Buying Online Businesses with Michael Bereslavsky

How do you acquire six businesses in two years with little to no capital and build mid-seven figures in equity? Evan De Leonardi breaks down the creative financing model behind his acquisitions, the buyer-seller dynamics that can make or break a deal, and why deal structure matters as much as the purchase price. Evan has acquired businesses across commercial cleaning, medical transport, steel fabrication, saw blade repair, and more. He shares real acquisition stories—including J-curves, hidden operational problems, and lessons from his first deals—and explains how his company, Vitero, helps qualified first-time buyers source, diligence, and close acquisitions. In this conversation, you'll learn: How Evan's consulting-for-equity model works How SBA acquisition financing works, including down payments, timelines, and personal guarantees The seller red flags and customer-concentration risks that can sink a deal How to diligence specialized businesses when you're not an industry expert What Evan learned from inheriting a struggling team and rebuilding operations How modern software and AI can help improve small-business operations Why buying a business is not the passive, easy path some online advice promises Evan also shares how he assesses sellers, what he looks for in an operating partner, and why the quality of a business's systems and transition can matter long after closing.

Chapters 00:00 Evan's acquisition model and six-business portfolio 04:11 How the consulting-for-equity arrangement works 08:12 Evan's background and first acquisition 11:05 Buying and improving a commercial cleaning company 21:29 The medical transport acquisition 25:11 How seller quality affects the transition 27:32 Steel fabrication and saw blade repair deals 39:18 Diligence, SBA loans, and buyer requirements 47:15 Personal guarantees and downside risk 51:01 Deal sourcing, red flags, and AI 54:05 The reality of buying a business 58:27 Vitero's offer and why buyers seek a partner

#BusinessAcquisition #SmallBusiness #SBAloan

Mike Swigunski reveals how he went from affiliate sites and Empire Flippers employee number four to building a platform designed to let everyday investors own fractions of profitable online businesses. Links: /wefunder.com/dividends - dividendscapital.com - Globalcareerbook.com - mikeswigunski

If you care about online business, acquisitions, or how to get into deal flow without needing millions, this conversation is packed with practical insight. Michael Bereslavsky and Mike Swigunski unpack the trust signals that make or break acquisitions, why recurring revenue beats one-time revenue, and how the best deals often come from sellers who are ready to move on but still want upside. You'll discover: how Mike got his first online dollar from Amazon affiliate marketing what it was like joining Empire Flippers in its early hyper-growth years why shifting a plugin from one-time payments to subscriptions changed the economics of the deal the difference between buying from hobby-builders, operators, and polished resellers how a $400K FBA exit turned into a $670K deal by shopping the buyer pool why fractional ownership could open online business investing to non-accredited investors around the world Mike also breaks down the thinking behind Dividends—a platform built to make cash-flowing online businesses investable at a much lower entry point, with a target of quarterly payouts, a $100 minimum on the current raise, and a long-term vision to turn fragmented online assets into a mainstream alternative investment. If you've ever wondered how ordinary investors can access real businesses instead of just stocks, crypto, or real estate, this episode shows you where the market is headed. Essential listening for founders, operators, buyers, sellers, and anyone curious about the next wave of online business investing. Mike Swigunski is a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and former Empire Flippers employee number four, known for building remote businesses while traveling to 100+ countries. He is also the founder of Global Career and Dividends, where he is helping pioneer fractional ownership in online businesses. Michael Bereslavsky is an M&A advisor, and founder of Exiting.com with 20y+ experience in acquisitions, funds, and deal structuring across digital assets. He brings both the sell-side and the buy-side perspectives and a deep understanding of strategy and what makes a business worth acquiring.

