Reward for 17-Month Deal: $1.8m of EBITDA

17 months is how long it took the acquisition of today's guest to close, but so far it sure does seem worth it for Robert Gayden. For one thing, sales grew considerably during that year and a half, so Robert's confidence in the business grew in tandem. And because the headline terms of the LOI weren't renegotiated, his effective purchase price steadily declined.

Robert bought a home care business with 1.8 million of adjusted EBITDA when he finally closed we spend a lot of time on the industry itself, which is. One you hear a lot about in our world. Links in the show notes to past episodes featuring similar businesses.

Also listen for Robert's thoughts on his involvement in the business, which is an hour and 20 minute train ride to his north. He's on that Amtrak at 6am every morning, then back home at 7pm or sometimes 9pm he is unabashedly in the business, even though all that EBITDA is more than enough to hire an experienced operator. Listen for his thoughts here.

Hint Founder energy. Finally, listen for our discussion about OPS versus Sales. Many searchers impulse is to refine the operations of their newly acquired business, create efficiencies out with the facts, in with the CRM.

Private equity types call this margin expansion, but ask yourself when you get in there, is that the best use of your limited attention? Or is growing sales focusing on the top line rather than internal efficiency? After all, everything is downstream from sales.

Okay, here is Robert Gayden, owner of BrightStar Care of Greater Waukesha in. Lake Country. Deals want to Die as you know, this is the unhappy reality of buying a business. It takes perseverance and commitment to keep an acquisition transaction alive and get it across the finish line.

Tomorrow attorneys Bill Barlow and James David Williams return for an office hours webinar and the topic is what killed deals in 2025? Expect a recap of all the legal and non legal reasons why deals that went under LOI didn't end up closing. Bill and James David will share actual examples from the past year of deals that died between LOI and closing and how you can prevent a similar fate and keep…

That is tomorrow, Tuesday, December 16th, November noon Eastern. Link to register for the webinar is right at the top of this episode's show notes or on the Acquiring Minds homepage. Acquiringminds Co. Welcome to Acquiring Minds, a podcast about buying businesses.

My name is Will Smith. Acquiring an existing business is an awesome opportunity for many entrepreneurs and on this podcast I talk to the people who do it. Running payroll, paying your bills, closing your books, and producing financials.

These are critical tasks every business owner must do or oversee, but spending time on them distracts you from the leadership and growth work you want to do. So let system 6 do it for you. Owned and led by a former Searcher, Chris Williams, System 6 is a leading outsourced finance team for hundreds of SMBs, including over 50 searcher acquired businesses.

Chris, Tim and the System 6 team understand firsthand the challenges, the opportunities of jumping into a business as its new owner. So whether you own your business already or have one under LOI, talk to System 6 about how they can give you time back and improve your financial operations. Mention Acquiring Minds and they'll provide a free review of your books and Financial Ops, a $500 value.

Check out system6.com link in the show notes or email helloystem6.com. Robert Gayden, welcome to Acquiring Minds.