Andrew Blazenko has made 6 acquisitions over the last ten years. Pairing businesses with operators is key to his model.

Topics in Andrew’s interview:

• Background as a business broker
• Wanted the exit joy for himself
• Danger of low barrier to entry
• Finding great operators to run his businesses
• Business acquisition requires reps
• Executive in Residence program
• Requiring operators to invest in the business
• Difficulty of raising equity in Canada
• Shipping costs as a natural moat
• Living as a “gentleman of leisure”

References and how to contact Andrew:

• LinkedIn
• ProSafe
• Eterna Equity
• TrueFoam

The ecosystem for serious acquisition entrepreneurs—education, capital, community, and post-close support to buy and grow a business:

• The Acquisition Lab

Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition.

• Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta.

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

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

Dan Burnside thought he got a great deal on an $800k SDE business. Instead he'd bought bad faith and years of struggle.

Register for the webinar:

• Add-Ons and Carve-Outs: How to Get Banks on Board - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4sO0MAt

Topics in Dan’s interview:

• Buying in a small, rural area
• Discovering seller fraud after acquisition
• Key employee leaves and starts competing business
• Working to integrate himself into the community
• HVAC techs resisted technology changes
• Wife and kids unhappy in the new place
• Getting his Master Mechanical Contractor license
• Customers not paying their invoices
• Hiring challenges in rural areas
• Bankruptcy and his new AI venture

References and how to contact Dan:

• LinkedIn
• Jan Roll on Acquiring Minds: 21 Months to Stability Buying a $1.2m SDE Business

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

• Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

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

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

Jeff Flannery is a great example of how franchising complements ETA, having rolled up 17 units since starting in 2019.

Register for the webinars:

• Advanced Deal Mechanics: NWC, Net Debt & Purchase Price Adjustments - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4u9KyD6
• Add-Ons and Carve-Outs: How to Get Banks on Board - Thu, Apr 30 - https://bit.ly/3OpzRgx

Topics in Jeff’s interview:

• Difference between a practice and a business
• 18 years of running a procurement recruiting firm
• Acquiring a failing Hand and Stone location
• Improving the franchisee playbook
• Ask franchisees for the actual profit margins
• Mastering the business from the bottom up
• Working 100-hour weeks for years
• Implementing enrollment fees
• Running spas in California through Covid
• Building an inbound and outbound offshore call center

References and how to contact Jeff:

• LinkedIn
• jflannery@purpleeaglespas.com
• Hand & Stone

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

• From this page or contact jenny@aspenhr.com

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.

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