Content that used to win in Google is no longer enough. Anirudh Agarwal reveals why AI SEO is shifting from keywords and backlinks to consensus, citations, and the exact prompts LLMs fan out behind the scenes. If you want your brand to show up in ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google AI Mode, this conversation breaks down what actually drives visibility now - and why the old playbook is already losing. Anirudh explains how LLMs answer questions, why retrieval matters more than pre-training, and why the pages that get cited are often not the ones marketers expect. You'll discover: Why AI SEO, GEO, and traditional SEO overlap, but behave differently on each platform How query fan-outs reveal the hidden searches behind a single AI answer Why Reddit citations have dropped sharply while institutional, documentation, and government sources are surging How to reverse-engineer the page types AI systems prefer, from listicles to guides to alternatives pages Why consensus matters more than a single backlink and how repeated mentions shape what models trust Anirudh also shares how his agency work evolved from link building and digital PR into a SaaS platform built around AI visibility. He explains how his tool maps topics, competitors, personas, and prompts, then tracks citations, sentiment, and visibility across platforms so brands can see where they are missing and what to do next. He also gets practical about what it takes to build authority in this new world: Why YouTube is becoming one of the most important channels for AI visibility How topical relevance beats raw subscriber count or generic reach Why enterprise growth depends on brand presence, referrals, and repeated exposure What changed after HCU and why content-only strategies are losing leverage Anirudh brings more than 17 years of SEO experience, including enterprise work with brands like Expedia, Canva, Hostinger, and Surfshark. He traces his journey from flipping AdSense sites to building a link-building agency, then to launching a SaaS product focused on AI SEO and third-party mentions. If you're a founder, agency owner, SEO, or marketer trying to understand how to win visibility inside AI answers, this episode gives you the playbook before everyone else catches up.

To find more about Anirudh https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhag1/ https://www.getmentions.ai/ https://outreachx.com/

Schlomo Freund shares his journey from a traditional background to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He discusses his early ventures, including day trading as a child and affiliate marketing as an adult. Schlomo elaborates on his experiences in China, where he started a business helping foreign companies navigate the Chinese app market. He also touches on his transition to financial coaching and investing in digital assets. The conversation concludes with insights into his traveling lifestyle with his family and the challenges and benefits of homeschooling. 00:00 Introduction to Schlomo Freund's Journey 02:33 Early Entrepreneurial Ventures and Influences 05:00 Affiliate Marketing and Initial Successes 07:58 Exploring Dropshipping in Nepal 10:23 Navigating Business in China 12:41 Starting a Company in China 15:25 Challenges of App Distribution in China 17:45 Understanding the Chinese App Market 20:25 Hiring and Managing in China 23:24 Exiting the Company and New Ventures 25:41 Transitioning to Digital Asset Investments 31:11 The Journey of Financial Coaching 34:37 Investment Strategies and Experiences 36:18 Acquiring Content Websites 39:43 Leveraging Digital Assets for E-commerce 50:01 Traveling and Homeschooling with Family

Takeaways

Jason transitioned from mechanical engineering to entrepreneurship. He became a digital nomad after reading 'The 4-Hour Workweek'. His experience at Empire Flippers was pivotal for his career. Navigating the Chinese Amazon market presented unique challenges. The rise of aggregators changed the landscape of online business. Jason's brokerage firm achieved significant success in a short time. COVID-19 impacted business operations and market dynamics. He learned valuable lessons about deal-making and negotiation. Jason's journey reflects the importance of adaptability in business. He is now focused on future opportunities in the online business space. Many Chinese sellers rely on translation services due to language barriers. The Chinese government actively supports Amazon sellers to boost exports. Success rates for new Amazon sellers are low, with many failing within the first year. Trust is a significant hurdle in establishing relationships with Chinese sellers. Due diligence is crucial, but buyers often take the lead in verifying seller claims. The brokerage model can be challenging due to the need for trust and relationship building. Investing in offline businesses may present better opportunities than online ventures. The future of manufacturing may shift away from China due to rising costs and geopolitical risks. Supply chain disruptions could lead to a reevaluation of sourcing strategies. The consolidation of businesses in the U.S. may limit opportunities for small business owners.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jason Lee's Journey 03:25 Breaking into the Online Business World 06:07 The Rise of Amazon Selling in China 10:54 Transitioning to Brokerage and Finding Opportunities 13:41 The Emergence of Aggregators in the Market 19:06 Navigating the Challenges of Cross-Cultural Business 24:18 Achieving Success in Business Brokerage 32:05 Market Changes and Future Plans 49:15 The Mainstreaming of Online Income 50:32 The Evolution of Remote Work Culture 51:24 Navigating Job Offers in the Digital Age 52:21 The Role of Automation in Business 53:51 In-Person Connections in a Remote World 55:46 Understanding the Brokerage Process 59:03 The Impact of COVID-19 on Work Dynamics 01:02:29 Transitioning from Amazon to Business Brokerage 01:03:43 The Nuances of Selling on Amazon 01:05:54 Challenges Faced by Chinese Sellers 01:09:16 Navigating International Business Deals 01:12:22 Challenges of Language Barriers in E-commerce 01:13:45 The Journey of Chinese Sellers on Amazon 01:16:24 Success Rates and Challenges for New Sellers 01:18:21 Navigating the Brokerage Business Landscape 01:18:51 The Process of Business Transfer and Trust Issues 01:23:18 Building Trust with Chinese Sellers 01:24:24 Data Scraping and Seller Outreach Strategies 01:27:00 Understanding Seller Revenue and Due Diligence 01:31:56 Insights from an Amazon Employee 01:33:35 Navigating Cultural Fit in Sales 01:34:33 The Challenges of Selling a Brokerage Agency 01:35:39 The Rollercoaster of Deal-Making in Brokerage 01:37:34 Partnership Dynamics in Business 01:41:10 Investing in Small and Medium-Sized Businesses 01:44:15 The Future of E-commerce and Supply Chains 01:46:59 The Implications of China's Demographic Shifts 01:50:50 Opportunities and Risks in Buying Businesses

