Before You Buy or Sell a Business

Jared Johnson sits down with Ivy Millman, CEO of WHIZDOM, to explore a missing piece in many lower middle market acquisitions: customer due diligence. Ivy shares how her background in accounting, Stanford, Apple, and decades of business-customer research led her to build a firm focused on helping buyers, investors, and operators understand what financial, legal, and technical diligence often miss. The conversation breaks down how independent customer interviews can uncover risks around retention, churn, concentration, loyalty, product issues, and transition vulnerability before a deal closes. Ivy explains her process, why customers often reveal more to a neutral third party...

Jared Johnson sits down with M&A advisor and serial entrepreneur Christine McDannell, founder of The Magnolia Firm, to unpack a deal that did not go as planned. Christine shares how an acquisition of a dance and fitness studio moved from seemingly profitable to cash-flow negative once she took over operations. They walk through what she missed because of speed, compressed diligence, and incomplete financial visibility, including licensing costs, seasonal revenue swings, and marketing spend that lived outside the books. Christine explains why raising pay and funding upgrades early created unintended expectations, how customer and operational pressures compounded the...

In today’s M&A market, the difference between a clean transaction and a painful one often comes down to pricing discipline, seller integrity, and how prepared the buyer is before the first call.

In this episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business, Jared Johnson sits down with Greg Kovsky, President and CEO of International Business Associates (IBA), the Pacific Northwest’s largest and oldest business brokerage firm. Greg has spent more than 30 years in the industry and has personally facilitated over 300 transactions. He shares what he’s seeing in the last 12–18 months, why buyer demand i...

Jared Johnson sits down with Andy Allaway, CEO of Empire Flippers, one of the largest marketplaces for buying and selling online businesses. Andy shares how the company built a global platform that lists only 5 percent of submitted businesses, vets every seller, verifies every buyer, and has facilitated thousands of acquisitions ranging from high five figure deals to eight figure exits.

Andy explains why the online business market has matured significantly in the last decade, how valuation expectations shifted after the zero interest rate era, and why today’s buyers are far more sophisticated in due diligence. He br...

Jared Johnson sits down on location with Jordan Hood, the new owner of Low’s Bridal, a regionally known 48-year bridal institution in rural Arkansas. Jordan shares how a childhood on a Mississippi farm, an art and photography degree from Parsons, early digital marketing work in New York, and five years raising money for St. Jude all shaped the way she eventually stepped into owning a historic 22,000 square foot bridal shop she first joked about buying at age 19. She explains how she found the deal through her best friend’s family, what it took to win the trust of sell...

Jared Johnson sits down with Paige Wiese, founder of Tree Ring Digital, a 16-year full-service digital marketing and web agency, to unpack the part of buying or selling a business that almost nobody plans for: digital asset transfer. Paige explains why domains, hosting, email, social accounts, analytics, third-party tools, brand files, and even AI/GPT logins often sit in personal inboxes or with old vendors—and how that can stall or even devalue a transaction. She walks through her two-step approach (digital asset assessment, then a 300+ point audit), why buyers should ask earlier for logins and proof of marketing pe...

Jared Johnson sits down with husband and wife operators Tahir Zaman Hussain and Neilab Rahimzada to unpack an 18-month search that started in London and New York, survived a failed first deal, and ended with the acquisition of a hyper niche window restoration company with decades of brand equity. They explain why calling brokers directly beat scrolling listings, how a prior LOI on a fire sprinkler company fell apart over working capital, and what changed when they found a seller who was transparent and responsive. The pair walk through pricing, a structured transition that kept the seller away from...

Jared Johnson sits down with investor and operator Adam Markley to trace a winding path from nearly failing out of college to building and backing small businesses. Adam shares how a pivot into accounting and finance opened doors to hands-on work with small companies, a corporate run standing up deal-driven divisions, and ultimately his own acquisitions in the U.S. and U.K. He talks candidly about painful lessons (from paying loans out of pocket to a partner emptying accounts), why seller behavior is a leading indicator of post-close reality, and how his team now invests with a heavy...

First-time buyers often worry about what they do not know, but success comes from focusing on fundamentals and building strong relationships.

In this episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business, Jared Johnson talks with Sushant Bharadwaj, a former technology consultant who transitioned into entrepreneurship by acquiring two e-commerce businesses. Sushant shares how his consulting background in ERP systems and supply chain management shaped the way he evaluated deals, why he treated banks and sellers as partners, and how he built trust by answering questions with transparency.

He explains the criteria he used to...

Closing on a business is only the beginning. Success depends on how you manage the first years of ownership, the capital you bring to the table, and the partners you choose.

