The SMB Deal Hunter Podcast
Episodes
He's done 200+ QofEs. Here's what sellers don't want you to know | Mubarak Shah
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Here's a number that should make you uncomfortable.98% of the time, when a CPA digs into a business's financials, the real EBITDA comes back different...
This CPA made all the MAJOR mistakes so you don't have to | Rushi Amin
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You'd think a CPA with six years at a Big Four firm and four years in investment banking would catch every red flag in a small business acquisition, r...
McKinsey Consultant -> Two $1M+ Businesses in 2 years | Savanna Rush
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week, I sat down with Savannah Rush, Managing Partner at Funded Ventures.Savannah went from McKinsey consultant to owner-operator of Midway Elect...
He's bought two $5M+ companies in 2 years (completely off market and with no investors)
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Michael and his partner, Ashish, only buy businesses that are $5M+ in EBITDA (way above the SBA limit).He aims to buy a new one every year. And the l...
How to stand out with brokers and win competitive deals with Alejandra Barrera
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You've probably done this…You found a listing you liked. You sent the NDA. Maybe you even fired off a quick note about your background and the thing...
How These 2 Partners Met on Craigslist & Ended Up Buying 15 Companies Together | Joe Van Deman and Colin King
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week's episode starts with a horror story.Joe and Colin from Circle City Capital Group bought their first business together in 2018. After meeti...
He's acquired 50+ online businesses making $200k+ / month. (Here's how he does it) | Jacky Chou
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode, we're diving into the world of online business acquisitions with Jacky Chou. He's built a portfolio of 50+ online businesse...
[Greatest Hits] He owns 4 gyms but he's never been to any of them. (Here's How) | Bill Haig
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s episode with Bill Haig is one of the most impressive absentee owner stories we’ve featured.Bill owns 4 gym locations in Northern Virgi...
-$350k → $13M/Yr: From failed acquisition to HVAC rollup | Nathan Lenahan
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Your first business acquisition wipes out your life savings.Your brother has to sell his house to cover the debt. You sell a property just to get back...
$50k → $5M buying declining healthcare businesses (here's how) | Devin Fitzgerald
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Devin Fitzgerald acquired 2 declining home healthcare businesses in the Boston area over the last few years and successfully turned them around. He d...
He broke ALL the rules of acquisition and still succeeded | Walker Yarbrough
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I’m very excited to share this week’s interview with Walker Yarbrough. He started off with long hours in Investment Banking until he looked up at...
From Laid Off & Mid-Divorce to a $1.3M / Year Business (with 100% Seller Financing) | Raj Kankaria
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I’m very excited to share this week’s interview with Raj Kankaria. It is an absolute roller coaster involving layoffs, divorce, rappers, a quarter...
This Software Engineer Quit Tech & Bought A $3.2M+ Business (Now Buying His 2nd) | Kofi Acheampong
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Kofi Acheampong... Kofi’s interview is unique because he actually went through our Pro program and bought a Home Restoration ...
He turned $100k to $6M buying landscaping businesses (here's how) | Michael Loftus
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I’m very excited to share this week’s interview with Michael Loftus.Michael really shows you how far you can go with a simple strategy. Here are j...
25 Year Old College Drop-Out Buys a $1.3M Auto Body Shop with $15k | Andres Martínez
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Andres Martínez... At some points his story is nearly unbelievable. Here are just a few snippets from his interview…🔥 He ...
"I Wanted to Throw Up" - How JD Beck Built A $4.6M HVAC/Plumbing Empire While Everything Went Wrong
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview JD Beck, an entrepreneur who is rolling up HVAC and plumbing companies in Colorado. He's made 3 acquisitions to-date, scaling t...
He Left Corporate to Buy a Pallet Company. Then He Doubled It. | Michael Kelker of GBR Riverdale
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I sit down with Michael Kelker, a former corporate exec who spent 15 years in the aviation manufacturing industry before leaving to buy Tim...
Former Talent Agent Buys 40-Year-Old Trade Publication | Nathan Gregory of Auto Body News
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I sit down with Nathan Gregory, a former talent agent in the entertainment industry who acquired Auto Body News, the leading trade publicat...
Why This Startup Founder Bought an Electrical Contracting Business | Fred McGill of Bray Electrical
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I sit down with Fred McGill from Atlanta, Georgia–a former startup founder who made the leap into small business acquisition.Exactly one ...