In this conversation, Ross Gerson shares his journey into the world of website acquisitions, detailing his experiences at Empire Flippers and his current role at Web Street. He discusses the evolution of the online business market, the impact of Google updates, and the importance of genuine content in SEO. Ross also introduces DealSlide, a new tool for buyers, and offers insights on partnerships and the future of AI in online business

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ross Gerson and His Journey 02:49 Getting Started in Website Acquisitions 05:16 Transitioning from Offline to Online Brokerage 08:02 Role at Empire Flippers and Buyer-Seller Dynamics 10:37 Navigating Buyer-Seller Calls 13:10 Post-Empire Flippers: Building a Portfolio 15:58 Acquisition Strategies and Lessons Learned 18:36 The Landscape of Website Acquisitions 20:58 SEO Insights and Content Strategy 23:39 Market Trends and Future Outlook 31:52 Market Trends in Online Business Acquisitions 33:27 Opportunities in Content Acquisition 34:52 Emerging Trends in Business Sales 37:29 The Evolution of Business Multiples 41:22 The Impact of AI on Online Businesses 42:45 Introducing Deal Slide: A New Tool for Buyers 47:25 Future Plans for Deal Slide 49:19 Advisory Services for First-Time Buyers 52:37 Partnership Dynamics in Business 54:12 Navigating the AI Revolution 01:03:22 Personal Acquisition Strategies

Michael is back and shares where he's been and how his life has changed since selling his business.

Learn more about Michael at https://www.michaelbereslavsky.com/

Today, Michael welcomes Jason Malone from WeOutreach.

The two talk about backlinks and making complicated SEO simple. They also talk about what's important to know when buying backlinks, the things you should be paying attention to and how to achieve the best trade off between quantity and quality.

Learn more about Jason and WeOutreach at http://weoutreach.com

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-malone-a88b3333/

To learn more about Michael and Domain Magnate, visit http://domainmagnate.com

Today, Michael welcomes Marks Mars from Niche Website Builders and the co-founder of Make Lemonade on the podcast. The two of them talk about case studies from reviewing 5,000 websites and what do you need to get to the revenue goals you want. They also discuss how to build profitable websites using expired and aged domains as well as the most important factor in SEO today. Plus they touch on other topics around content, building sites at scale and buying sites.

Learn more about Make Lemonade at https://makelemonade.agency/

To learn more about Michael and his team, visit http://domainmagnate.com/

This week, Michael is joined by Ben Dankiw, the Co-Founder and CEO of SEO and paid media agency NAV43. Join us for a fascinating conversation on running a SEO agency, paid media and the new, evolving world of AI content. Ben also shares his current journey to purchase a website.

Ben shares some great insights and actionable takeaways that you can start using on your websites today.

Learn more about Ben and his agency NAV43 at https://nav43.com/

Connect with Ben at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brdankiw/

Learn more about Michael and Domain Magnate at http://domainmagnate.com