In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Ben Suttles sit down with Bob Stabell of Think Tax Strategies to discuss how R&D tax credits, revitalized and expanded under the One Big Beautiful Bill, are creating real leverage for business buyers. Bob breaks down what qualifies today, how credits can be accessed retroactively in certain situations, and why these incentives matter far beyond traditional manufacturing or technology companies. This conversation is especially relevant for buyers navigating acquisitions in the lower and middle market, where tax strategy can materially impact deal economics, post-close cash flow, and negotiations with sellers.

• How R&D tax credits actually work and why they differ from deductions
• What types of businesses qualify today, including service and field-based companies
• How buyers use credits as negotiation and cash-flow tools in acquisitions
• What the process looks like and how Bob’s team supports CPAs and buyers

Bob Stabell Think Tax Strategies Website: thinktaxstrategies.com Email: robert@thinktaxstrategies.com

Sponsored by O’Connell Advisory Group – Work with a trusted Quality of Earnings and Financial Diligence partner who focuses solely on business acquisitions. Visit: www.oconnelladvisorygroup.com Join us at the M&A Launchpad Conference on May 2, 2026 in Houston. Use code LAUNCH for $150 off your ticket. Learn more at: malaunchpad.com Contact the M&A Launchpad team at: info@equitylaunchpad.com Explore more resources at: equity-launchpad.com

00:00 – M&A Launchpad Conference invitation + code LAUNCH for $150 off 00:57 – Introducing Bob Stabell and the opportunity created by the “Big Beautiful Bill” 02:28 – Bob’s background: 30+ years in tax incentives and R&D credits 04:12 – “It’s not what you make, it’s what you keep”: why buyers should care 04:26 – What changed under the Big Beautiful Bill (retroactive access and timing) 06:16 – R&D credit history and how “new to you” expanded eligibility 07:30 – Credit vs. deduction: why the math works differently 09:09 – Superseding returns vs. amendments and how refunds get processed faster 10:10 – Service business examples: how companies qualify without “creating widgets” 11:24 – Field fixes and prototypes: what counts as qualified activity 12:38 – What you need to provide (tax returns, payroll, financials) and what the team does 13:03 – Real-world results: six-figure credits and how they carry forward 14:10 – Acquisition structure, stub years, and how credits create negotiation leverage 15:40 – Ongoing benefit: lowering quarterly tax payments and improving cash flow 18:34 – Audit defense and why the technical report matters 20:48 – Other strategies buyers miss: cost segregation, 179D, and “out of matrix” review 22:14 – How big is this program? Budget growth and who benefits most 24:57 – How Bob works with CPAs to get filings done correctly 28:21 – Fees and billing: retainer + percentage of credits collected (typical ROI framing) 31:07 – Is it permanent? How the credit became part of the tax code long-term 32:54 – How to reach Bob for a quick fit-check call 33:18 – Rocket Round

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Kevin Ramsier, founder of Sier Capital, to unpack what it really takes to build and scale a private equity platform.

Kevin shares his journey from leaving a stable corporate career to launching a firm built on disciplined deal sourcing, strong relationships, and flexible investment structures. He explains why private equity success hinges on three core pillars—equity, deals, and people—and how an imbalance in any one area can limit growth.

The conversation goes beyond theory and dives into execution, highlighting the realities of sourcing deals, structuring investments, and surrounding yourself with people who elevate the business. Kevin also reflects on risk-taking, adaptability, and the personal growth that comes with entrepreneurship in the M&A space.

Key Topics Discussed

• Transitioning from corporate stability to entrepreneurship
• Why people are the true unfair advantage in private equity
• The three legs of the private equity stool: equity, deals, and people
• Relationship-driven deal sourcing strategies
• Flexibility in deal structuring and investor alignment
• Lessons learned from scaling a private equity firm
• Risk, vision, and adapting to changing market conditions

Contact:

Kevin Ramsier Founder, Sier Capital kramsier@siercapital.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/askramsier/

Additional Resources

• Sponsored by O’Connell Advisory Group – Work with a trusted Quality of Earnings and Financial Diligence partner who focuses solely on business acquisitions.

Schedule a discovery call with Patrick of O'Connell Advisory Group. Visit: www.oconnelladvisorygroup.com

• M&A Launchpad Conference – May 2, 2026, Houston, Texas. Use Code: LAUNCH for $150 off Learn more: https://malaunchpad.com
• Contact the show hosts: Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa at info@equitylaunchpad.com Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.com

Chapters

00:00 – M&A Launchpad Conference overview

01:21 – Meet Kevin Ramsier and his background

02:59 – Leaving corporate and betting on entrepreneurship

07:43 – The three legs of private equity: people, deals, and capital

10:40 – Deal sourcing and relationship-driven growth

19:13 – Recent deal structures and financing strategies

23:44 – Investment flexibility and aligning with investors

28:39 – Favorite types of businesses and future goals

31:06 – Rocket Round

About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community. Connect with M&A Launchpad: 🎧 Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7 🎧 Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586 🎟️ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Ben Suttles sit down with Enrique Rodriguez, owner of Mag General Power Solutions. Enrique shares how he went from electrical engineer, master electrician, and professional engineer to business owner by acquiring an electrical contracting business for $450,000 in an all-cash deal in September 2024.

In this podcast episode, we discuss:

• Deal terms: the $450K all-cash purchase and what was included (equipment, limited backlog/contracts, and accounts receivable)

• Quality of Earnings: where small-business financials can mislead buyers (add-backs, credit cards, and lines of credit)

• Post-close reality: managing cash flow, people, and growth capital in a contracting business

• Scaling from roughly $1.3M revenue at close to a $5M annual run rate and what that growth required

• Culture as a growth constraint: why growing too fast can change a company’s DNA

Guest Contact Info:

• Email: enrique@maggeneralinc.com

Additional Resources:

• Sponsored by O’Connell Advisory Group – Work with a trusted Quality of Earnings and Financial Diligence partner who focuses solely on business acquisitions. Visit: www.oconnelladvisorygroup.com.

• Join us at the M&A Launchpad Conference on May 2, 2026 in Houston. Use code: LAUNCH for $150 Off. Get details: https://malaunchpad.com

• Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: info@equitylaunchpad.com. Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.com

About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community. Connect with M&A Launchpad: 🎧 Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7 🎧 Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586 🎟️ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/