From Wall Street to Main Street: Why He Left Private Equity to Roll Up Tree Care Companies
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I sit down with Kaustubh Deo, an entrepreneur rolling up tree care businesses in Seattle, Washington.After a few years in private equity, K...
Ex-Financial Advisor Buys Wedding Venue, Exits to Family Office… Now Onto Acquisition #2
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me for a conversation with Nick Patrick, a former financial advisor turned acquisition entrepreneur. Nick bought a wedding venue and catering bus...
This Investor Is Betting Millions on Entrepreneurs Buying Small Businesses | Grant Hensel Interview
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I sit down with Grant Hensel of Entrepreneurial Capital, a fund investing millions to back self-funded searchers buying cash-flowing small ...
Inside a Family Office’s Strategy: Management Buyouts of Domestic Manufacturers
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview B.G. Lemmon from the Brynavon Group, a family office started by B.G.’s grandfather that focuses on management buyouts primari...
How This Former Gym Franchisee Pivoted Into Online Business Acquisitions
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Sebastian Gast, a former gym franchisee who pivoted into online business acquisitions.Sebastian acquired a fitness job board a ...
Buying an Accounting Firm Without Being a CPA? She Did It.
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Gretchen Roberts, an entrepreneur who acquired Red Bike Advisors, a remote-first accounting, tax, and advisory firm based in Wi...
He Acquired a Fuel Equipment Maintenance Business. 3 Years Later, Investors Forced Him Out
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Emmanuel Lopez, a former banker who took the leap into entrepreneurship by acquiring a fuel systems maintenance business with a...
After 10 Years at PwC, He Left Corporate to Buy an Accounting Firm
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Michael Young, a former Director at PwC who left corporate after 10 years to buy an accounting firm.After a 26 month search, Mi...
How This U.S. Marine Corps Veteran from the Tech Startup World Acquired Two Businesses at Once
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Dominick Blue, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former tech startup entrepreneur, who evaluated 2,500 deals before acquiring two...
How This Big Law Partner Rolled Up 3 MarTech SaaS Companies In 20 Months And Sold to PE
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Brian Wolfe, a lawyer, small business investor, and PE and search fund professor. Brian founded Funded Ventures, which partners...
Inside the Mind of a Business Broker — What Buyers Need to Know
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Khaled Azar, the founder of Livmo, a business brokerage for SaaS and digital businesses.Fun fact: One of the businesses Khaled ...
How This Fireman Acquired 5 Self-Storage Companies Across 11 Locations
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Kevin, a fireman who has acquired 5 self-storage companies across 11 locations.Before getting into self-storage, Kevin bought s...
Ex-Amazon Tech Employee Acquires 35-Year-Old Wholesale Hat Company
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Eric Bauer, an acquisition entrepreneur who acquired a 35-year-old wholesale hat company, Turner Hat Company.Previously, Eric w...
Ex-Tech Employee Acquires 7 Businesses (Primarily In Construction) And Grows Them 5x
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Chandra Rao, an entrepreneur previously working in tech who has done 7 acquisitions primarily in the construction space.Chandra...
Ex-Government Employee Acquires Multiple E-Commerce Businesses In A Gray Market
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Sam Stolt, an entrepreneur who has acquired multiple e-Commerce businesses selling research compounds and peptides.He now owns ...
Ex-Consultant Acquires Outsourced Sales Organization Selling $100K/Day in Dog Training Alone
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Garth Fasano, an entrepreneur who acquired an outsourced sales organization in the Fall of 2022.Garth’s company Raynmaker ori...
How This Entrepreneur Is Rolling Up Language Services Businesses (Journey from $700K to $20M/Year)
01 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Jordan Evans, an entrepreneur who is rolling up language services businesses.Jordan has made 5 acquisitions since 2018 (with mo...
How This Entrepreneur Failed At A Turnaround Acquisition And What He Learned Through The Experience
25 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Dustin Fusillo, an entrepreneur who acquired a turnaround mechanical company focused on ATM parts and services.Unfortunately, D...
How This Entrepreneur Acquired A Business That Went Bankrupt, And What He'd Do Differently Next Time
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Justin Willess, a former mechanical engineer who acquired a construction business, Iron Pony, in 2022.Unfortunately, after grow...
How This Former Fintech Executive Acquired A Commercial Plumbing Business And DOUBLED It In 6 Months
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Chad Anselmo, a former FinTech executive who acquired Texas-based commercial plumbing business, MJ Mechanical.Within the first ...
