Acquiring Minds

Kyle Holmes spent 8 years running Quail Ridge for its investor owners. Then they asked if he wanted to buy it.
Register for the webinars:
Protect the Business: How to Diligence Insurance Pre-Close - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4xvNj2E
Sizing an SBA Loan to the Cash Flow - Tue, Sep 29 - https://bit.ly/4y1Xr4a
Topics in Kyle’s interview:
Growing up in a golf family 
Running Quail Ridge before becoming an owner
Being approached about buying the golf course
Golf’s boom, recession, and post-COVID resurgence
Michigan’s surprisingly strong golf market
Revenue from golf, dining, events, and driving range
Improving Quail Ridge before buying the business
Valuing land worth more than operations
Negotiating from $6.5 million to $7.3 million
Financing with SBA, conventional, and seller debt
References and how to contact Kyle:
LinkedIn
Quail Ridge Golf Club
Contact Jenny to learn how Engage can run people operations in your acquisition:
Jenny Thear: jthear@engagepeo.com
Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):
Book a call with Tim or hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring Minds
Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.
Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta.
Connect with Acquiring Minds:
See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
Follow Will on Twitter
Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Manolo Diaz Corrada came home to Puerto Rico to build for decades and keep the wealth from leaving the island.
Register for the webinars: 
Working Capital: What Buyers Need to Know Before Closing - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4yJUdSX
Protect the Business: How to Diligence Insurance Pre-Close - Thu, Sep 24 - https://bit.ly/4rlZei3
Topics in Manolo’s interview:
Building a career across engineering, business, and law
Fighting Puerto Rico’s brain drain
Launching a self-funded search in a tiny market
Why traditional search fund investor passed on Puerto Rico
Finding an acquisition through family connections
Navigating SBA financing challenges in Puerto Rico
Using reputation as a due diligence tool
Betting on Puerto Rico’s infrastructure boom
Using backlog to underwrite acquisition risk
Structuring a deal with seller financing
References and how to contact Manolo:
LinkedIn
Bonneville Group
Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:
Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team
Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:
Pioneer Capital Advisory
The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:
The Acquisition Lab
Connect with Acquiring Minds:
See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
Follow Will on Twitter
Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Morli Desai bought an e-commerce brand with an SBA loan. Three years later: liquidation, Chapter 11, and gratitude.
Register for the webinars:
Equity Financing: From SBA Deals to Independent Sponsors - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4r81edB
Working Capital: What Buyers Need to Know Before Closing - Tue, Sep 22 - https://bit.ly/4gZWFxh
Topics in Morli’s interview:
Acquiring a skincare brand
Why she felt confident in the company
Early red flags she minimized
Amazon shipping disaster
Rising cost per click
8-12% customer retention rate
Unique challenges of ecommerce
Negotiating multiple loan deferrals
Stress of the personal guarantee
Filing subchapter V bankruptcy
References and how to contact Morli:
LinkedIn
Morli’s first Acquiring Minds episode: How to Buy a $4m E-com Business with an SBA Loan
Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.
Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta.
Contact Jenny to learn how Engage can run people operations in your acquisition:
Jenny Thear: jthear@engagepeo.com
Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:
Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team
Connect with Acquiring Minds:
See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
Follow Will on Twitter
Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Rob Brooks bought a $1.9m Sarasota HVAC shop, then ignored the advice to wait 90 days before changing it.
Register for the webinar: 
Equity Financing: From SBA Deals to Independent Sponsors - Thu, Sep 17 - https://bit.ly/3VqwuZu
Topics in Rob’s interview:
Choosing an industry where he had an edge
Buying smaller to reduce debt risk
Understanding prepaid customer obligations
Using ChatGPT to learn HVAC
Making changes immediately after acquisition
Inheriting a GM and long-tenured employees
Digitizing operations and increasing accountability
Transforming a blame culture into a problem-solving culture
Adding weekly employee training sessions
Practicing radical honesty with customers
References and how to contact Rob:
LinkedIn
Gary Air
Grant Hensel
Jack Carr on Acquiring Minds: Back from the Brink When Everybody Quits Day 1
Get a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):
Book a call with Tim or hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring Minds
The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:
The Acquisition Lab
Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:
Pioneer Capital Advisory
Connect with Acquiring Minds:
See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
Follow Will on Twitter
Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron

Adam Whelchel paid himself instead of the IRS, putting $35k down on an escape room doing $365k with room to grow.
Register for the webinar: 
The Deal I Almost Bought (And Why I Passed) - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4hVeKik
Topics in Adam’s interview:
Built a $1.5M accounting firm
Business brokerage opened the acquisition door
Wanted a business his daughter could appreciate
An escape room caught his attention
Fixed costs created massive operating leverage
Bought the business for roughly $220K
Put about $35K into the deal
Business acquisition as a tax strategy
Re-engaged customers and local businesses
Plans to double capacity to 20%
References and how to contact Adam:
LinkedIn
Axis Accounting & Tax
Jeff Homer on Acquiring Minds: 1 Music School to $100m in Revenue
Adam’s slides 
Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:
Pioneer Capital Advisory
Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.
Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta.
Contact Jenny to learn how Engage can run people operations in your acquisition:
Jenny Thear: jthear@engagepeo.com
Connect with Acquiring Minds:
See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
Follow Will on Twitter
Edited by Anton Rohozov and produced by Pam Cameron