The SMB Deal Hunter Podcast

Want help buying a business? https://smbdealhunter.link/pro-ytIn this episode, Chris Edwards breaks down how he quit a comfy consultingjob in the middle of the pandemic, bought an overlooked flooring store withjust 10% down, and turned it into a 24x return in four years.◼️ How he turned just 10% down into a 24x return◼️ Why he bought a flooring store in an isolated mountain town that biggerbuyers wrote off◼️ The year-one "I thought I ruined my life" stretch, and what got him through it◼️ The unglamorous operator playbook that grew the bottom line, from rippingout a fax-and-paper system to bringing on offshore help◼️ Why he walked away at the top and is now building a flooring company from the ground up, funded by the proceeds and everything the first one taught himSubscribe to the SMB Deal Hunter newsletter (200,000+ subscribers): https://join.smbdealhunter.xyz/Follow Helen:Twitter: https://x.com/HelenGuo_LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-guo-06674523/

Want help buying a business? https://smbdealhunter.link/pro-ytIn this episode, Ryan Murray breaks down how he left a corporate career to buy a $5.5 million blinds and shutters business, why he was confident enough to sign a nearly $5 million loan to do it, and the exact playbook he used to grow it more than 50% in three years.◼️ How he got comfortable putting everything he owned on the line for a nearly $5 million loan◼️ The way he reviewed the deal before signing that gave him the conviction to go all in◼️ Why he bought the building too, and ended up paying less than he would have in rent◼️ How a boring 30-year-old business hides a steady stream of repeat revenue most buyers walk right past◼️ The sales system he used to grow revenue from $3 million to $4.7 million without chasing new customersSubscribe to the SMB Deal Hunter newsletter (200,000+ subscribers): https://join.smbdealhunter.xyz/Follow Helen:Twitter: https://x.com/HelenGuo_LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-guo-06674523/

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 from what the seller claimed.And we're not talking about rounding errors. The real EBITDA is a different number entirely.Sometimes it's 5% off. Sometimes it's 50% off. And in about a third of cases, the deal dies right there.That number comes from a CPA who's done over 200 quality of earnings reports, on both the buy side and the sell side.This week, I sat down with Mubarak Shah, a CPA, M&A advisor, and QoE specialist who also works with our members inside the Pro program.Mubarak started his career in audit, became VP of Finance at a startup that raised a $10M Series A, and cut his teeth doing QoEs at firms that served private equity clients. He's now completed over 200 of them.He's seen every trick in the book. And in this episode, he walks through exactly what sellers do to make their businesses look more profitable than they are.Here are some of the highlights from the deep dive:🔥 The seller accounting trick that sails right past SBA underwriting and can cost you millions (it's shockingly simple)🔥 Why your bank's underwriting isn't designed to protect you, and what it's actually designed to do instead🔥 The one M&A concept that nobody actually understands that led to a seven-figure lawsuit🔥 A breakdown of exactly what happens during a QoE, what it costs, how long it takes, and why the biggest bottleneck has nothing to do with the accountant_______________________________👉 Sign Up For Free to the SMB Deal Hunter Newsletter: https://join.smbdealhunter.xyz🤝 Work With Me to Help You Buy a Business: https://pro.smbdealhunter.xyz