Unpopular opinion (maybe):

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by a searcher
in Grand Blanc, MI 48439, USA

5mos ago

Unpopular opinion (maybe):

I think many first-time searchers over-optimize for industry familiarity and under-optimize for execution advantage. I’d rather buy a business in a “boring” industry where I can apply automation, systems, and disciplined ops than chase a sexy vertical where I’m just another buyer. For those who’ve closed or are deep in diligence — did industry familiarity or execution skill matter more in practice?

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reply by a searcher 5mos ago
from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in New York, NY, USA

Caleb, I think you're spot on. In browsing the forum, you'll find that 90% of conversations are likely geared towards acquisition and industry topics. But IMO, this indeed is the easy part, creating value post acquisition is where the money is made. These sellers are not dumb, and they are not lazy, had it been so "easy" to execute the value creation play, they would have done it themselves. Make sure you have a good "secret sauce" that can create value, and marry that to an industry you understand deeply.

reply by a professional 5mos ago
from University of Florida in Tampa, FL, USA

I would bet a majority of searchers think they're going to create value through process optimization, and I would also bet that most do not. If you're not bringing industry contacts and expertise, you need to have another solid plan, and price it in. Leadership and talent drive value creation more than process optimization. While there is some low-hanging fruit, you should also answer the question of why it's there to begin with, while also accounting for change management.