How This Independent Sponsor Left The Corporate World To Acquire 8 Businesses In 8 Years
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Nick McLean, an independent sponsor who left the corporate world to acquire 8 businesses in 8 years through his company Four Pi...
How This Former English Teacher Acquired 40 Online Businesses In The Past Decade
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Dominic Wells, the CEO of Onfolio, a publicly traded portfolio of around 20 internet businesses ($ONFO).Dom went from making $1...
How This Army Veteran Acquired An $8M Restoration Business Through 100% Seller Financing
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Renan Cortez, an entrepreneur who acquired an $8M restoration business through 100% seller financing (!), and is now executing ...
From Pools to Preschools: How a Former Financial Analyst Built and Acquired Multiple Businesses
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Jay Sunde, who began his entrepreneurial journey when he left his financial analyst role in Corporate America during his early ...
How This Former VC-Backed Entrepreneur Started A Holding Company With 3 Acquisitions And 2 Startups
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Chase Murdock, a former VC-backed entrepreneur who now owns a holding company Decada Group.Through Decada Group, Chase has made...
An SMB M&A Lawyer's Insights from $1B+ in Closed Deals
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Eric Pacifici, an SMB M&A lawyer and founder of SMB Law Group. Eric left his career working in Big Law to get into the smal...
How This Serial Entrepreneur Is Buying Paving Companies In the Southwest
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Sam Mahmood, a serial entrepreneur who is buying paving companies in the SW through his $15MM fund, The Pave.This isn’t Sam’...
How this Entrepreneur Acquired an IT Managed Service Company Through A Traditional Search Fund
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Nick Akers, an entrepreneur who acquired an IT Managed Service company through a traditional search fund. Nick acquired the bus...
How This Entrepreneur Acquired A Commercial Cleaning Business And Is Doubling It In Year 1
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview George Tibil, an acquisition entrepreneur who bought a commercial cleaning business (and is on track to doubling it in the firs...
How This Former MLB Player Acquired A Street Sweeping Company And Grew It By 5x In 13 Months
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Brandon Dixon, a former MLB player who acquired a street-sweeping company, Cleaner Streets, and then grew it by 5x in 13 months...
How This Real Estate Investor Acquired a Digital Products e-Commerce Business
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Julien J, a real estate investor who acquired a digital products e-Commerce business selling MiDi packs.Julien is the owner of ...
How This Entrepreneur Acquired An Artificial Turf Business And Tripled It In 2 Years
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Johannes Hock, a former investment banker and private equity investor who is now acquiring and growing artificial turf business...
How This Entrepreneur Is Buying and Building a Portfolio of SaaS Businesses
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Kjael Skaalerud, a former operating partner for a private equity firm now buying and building a portfolio of SaaS businesses.__...
How This Stanford MBA Acquired An Accounting Firm And Doubled It In 3 Years
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Chris Williams, a Stanford MBA who acquired an accounting firm, System Six, and doubled the business in just 3 years.__________...
How This Serial Entrepreneur Acquired 4 Coffee Shops
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Alex Nelson, an entrepreneur based in Iowa who recently acquired 4 coffee shops.Alex is a serial entrepreneur who also runs a w...
How This Former Sales Manager Acquired An Industrial Painting Company
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Danny Thomas, a former industrial painting company sales manager who went on to start and buy an industrial painting company at...
How This UK-Based Entrepreneur Acquired An Airbnb Rental Business And Outsourcing Business
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Chris West, a UK-based acquisition entrepreneur. Since leaving a corporate leadership role, Chris has acquired two businesses...
How This Tech Startup Advisor Acquired A Window Washing Business
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Andrew Stern, a tech startup advisor who acquired a commercial window washing business.Fun fact: Andrew found his business thro...
How This Former Software Engineer Acquired A Window Covering Business
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Brandon Williams, a former software engineer who acquired a window covering business.In the first year post-acquisition, Brando...
How to Buy a Business Using Retirement Funds (Without Early Withdrawal Fees)
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Jeremy Ames, the co-founder and CEO of Guidant Financial. Guidant Financial is the industry leader in ROBS 401K business financ...
How This Entrepreneur Transitioned from A Career In Tech Sales to Business Acquisitions
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Marc Nzojibwami, an acquisition entrepreneur who acquired a large format print & sign shop in Calgary after starting his ca...