In this episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business, Jared Johnson talks with Jacob Hall, Founder and Managing Partner of Kando Capital, about the realities of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA).

Jacob shares how his career as an engineer and operator shaped his approach to investing in self funded searchers and independent sponsors. He explains why search is a double edged sword, what...

At the heart of entrepreneurship is the responsibility to create value. Not just for yourself, but for employees, customers, and the community.

In this episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business, Jared Johnson sits down with Munashe Makava, an NYU MBA graduate who began his career at Deloitte and Goldman Sachs before stepping into entrepreneurship through acquisition.

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Munashe shares how his parents instilled an entrepreneurial mindset early on, why the birth of his first child was the push to finally buy a business, and what he learned transitioning...

What’s the difference between starting a business from scratch and buying an existing one?

In this episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business, Jared Johnson talks with Sathya Ramanathan, a former tech founder who grew and exited a software company before acquiring a light construction equipment dealership in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Sathya shares what he learned from selling his first business, working alongside new management during a two-year transition, and then moving into acquisition entrepreneurship. He explains why buying an established company can be less risky than starting one, the due di...

What kind of person should actually buy a business, and who should not?

In this episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business, Jared Johnson talks with David Barnett, former business broker, author, and small business advisor, about what buyers need to know before stepping into business ownership.

They cover who should and shouldn’t buy a small business, how the acquisition landscape has changed, and the mistakes new buyers make by relying on online content instead of real experience. David explains why he left the brokerage world, what many buyers get wrong about bu...

In this episode, Jared Johnson sits down with Nadav Ben-Chanoch, a former tech operator turned small business acquirer, to unpack why more founders are skipping startups and choosing to buy real businesses instead.

Nadav shares how his experience in Silicon Valley shaped his approach to deal-making, why he walked away from the traditional venture path, and what he’s learned transitioning from building software to operating a brick-and-mortar business. Whether you’re exploring search, planning your first acquisition, or just trying to understand where the market is headed—this conversation offers a grounded look at what it really...

In this episode, Jared Johnson sits down with Michael Seitz, CEO & Chairman of EarthWise Pet, for a wide-ranging conversation on entrepreneurship, franchising, M&A strategy, and what it really takes to build and scale a brand in a mission-driven industry.

Michael shares how growing up in a family business shaped his values, how almost becoming a dentist led him back to his entrepreneurial roots, and the hard-earned lessons behind buying 42 stores in a single day. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, seasoned operator, or just curious about franchising from the inside out—this one is packed with insigh...

In this episode of the Before You Buy or Sell a Business podcast, host Jared Johnson welcomes Mark Fleming, a specialist in business acquisitions and co-founder of Owner Actions.

Mark shares his journey from a background steeped in finance and trading to becoming an essential guide for investors at the critical 'search' stage of business acquisition. He emphasizes the challenging yet crucial initial phase of the acquisition process, a step often overlooked by many who are eager to jump straight to the deal-making stage.

The conversation delves into pivotal topics including the significance of selecting...

In this episode of the "Before You Buy or Sell a Business Podcast," host Jared Johnson welcomes Jason Boehning, an HVAC industry professional who has successfully acquired two businesses over a short period.

The discussion delves into the intricacies of acquiring businesses, highlighting Jason's strategic mindset and the unique competitive advantage he enjoys due to his engineering background. This episode offers listeners invaluable insights into the pragmatic approach Jason adopted, which not only involved leveraging his skills but also focusing on relationship-building and effective transition management.

Jason's journey started from a small Texas town and...

Navigating the intricate world of buying and selling businesses can be challenging. Understanding due diligence, valuations, and the right mindset is crucial.

In this episode of the "Before You Buy or Sell a Business" podcast, host Jared Johnson engages Rosco Graves from Polaxis in a deep dive into the nuances of buying and selling businesses.

They discuss the pertinent steps necessary for a successful business acquisition or sale, including crucial due diligence phases. With Jared’s experience as a lender and Rosco’s corporate and entrepreneurial background, the episode exposes valuable strategies to enhance transaction succ...

"The more parties you get investing in your deal, the less of a chance you're going to buy a bad deal."

In Part 2 of this two-part episode of the Before You Buy or Sell a Business podcast, I talk with SBA loan borrowers about the business they end up buying: an HVAC business.

From initial deal discovery to negotiating terms and finalizing the purchase, this episode provides a thorough examination of each step potential buyers should consider.

This detailed discussion underscores the importance of due diligence and...

In this two-part episode of the  @beforeyoubuyorsellabusiness  I sit down with my borrowers, Peter Hucal and Garrett Johnson, two dynamic entrepreneurs from Wharton who embarked on a journey of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA).

