What I Learned Last Week 8.30.2024
Curating the best M&A, SMB, and EtA-related content since 2020.
Hello Friends!
In this week’s issue of What I Learned Last Week:
📰 Articles
🧵 Best of X (Twitter)
🤔 Other - Lead a PE-Backed Portco
🗓️ Events
⚒️ Tools & Resources
💡 How I Can Help
This issue of The Business Inquirer is sponsored by:
Close Your Deal Quickly and Efficiently: M&A Legal Solutions Integrating Automation and Project Management
At Sterrett Law, we’ve developed a streamlined process using cutting-edge automation and project management techniques to maximize speed and efficiency. Using templates and a client-centered collaborative process we’ll keep your deal on track and on time.
Ready to make your next move? Schedule your free consultation today!
📰 Articles
I summarize, so you capitalize.
We 10x-ed screenshotapi.net and sold it
I'm a big fan of the team at XO Capital, and their latest article is a great example of why. They reflect on their journey with ScreenshotAPI.net, the first business they acquired when it had just $550 in MRR, which they later sold when it reached $7,000 MRR. The article is packed with valuable lessons, including the importance of buying businesses with proven growth channels, the risks of needing major code rewrites, and the reality that passive income is a myth.
Key insights include:
Importance of buying growing, low-maintenance businesses.
The value of a clear, descriptive domain name.
Caution against overestimating ease in similar ventures.
— — — — — — — — — — — —
How to Make Yourself Attractive to Business Brokers
To attract business brokers as a small business buyer, you need to present yourself as serious and well-prepared. This involves understanding the broker's perspective, providing a detailed buyer profile with proof of funds, keeping communication straightforward, and respecting the broker's time and expertise.
Key strategies include:
Preparing a comprehensive buyer profile.
Communicating promptly and professionally.
Demonstrating financial capability upfront.
🧵 Best of X (Twitter)
I scroll, so you don’t have to.
It’s all about the right price, smart financing, and a solid growth strategy — because not every deal is worth the leap…
Unlock the best tax-saving secrets of small business ownership — whether you're running a side hustle or a million-dollar enterprise…
After a rocky start, here are the hard-earned lessons that turned around his first two years as a business owner…
Roll-ups thrive on synergies — learn how cost, revenue, and operational improvements can turn small acquisitions into big wins in private equity…
Lessons from an $800M fund: Success in private equity hinges on a unified playbook, relentless execution, and hands-on operations…
Mastering the art of deal quality and structure is crucial —without it, even the best legal or financial advisors can't save you from a bad acquisition…
AI is a game-changer for quick industry insights — here’s an example of how it's boosting productivity tenfold when analyzing new deals…
Capital-intensive businesses can drain your funds as they grow — aim for those with negative working capital to turn growth into cash flow…
🤔 Other
Lead a PE-Backed Company
Atlasview Equity is building a bench of talented individuals to lead their portfolio companies and create value in the businesses they acquire. This is an excellent opportunity for mid-career professionals with deep expertise in their field. They are looking for individuals with a stellar track record and a strong network. If you're seeking significant upside potential through equity participation, this could be the right move for you.
👉 If you’d like to be added to their network/database of candidates, fill out this application.
🗓️ Events
Southeast EtA Conference (Sept 6-7) - Washington D.C.
Independent Sponsor Forum (Sept 12) - Chicago, IL
Self-Funded Search Conference (Sept 14-15) - Dallas, TX
Main Street Summit (Oct 9-10) - Columbia, MO
Annual M&A Institute (Oct 10-11) - Dallas, TX
Rice EtA Conference (Oct 13-14) - Houston, TX
McGuireWoods Independent Sponsor (Oct 15-16) - Dallas, TX
Texas & The South M&A and Business Symposium (Oct 16-18) - Dallas, TX
National Summit for Middle Market Funds (Oct 27-29) - Palm Beach, FL
Booth-Kellogg EtA Conference (Nov 4) - Chicago, IL
HoldCo Conference (Mar 31-Apr 3 2025) - Sundance, UT
🎵 Listening: “Look Into My Eyes“ by Brando 🎵
How did you like this issue of the newsletter?
⚒️Tools & Resources
I want to share some tools & resources that I have found helpful. Please note that some of these are paid sponsors or affiliates of the newsletter.
PrivSource - PrivSource helps you source deals and connect with transaction partners without ever paying a success fee.
X5 Deals - Proprietary deal sourcing for a great price. They do the outreach and send you relevant, actionable deals directly into your inbox.
Rejigg - Platform that connects searchers/investors directly with owners of off-market small businesses ($200k - $3M EBITDA) considering exits. All deals are sourced by the Rejigg team. Their team adds 15 to 20 new deals each week.
Kumo - 100,000+ deals sourced from thousands of brokers and marketplaces. Plus, AI-powered listings, robust data & analytics, and more.
DealFlowXchange - The premier private capital funding community for raising and deploying capital. Use discount code DUEDILIO for 20% off your lifetime membership.
Sterrett Law - At Sterrett Law, we offer Manhattan and Boston experience at Vermont prices. Specializing in deals under $10 million, we're your go-to partner for navigating the complexities of mergers and acquisitions without the hefty price tag
BizNexus - Marketplace + off-market origination in one platform. The marketplace averages about 10k active listings & pre-CIM opportunities, and the off-market origination focuses on data & multi-channel.
Secret - Say goodbye to overspending on SaaS. With Secret, you get access to up to $1,000,000+ in savings on the best software to run your search, operate, and scale your business.
Deal Sourcing Guide - a comprehensive list of business marketplaces, brokers, deal origination firms, and more.
💡 How I Can Help
Whenever you’re ready, here are a few ways for us to work together…
Schedule 1:1 consulting on deal sourcing, due diligence, M&A ecosystem, newsletters, entrepreneurship, or anything else you’d like to discuss
Promote your brand to business buyers, investors, SMB owners, and other M&A participants by sponsoring this newsletter
Assemble your M&A deal team with DueDilio
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