How This 22 Year Old Acquired, Grew, and Flipped a Local Pizzeria In 16 Months
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Phil Panopoulos, an acquisition entrepreneur who acquired Pisa Pizza, a local Chicago pizzeria, right after college when he was...
How This Former US Army Infantry Officer Transitioned Into Acquisition Entrepreneurship
04 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Bill Haig, a former US Army infantry officer who transitioned into acquisition entrepreneurship.Bill acquired Starfit Studios, ...
How This Real Estate Investor Diversified into Small Business Acquisitions
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Tato Corcoran, a real estate investor who diversified into business acquisitions.Tato previously worked in tech for 10 years an...
How This Entrepreneur Went from Working at a Big 4 Accounting Firm to Acquiring 7 CPA Firms
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Stephen Crandall, the owner of SC Audit and Accounting Solutions.Stephen went from working at PWC to acquiring 7 accounting fir...
A SBA Lender's Insights from $400 Million Of Closed Deals In 9 Years
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Bruce Marks, a SBA lender from First Bank of the Lake. Bruce has closed over $400 million of deals in 9 years and specializes i...
How This Entrepreneur Turned A Power Washing Company Into One Of The Fastest Growing Franchises
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Aaron Harper, an entrepreneur who acquired the franchise rights to local power-washing company Rolling Suds and turned it into ...
How This Non-Accountant Acquired 3 CPA Firms
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Patrick Dichter, an entrepreneur who has acquired 3 accounting firms as a non-accountant.Patrick is the owner of Appletree Busi...
How This Former Fighter Pilot Who Spent 10 Years On Wall Street Acquired 6 Businesses
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Lord Leroy Young (aka Lee), a former fighter pilot who spent 10 years on Wall Street and then bought 6 businesses.Over a 10 yea...
How This Former Tech Startup Guy Is Buying Up Doggy Daycares
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Taylor Wallace, an acquisition entrepreneur who is the owner of Paws n Rec doggy daycares in Tampa, Florida. Taylor also recent...
How This Acquisition Entrepreneur Is Rolling Up The Car Wash Industry
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview acquisition entrepreneur Kriss Berg aka “The Car Wash Guy,” an entrepreneur who has acquired multiple self-serve car wash l...
How This Former Real Estate Investor Bought 2 Label Manufacturing Businesses
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview acquisition entrepreneur Ryder Fyrwald, the owner of Cover Label.Ryder left his career in real estate private equity (and prior...
How This Former Investment Banker Acquired a Dairy Testing Lab
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview acquisition entrepreneur Cody Agee.Cody left his career in investment banking to run a 13-month self-funded search process to b...
How This Serial Acquisition Entrepreneur Left His Corporate Career and Bought 10 Businesses
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview serial acquisition entrepreneur Ujwal Velagapudi.Ujwal left his corporate career working in supply chain management to buy smal...
How This Acquisition Entrepreneur Left a Career in Corporate America to Buy a Print Shop
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview successful entrepreneur Connor Pera.Connor left his career working in marketing for a large CPG company to buy a business.He’...
What You Need To Know About Buying a Business with the SBA 7a Loan
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview Elyse Gonzales, VP of SBA Lending at Live Oak Bank.Live Oak Bank is the #1 SBA lender in the country based on SBA loan volume.
How This Former Consultant Acquired An Ice Cream Shop
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview successful acquisition entrepreneur Shawn Allard.Shawn was a former consultant and left his corporate 9-5 to get into business ...
How This Tech Employee Turned First-Time Acquisition Entrepreneur Bought Two Businesses at Once
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview successful acquisition entrepreneur Mike Okhravi.Mike was a former tech employee and left his W2 to get into business buying.He...
How This Entrepreneur Bought a $1.3M Home Service Biz and Sold it to PE for $5.8M a Few MONTHS Later
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview successful acquisition entrepreneur Steve Keller.We discuss how Steve went from being a cameraman with zero business background...
How This Acquisition Entrepreneur Pivoted from Startups to Buying 800+ ATM Routes In Under 3 years
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview successful acquisition entrepreneur Mitchell Sorkin.Mitchell left the startup world after bootstrapping his business Stack Infl...
How This Entrepreneur Acquired, Grew, and Sold the Largest Hood Cleaning Business in Utah in 2 Years
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I interview successful acquisition entrepreneur Nate Packer.Nate acquired a kitchen hood cleaning business for $928k in Jan '22 and sold th...