Their diverse backgrounds across engineering, project management, social impact, and consultancy have uniquely positioned them for success in the acquisition space. Tune in as they share authentic insights into their professional path and elaborate on the intricacies of navigating such an acquisition in today's market.

Embarking upon a 13-month journey, Peter and Garrett discuss their extensive search for the ri...

In this episode of "Before You Buy or Sell a Business," host Jared Johnson welcomes Conner Young, co-founder of Kairo Data. The conversation centers around Kairo Data's innovative platform, designed to streamline the process of finding and acquiring small to medium-sized businesses. Conner shares his team's journey from traditional wealth management to solving complex acquisition challenges through proprietary databases and off-market deals.

Conner provides an in-depth tour of Kairo Data's features, explaining how they aggregate business listings from various sources into a single, convenient platform. Users can refine their searches to match their specific acquisition criteria, create...

Before you buy or sell a business, perhaps you've read "Buy Then Build."

Today's podcast guest, Matt Crowder, talks about how that book set him further down the entrepreneurial path.

Matt, a borrower I worked with, recently acquired Western Stairlifts, a business specializing in home mobility equipment. We explore his transition from a traditional career in the tech industry to full-time entrepreneurship. The guest shares the pivotal moments, challenges, and learnings from both their vending machine business and the acquisition of Western Stairlifts.

From selling snowflakes to technology, from managing...

Before You Buy or Sell a Business, be prepared.

That's what today's guest would tell anyone who is looking to buy a business like he did.

I am happy that I got to sit down with George Ayomide, a two-time borrower of mine. George is an ambitious entrepreneur who has made significant strides in the business world. From his early business experience in Nigeria to his successful ventures in the United States, George shares his insights on acquiring and transforming businesses, maintaining effective customer relations, and ensuring seamless transitions.

<...

Before you buy a business, ask the seller this question, "What are some problems you've dealt with in the last month?"

Keira Hamilton asked that question to the seller before she bought the laundromat that she now owns.

Join me in this captivating conversation with Keira Hamilton, a former educator turned entrepreneur.

We'll delve into the nuances of due diligence, the realities of owning a laundromat, and the transition from real estate to business acquisition. Discover insights on validating business operations, managing employee relationships, and the significance of understanding seller...

Selling a business is no small feat, and it requires astute planning, risk-taking, and timely decisions. Thomas Perkins, a seasoned entrepreneur, recently shared his wisdom on the "Before You Buy or Sell a Business" podcast.

His journey from being a self-employed barber to a successful business owner of a company grossing $3.5 million annually carries valuable lessons for anyone considering embarking on this path.

In this podcast episode, I talk with Thomas about the highs and lows he faced, from managing finances and credit lines to navigating the complexities of selling a business. <...

Buyers and sellers can be friends, right? Well, what about business partners that work together to scale HVAC businesses?

In this episode of the Before You Buy or Sell a Business podcast, I sit down with Marc Chard and Spencer Satorie of Apex Services dive into their journey of expanding HVAC companies, sharing insights on acquisitions, systems implementation, and management across multiple locations.

From their initial partnership to acquiring multiple companies, they reveal strategies for overcoming challenges, the importance of a solid system, and their growth plans, including adding plumbing services.

Discover how...

Before you buy or sell a business, hear Josh Levine on the nuances and evolving trends in the business acquisition landscape.

In today’s podcast episode, I am joined again (see episode 5) by Josh Levine of Private Market Labs where we talk about:

In this episode of the Before You Buy or Sell a Business podcast, host Jared Johnson sits down with long-time friends and now business owners, Brandt and Danielle Badouin.

The couple shares their journey from their respective corporate careers to purchasing a nail salon, highlighting the challenges and triumphs they experienced along the way. Jared and the Badouins delve into the nuances of transitioning from being employees to business owners, offering invaluable insights and advice for anyone considering a similar path.

The episode kicks off with Brandt and Danielle's backgrounds, outlining their extensive experience in...

Welcome back to another episode of the "Before You Buy or Sell a Business" podcast, host Jared Johnson engages in an insightful conversation with Jeanise Hatcher, a dynamic entrepreneur who transitioned from a corporate career to owning a Pilates studio in Austin, Texas.

Initially stumbling upon Pilates during her recovery from a dance injury, Jeanise found a new passion that she decided to transform into a business venture. She candidly shares her journey of acquiring the studio, the challenges she faced, and the lessons she learned along the way.

Jeanise details the...

Welcome back to another episode of the Before You Buy or Sell a Business podcast.

