David C. Barnett breaks down buying small businesses vs real estate, the risks investors overlook, and how to build resilient, cash-flowing companies.

In this episode of RealDealChat, Jack Hoss sits down with David C. Barnett, author of The Business Fortress and one of the most respected voices in small business acquisition, to unpack the real differences between buying businesses and investing in real estate.

David shares his journey from business brokerage to banking to building a global advisory firm helping buyers and sellers avoid catastrophic mistakes. He explains why business brokerage is fundamentally broken, how leverage cuts both ways in small businesses, and why “absentee ownership” is one of the most dangerous myths investors believe.

You’ll learn why operational leverage can destroy profits overnight, how liquidity (not growth) determines survival, why balance sheets matter more than P&Ls, and how long-term content creation (YouTube, books, email) quietly outperforms flashy marketing tactics.

This episode is a must-watch for real estate investors considering business acquisitions—and for entrepreneurs who want to build a business fortress that survives downturns and exits cleanly.

👉 Learn more & grab the book: DavidCBarnett.com

👉 Build systems & scale smarter: https://realdealcrew.com

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Why business school doesn’t teach entrepreneurship

01:00 – Why business brokerage is broken

02:45 – The cash-flow trap brokers don’t tell you about

04:30 – Why this book had to be rewritten

06:00 – Balance sheet vs P&L thinking

08:00 – Liquidity problems & sleepless nights

10:00 – Why growth can make businesses fragile

12:00 – Why he left brokerage for banking

14:00 – Helping buyers without brokers

15:30 – Business leverage vs real estate leverage

17:00 – Operational leverage explained (simple math)

19:00 – Why absentee ownership is a myth

21:00 – The “regional manager” reality

22:45 – Single dad, time freedom & entrepreneurship

24:30 – YouTube before it was cool

26:00 – Why vanity metrics don’t matter

27:30 – Content for buyers, not creators

29:00 – Marketing systems that compound

31:00 – Why investors start the wrong businesses

33:00 – Talent, management & hidden complexity

35:00 – Rapid Fire: lies, books & time-saving system

#BusinessAcquisition #SmallBusinessBuying #DavidCBarnett #RealDealChat #RealEstateInvesting #Entrepreneurship #BuyingABusiness #InvestorMindset #BusinessSystems #CashFlow

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