logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
1h 52m

Getting Unstuck by Buying a Business

Will Smith
About this episode

The construction services business Christian Bateson bought will do $7.5m in 2024. It also rescued him from the depths.

Topics in Christian’s interview:

  • His front row seat to the 2008 financial crisis
  • Qualities of a top salesperson
  • Business acquisition as a way out of a miserable career
  • Shopping around for an SBA loan
  • Choosing to play to his strengths and outsource his weaknesses
  • Difficulty in hiring for construction
  • Bouncing back and growing after Covid losses
  • Red flags he ignored when acquiring his second business
  • How his finance background benefited him
  • His $100 million goal

References and how to contact Christian:

Work with an SBA broker who focuses exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Up next
Jul 10
From Sales Freefall to $1.2m/Month
By reconceiving the paint dealership he bought as a marketing & sales organization, Ryan Adams pushed it to new heights.Topics in Ryan’s interview:Transferring from military to businessFocusing on selling one serviceUnderestimating working capital needsThe business tanked after a ... Show More
1h 31m
Jul 7
Reviving a Covid-Crushed Business: $0 to $6M in 3 Years
Adam Rao took a chance on an exhibit production business that had generated zero revenue in 15 months. It's gone well.Topics in Adam’s interview:Discovering impact companiesAcquiring with a business partnerBuying a distressed business during CovidGetting 100% seller financingInhe ... Show More
1h 21m
Jul 3
Scaling a Tiny Acquisition to a PE-Backed Exit
Phil Miller turned a tiny pet shop doing $100k in sales into a regional pet boarding brand — and the ideal PE platform.Topics in Phil’s interview:Pivoting from real estate to the pet industrySlow renovation creating a financial messDelegation is the key to growthThe real cost of ... Show More
1h 50m
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
MBA2499 Why I Never Needed Investors For My Businesses
Ever thought about whether you really need investors to build a successful business, or if it’s possible to thrive without their backing? Many entrepreneurs believe that securing investor funding is crucial for launching and growing their ventures. But what if there’s an alternat ... Show More
18m 2s
Apr 15
How An Online Marketer Raised $100M For His Business | Brian Moran
In this episode of The Wealthy Way podcast, I sit down with Brian Moran, the founder of SamCart, an eCommerce platform that helps business owners sell products, maximize profits, and build long-term customer relationships. We dive into Brian's journey, the birth of SamCart, ... Show More
1h 37m
Mar 2025
I Sold for $100M and Now I Spend $1M/Year
This podcast is a ridiculous concept: high-net-worth people reveal their personal finances. Inspired by real conversations happening in the Hampton community. If you're a founder doing at least $3M/year in sales, check out Hampton: https://www.joinhampton.com/. Dan Berger sold hi ... Show More
47m 57s
Feb 2025
"I Fast-Forwarded My Life 10 Years”: How Geo-Arbitrage 3X’d My Wealth and Changed My Life
What if you could fast-forward your financial goals by ten years just by moving abroad? That’s exactly what entrepreneur Rob Hoffman did when he relocated to Colombia, where his $3M net worth stretches as if it’s $9M. Rob, a member of the Hampton community, shares how he built a ... Show More
32m 6s
Feb 2025
Hustle Smart: How to Build Your Side Business Without Breaking the Bank
In this episode of "My Money, My Lifestyle," host Maya Fisher French chats about side hustles with Willem Gous, author of "Side Hustle Success." With nearly half of employed South Africans engaging in side businesses, the conversation explores practical strategies for starting a ... Show More
42m 8s
Sep 2024
How to Get Funded After the Banks Have Told You No with Brett Denton: An EOFire Classic from 2021
From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2021. Our interviews on Entrepreneurs On Fire are meant to be evergreen, and we do our best to confirm that all offers and URL's in these archive episodes are still relevant. Brett is the founder and owner of ... Show More
28m 21s
Dec 2019
Meet Sarwa Capital: the 20-year-old startup quietly building the infrastructure of consumer finance (Ep 5)
Hazem Moussa will forgive you if you’ve never heard of Sarwa Capital, because unless you’re a finance geek (like us), Sarwa is hardly a company whose name you’ll hear every day — even though there’s a reasonable chance Sarwa has been involved in your financial life one way or ano ... Show More
32m 24s
Oct 2024
"I Thought I Had the Midas Touch": How an $80M Success Led to a Major Failure
Can success create a false sense of invincibility? For Pete, it did—and it cost him millions.After selling his business for $80 million, Pete felt unstoppable. But his overconfidence led him into a risky venture that didn’t pay off. Determined to prove he wasn’t a one-hit wonder, ... Show More
38m 16s
Oct 2024
“I’m worth about $3 billion” What Happens When You DON’T Sell Your Business
What happens when you don’t sell your company and keep growing it for decades? For Oscar, it means you become a billionaire.Oscar bought a company every six weeks for 20 years and now his business is worth about $50 billion. Yet, he still wears $15 t-shirts and lives by the value ... Show More
43m 52s
Oct 2024
$100M Net Worth, $5M Income: How I used money to handle a cancer diagnosis
What’s the true value of money when faced with a life-or-death situation?Mitch found out the hard way when his wife was diagnosed with cancer.As a highly successful entrepreneur with a net worth of nearly $100 million, Mitch had built a life of financial security. But when faced ... Show More
45m 30s