The Dream Outcome: From $300k to $5m EBITDA

I think it's fair to generalize that for those self funded searchers who listen to Acquiring Minds, today's guest has achieved the dream. Linh Tran started small, too small. A commercial refrigeration business with $300,000 in SDE.

On paper it was actually more like $150,000, says Linh. So a tiny fragile business, a business where one technician leaving means revenue collapses. And from that humble acquisition, Linh built the business into one, generating two and $3 million of EBITDA, at which point he stepped aside and hired a CEO.

And that business today does north of 5 million of EBITDA. Linh owns all of it. He's a long term holder, not looking to sell.

We discuss why and he's an investor, so he redeploys and compounds those annual earnings. But today's interview is about much more than those big numbers. Linh shares so much perspective with us.

Leadership, investing, family and time are all key themes woven throughout Linh's life and this interview. You're really going to enjoy his story and the man himself who is easy and down to earth despite his inspiring success. Here is Linh Tran, owner of Advanced Commercial Group and co founder of Apex Fund Group.

Many of you will seek capital from search investors to help support your acquisition of a business. And today, Thursday, November 20th, we're hosting a webinar on what a good investor pitch looks like. Chelsea Wood of Acquisition Lab and Andrew Hippert of Shareholder Ventures will break down what search investors look for in acquisition entrepreneurs.

How to present your background as credible to run a business even if you're changing industries. How to avoid the most common search investor red flags, the narrative frameworks that help investors say yes and many other topics. That is today, Thursday, November 20th, noon Eastern.

Link to register is right at the top of this episode's show notes or on the Acquiring Minds homepage. Acquiring Minds 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. What do the following Acquiring Minds guests. All have in common? Doug Johns, Morli Desai, Tim Erickson, Chirag Shah, Shane Ehrsam.

They all went through the Acquisition Lab, the accelerator in community for people serious. About buying a business. But they represent just a sliver of.

The Lab's success stories. The number of deals across the Lab's cohorts now stands at over 120, with over $300 million in aggregate transaction value. The Acquisition Lab was founded by Walker.

Deibel, author of Buy Then Build the book that introduced so many of you to the very idea of buying a business. The Lab offers a month long, intensive, almost daily Q and A sessions with advisors, live Deal reviews with Walker Deal team introductions and an active community of serious searchers. Check out acquisitionlab.com link in the notes or email the lab's co founder, Chelsea Wood.