Recently, I sat down with Rand Larsen and he shared his journey from startup adventures to carving out a niche in the entrepreneurial through acquisition (ETA) space. The discussion unfolds with an exploratory look into Rand's foray into starting his own company and the lessons learned from its quick demise due to external factors like the pandemic. His pivot to buying businesses and his current focus on crafting peer groups provide a rich tapestry of insights for both budding and seasoned entrepreneurs.<...

Welcome back to another episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business.

Today, I am happy to introduce a past borrower, Derek Croft, whose recent venture into business ownership presents a unique and fascinating case study for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Derek opens up about his transformative journey, beginning with his engineering background, MBA pursuit, and foray into consulting at a top-tier firm. Realizing that his true calling lay in growing and running a business, he embarked on a meticulous search for the ideal company to acquire, laying out the nuances of his strategic shift from...

Welcome back to another episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business. Today, I talk with Erik Fike as he shares his experience of buying a business while still working in his current role.

He discusses how he found the right business, the challenges he faced during the transaction, and the lessons he learned along the way. Erik provides valuable insights into the due diligence process, the importance of finding the right lender, and the need for mentorship and guidance in the acquisition process. He also highlights the significance of having experience in running a company...

In this episode, host Jared Johnson interviews Eric Pacifici, an attorney specializing in small and medium-sized business (SMB) mergers and acquisitions (M&A). 

Eric shares valuable insights and advice for buyers and sellers in the acquisition process. He emphasizes the importance of having legal representation and discusses key contractual terms such as indemnity and non-compete clauses. Eric also addresses the cost of legal services and the benefits of a fixed fee model. 

He highlights common challenges in SMB M&A deals, including issues with quality of earnings and seller disputes. Eric provides practical strategies for mi...

In this episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business, host Jared Johnson welcomes back Tommy Speigner to share his journey and lessons learned from acquiring a business in an industry he had never explored before. Tommy discusses the process, challenges, and triumphs he experienced in finding and buying a company. The conversation dives into the nuances of engaging with investors and the strategic approaches for buying and growing a business successfully.

From the decision-making strategies to the realization of purchasing a forestry and vegetation management service company, this episode unpacks the details of identifying viable...

In this episode of, host Jared Johnson interviews Daniel Cox, a serial entrepreneur who recently purchased a restaurant.

Daniel shares his background and journey from construction to law enforcement to the mental and behavioral health industry. He discusses how he found the listing for the restaurant and the due diligence process he went through before making the purchase. Daniel also provides insights into the challenges and opportunities he faced during the transition and the importance of having working capital.

He emphasizes the value of mentors and the need for careful planning and preparation when applying...

In this episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business, host Jared Johnson interviews August Felker, an entrepreneur with experience in buying and selling businesses, particularly insurance brokerages.

August shares his journey from starting a search fund to acquiring his first business, the challenges he faced during the negotiation process, and the emotions he experienced as a seller.

He also discusses his transition into supporting others in the acquisition process and provides insights into the importance of insurance diligence when buying a business.

Key Takeaways:

🔹Starting a sea...

In this episode, Jared Johnson interviews Ryan Hutchins, the founder of Peak Business Valuations. They discuss Ryan's background and journey into the world of business valuation, as well as the services provided by his firm. Ryan explains the different approaches used to value a business, including the asset approach, market approach, and income approach. 

He also shares insights on the importance of accurate financials, the role of inventory and equipment in valuation, and the challenges of valuing small businesses.

Key Takeaways:

In this episode, host Jared Johnson interviews Jesse Carlson, the owner of a FedEx business. Jesse shares his journey from working in the entertainment industry to becoming a business owner.

He discusses the challenges he faced during the acquisition process and the importance of thorough due diligence.

Jesse also highlights the key factors that attracted him to the FedEx business model and the lessons he has learned since taking over the business. This episode provides valuable insights for anyone considering buying or selling a business.

Key Takeaways:

In this episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business, host Jared Johnson interviews John Hannum, the founder of PPS Solutions, about the importance of having a fractional CFO for small and growing businesses.

John shares his insights on the biggest mistakes business owners make, the key things to focus on when selling a business, and the trends he has observed in the small to medium business market. He also provides valuable advice for buyers looking to acquire a business and discusses the role of a fractional CFO in improving a company's financial health and maximizing...

In this episode of Before You Buy or Sell a Business, Eric and Joy Rose share their journey of buying a sushi restaurant in Salt Lake City. They discuss their backgrounds, including their experience working for the federal government and living overseas. They explain how they decided to buy a restaurant and why they chose a sushi restaurant. They also talk about the negotiation process and the challenges they faced in securing financing. Despite the obstacles, they were able to successfully close the deal and are now running the restaurant.

About The Guest(s):

Eric...