Episode 6 | Garth Fasano & Christi Loucks Everyone dreams of being the CEO — setting strategy, driving vision, and leading from the top. But for small business owners and ETA operators, the reality looks very different. In this episode, Garth and Christi pull back the curtain on what it really means to run a business day-to-day: rebuilding CRMs, managing payroll surprises, rewriting comp plans, and getting pulled deep into the weeds while still trying to think strategically. They share their unfiltered experiences on: • Why the first 90 days are almost all execution, not strategy • The unexpected grind of payroll, comp plans, and people management • How pricing and packaging can make or break your business • Why “operator” and “CEO” are two very different hats and you’ll wear both Whether you’re a searcher, operator, or just curious about life after acquisition, this episode is your honest playbook for surviving (and thriving) as a small business CEO.

Episode 5 | Garth Fasano with guest Quintin Graves What happens when your dream acquisition suddenly bleeds $50K a month? In this episode of Bought the Biz, Garth talks with Quintin Graves, owner of Scout Security in Denver, about the rollercoaster ride of buying and running a business. From hustling his way into an off-market deal to hiring (and losing) a GM, facing down terrifying negative cash flow, and clawing back to double the customer base, Quintin shares the unfiltered reality of ETA ownership. This is the story of resilience, hard lessons, and why sticking it out through the darkest moments can lead to the biggest wins. Listen now!

Episode 4 | Garth Fasano and Christi Loucks

In this episode of Bought the Biz, Garth and Christi pull back the curtain on the emotional roller coaster of running a small business after acquisition. From the thrill of landing a marquee billion-dollar client to the gut-punch of losing customers in the same hour, they dive into the highs and lows that define entrepreneurship through acquisition.

Christi shares moments of doubt—times she thought about shutting the doors—and what keeps her pushing forward despite the weight of family, investors, and an unforgiving market.

Together, Garth and Christi unpack the real toll on personal lives, relationships, and identity, while also exploring the opportunities (and pivots) that technology and AI bring to operators today. This isn’t the glossy “financial freedom in 12 months” version of ETA—it’s the reality: messy, exhausting, and deeply rewarding.

Episode 3 | Garth Fasano and Christi Loucks Buying a business means you inherit more than revenue—you inherit people, culture, and relationships that didn’t choose you. In this episode, Garth and Christi dive into the messy, rewarding process of building trust with an existing team after acquisition.

From navigating cultural differences across continents to rethinking compensation, shifting company culture, and avoiding fear-based decisions, they share what worked, what didn’t, and what every new operator should know when stepping into a business that’s already in motion.

Listen in!

Episode 2 | Garth Fasano and Christi Loucks

You finally own it. Now the record scratches. Garth and Christi unpack the real first weeks after close. How to plan your internal comms, announce to a leadership team before the all hands, pace one on ones, coordinate with the seller, and choose the right timing for customer announcements. Virtual setup choices, culture signals, and why transparency beats the “nothing will change” script. 

Episode 1 | Garth Fasano and Christi Loucks

In this episode, we set the stage for Bought the Biz by exploring the real leap from searcher to operator. Yes, there are the highs of meeting customers and shaping strategy — but there are also the surprises, like spending weeks just figuring out payroll and compliance across 20 states. This show is about those lessons. The goal is to help new owners anticipate what’s coming, avoid the early stumbles that slow momentum, and build a peer group where no one has to figure it out alone. Because buying the business is only the beginning — the real work, and real growth, starts the day after close.