiring a Restoration Business: A Costly Mistake
05:06 - Overnight Business Theft & Hidden Tax Debt
07:41 - Scaling to an Inc. 5000 Business & Hitting $16M in Revenue
10:48 - Attracting Private Equity: 47 Buyers, 27 LOIs, & a $40M Offer
13:36 - The Due Diligence Process: Avoid These Pitfalls
16:32 - Maximizing Your Exit & Negotiating a Higher Multiple
20:12 - Post-Acquisition Struggles & Private Equity Integration
23:14 - The Emotional Journey of Selling Your Business
26:39 - Lessons from the Exit: What Ben Would Do Differently
30:06 - Strategies to Make Your Business Irresistible to Buyers

💡 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:
💰 Building a Sellable Business in Home Services

Ben started PureClean Carpet Cleaning in 2011 and later expanded into water damage restoration after acquiring a small company.
A lack of due diligence led to inheriting $316,000 in tax debt and a business owner who later stole equipment and fled.
Instead of shutting down, Ben immersed himself in the business, scaled aggressively, and built a dominant brand in Washington State.
📈 Scaling & Attracting Buyers

Grew revenue from $3M to $16M with 25%+ net margins.
Consistently ranked on the Inc. 5000 list and leveraged PR to position the company as a high-growth leader.
Built a brand with strong SOPs, top-tier branding, and a scalable model—key factors that attracted private equity buyers.
🛠️ Private Equity & The $40M Exit

Hired an investment banker to create a competitive bidding process—leading to 47 LOIs and a $40M all-cash offer with no earnout.
Negotiated to roll $10M into the acquiring firm for future upside, a move that is now paying off with an upcoming 22x multiple exit.
What made Ben’s business attractive to buyers? Strong brand presence, independent management, and an aggressive growth trajectory.
🚧 Post-Acquisition Challenges & Lessons Learned

🔗 Follow Ben Surdi:
👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bensurdi
👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bensurdi/

🎙️ ABOUT YOUR HOST: JAY BOURGANA
I'm Jay Bourgana, founder of Acquisition Collective, where we help entrepreneurs buy, grow, and exit businesses. If you're looking to acquire a company or scale a home services business, this channel is for you!

💼 JOIN ACQUISITION COLLECTIVE 👉 https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/

🔗 Follow me for more insights on business acquisitions & private equity:
📍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquisitions-collective/?viewAsMember=true
📍 Twitter/X: https://x.com/JayBourgana
📍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbourgana/

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Want to acquire, scale, and dominate your industry? This episode is a goldmine for business buyers, entrepreneurs, and investors looking to make smart acquisitions and build high-growth companies.

Jay Bourgana sits down with Adam Coffey, a private equity expert, best-selling author, and M&A powerhouse who has bought and sold 58 businesses and built companies worth over $2.4 billion. In this episode, he reveals the controversial strategies behind private equity roll-ups, acquisitions, and how entrepreneurs can use the same tactics to create massive wealth.

 Whether you’re buying your first business, looking to scale through acquisitions, or planning a strategic exit, this conversation dives deep into M&A deal-making, leadership, and operational strategies that can shortcut your path to success.

 What You’ll Learn in this episode:
✅ The exact playbook private equity firms use to acquire, scale, and exit businesses
✅ How to buy businesses with debt (and pay almost nothing upfront!)
✅ The #1 M&A mistake that destroys value post-acquisition
✅ How to turn small businesses into big paydays using roll-ups and integrations
✅ Why selling your business once is a mistake (Get multiple paydays instead!)
✅ The truth about valuation multiples and how to maximize your exit
✅ How to scale an acquisition strategy without raising outside capital

Who This Video Is For:
Aspiring Entrepreneurs – Learn how to buy a business instead of starting one from scratch
Business Buyers & Investors – See how elite operators structure deals & create huge exits
High-Income Professionals – Looking to replace your income with business acquisitions? Watch this!
Post-Exit Founders – Thinking about investing in businesses? Learn how private equity does it.

Resources & Next Steps:
Join Jay’s Private Community for Business Buyers & Founders → https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz

Like, Comment & Subscribe to stay ahead of the game in M&A, business acquisitions, and scaling!

#BusinessAcquisition #Entrepreneurship #Scaling #MergersAndAcquisitions #PrivateEquity #BusinessGrowth #AdamCoffey #BuyABusiness #HowToBuyABusiness

The Keys to Successful Business Acquisitions & Turnarounds | Michael Dill on Acquisition Collective
🚀 Want to buy and grow a business successfully? Learn the inside strategies from business coach Michael Dill!

In this episode of Acquisition Collective, host Jay Bourgana sits down with Michael Dill, a seasoned ActionCOACH, to uncover the strategies, systems, and leadership mindset needed to acquire, integrate, and scale small businesses.

Michael shares real-world examples of acquisitions gone right and wrong, breaking down the key factors in choosing the right business, avoiding costly mistakes, and setting up a newly acquired company for long-term success.

If you're an entrepreneur, investor, or small business owner looking to acquire and grow companies, this episode is packed with valuable insights on due diligence, team integration, leadership, and profitability improvements.

🔔 Subscribe for more expert insights on business acquisitions & scaling!
📩 Join the Acquisition Collective community to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs: [Insert Link]

🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ How to identify the right business to buy using an ideal acquisition checklist
✅ The contrast clarity method for avoiding bad deals
✅ Why leadership & culture alignment is key to a smooth transition
✅ How to evaluate bench strength in a business before acquiring
✅ Strategies to turn around underperforming businesses
✅ How to navigate due diligence & spot red flags
✅ The role of systems, processes, and KPIs in scaling an acquisition

⏰ Timestamps & Key Topics
📌 [00:00:00] Introduction to Michael Dill & ActionCOACH
📌 [00:00:32] The power of leadership, accountability, and systems in business growth
📌 [00:01:10] Michael’s experience with business acquisitions & turnarounds
📌 [00:01:44] A real-world landscaping business acquisition case study
📌 [00:02:19] The ideal acquisition checklist – what to look for in a business
📌 [00:02:55] The contrast clarity method – knowing what to avoid
📌 [00:04:09] Why bench strength matters when acquiring a business
📌 [00:05:43] How to build relationships with competitors for future deals
📌 [00:06:49] The risks of being the cheapest option in the market
📌 [00:08:13] How to turn around an unprofitable business after acquisition
📌 [00:10:24] The importance of assessing company culture pre-acquisition
📌 [00:12:31] Key questions to ask during due diligence
📌 [00:15:40] How to announce an acquisition to employees
📌 [00:17:20] Communicating with employees & keeping them engaged
📌 [00:24:56] How to integrate customers after an acquisition
📌 [00:27:01] The first 90-day roadmap post-acquisition
📌 [00:32:32] How to avoid dishonest sel