3 of my 15 SMB Business Buying Principles (self-funded style)

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November 27, 2022

by an investor from University of Nebraska - Lincoln in Austin, TX, USA

I'm starting to do SMB content on twitter...I made this one with self-funded searchers in mind (I was one, exited earlier this year, now I'm building a portfolio using a similar approach).

Below is my favorite 3 of 15 principles when buying a business ($1-6M of EBITDA). To read the rest, follow me and re-tweet it if you have a twitter account: https://twitter.com/bentigg/status/1596928144430092289?s=20&t=gpupP9uY-Sg3UfNefRm7hA

// Don't buy a job, buy a company

I've had a job before...it's not for me.

I will not buy a company unless it can operate on its own

Your valuation and structure should assume a market replacement cost for the owner
____

// Visualize yourself as the owner of the business

This is about you

What are you doing? Are you winning or losing? Do you like it?

What do you and the company look like 3-5 years later?

If fears come up, I write them down and come up with a solution. Reiterate.
____

// Buy from a trustworthy seller

I won't buy if I don't trust

There are nefarious owners wanting to sell you their crap company

Require the seller to finance 10%-15% of the purchase price (seller note)

Do deep background checks and reference checks

Meet the seller's family

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commentor profile
Reply by an intermediary
from Vanderbilt University in Chicago, IL, USA
Good insights. Knowing the true motivation of the seller (goes to your trust issue) is always important too. The seller will know more about the business, and the industry.
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Reply by a professional
from University of California, Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA, USA
This is cool! Would love to get these as a newsletter. Why don’t you create one w Revue of Twitter?
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