Welcome back to another episode of I&S! Today, host Gabriel Murillo sits down with Danny Sanchez, a serial entrepreneur whose journey took him from bussing tables and managing GameStop to building one of the largest floral retail operations in South Florida—and the nation.

Danny shares how he stumbled into his first business acquisition, demystifies SBA loans, and reveals what it takes to scale through buying, selling, and integrating businesses.

He and Gabriel dive into creative deal structures, lessons from acquiring everything from doctor’s offices to flower shops, and the mindset shifts needed to grow from small business owner to major player.

Whether you're an experienced entrepreneur or just curious, you’ll leave this episode with real insights on acquisitions, resilience, and planning your next big move. Let’s dive in!

00:00 Self-Education and Preparing for Success

05:51 Leveraging SBA for Challenging Acquisitions

07:45 SBA Process: Challenges & Changes

13:09 Business Expansion through Acquisitions

15:47 Entrepreneur's Business Acquisition Journey

18:13 Doctors: Business Challenges and New Ventures

20:10 Creative Deal Structures and Financing

25:56 Scaling Business for Investor Trust

27:43 "Pitfalls of High-Interest Asset Loans"

32:05 "Bet on Yourself: Embrace Setbacks"

34:24 Turning Challenges into Opportunities

38:25 Grateful Success in Medellin

41:11 "Navigating Business Growth Challenges"

44:50 Demystifying Venture Capital Deals

47:52 Strategic Growth and Financial Management

49:23 Preparing Business for Sale

1. Introduction and Background

- Danny Sanchez’s early life: Born in New York, moved to Miami at age five

- Initial career path: Attempt at computer animation, realizing limitations

2. Early Entrepreneurial Journey

- Exploration of franchise opportunities: The story of 1-800-Flowers.com franchise- Challenges of buying the first business without capital

3. Entering the Acquisition World

- Introduction to SBA loans and small business acquisitions

- Navigating the SBA 7(a) loan process

4. Risk, Mindset, and Personal Guarantees

- Balancing personal risk in acquisitions over multiple deals

- The importance of discipline, vision, and ongoing evolution in business

5. Criteria and Process for Acquisitions

- Danny’s acquisition criteria: Flexible on deal size, focuses on opportunity

- Examples of recent deals (e.g., buying for $80k then merging/closing stores)

6. Lessons Learned & Shifts in Acquisition Strategy

- Challenges of buying businesses tied too closely to a single owner/doctor

- Importance of building sellable businesses (brand structure, not personal names)

- Acquisition growth: From first retail shop to over 20+ shops

7. Creative Deal Structuring

- SBA loan structure: Down payments, amounts seller can finance

- Evaluating creative models like stock deals, roll-ups, and seller financing

8. Exploring Alternative Financing & Roll-Up Models

- Sale/leaseback and asset-based loans: High-interest pitfalls, relevance to business type

- Experiences from business brokering: Insights from broad industry exposure

9. Mindset, Scaling, and Leadership

- Mindset shifts needed for scaling to $100M+

- Systems building: Importance of procedures, departments, and organizational structure

10. Attachment, Identity, and Business Purpose

- Personal reflections on ego, accomplishment, and gratitude

- Building a company with measurable accomplishments and lasting impact

11. Looking Forward: Expansion and Growth Strategy

-Private equity, venture capital, and family office involvement

- Learning from venture-backed deals, confidence in pitching investors

12. Embracing Technology and SaaS Initiatives

- Development of SaaS tools for the floral industry (Shopify app)

- Integration of tech and AI for operational efficiency

13. Advice for First-Time Buyers and Acquirers

- Trusting instincts: Walking away from deals with red flags

- The value of consulting experts for financial strategy and preparing for potential exits