logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
1h 44m

The Gritty, High-Capex Road to Millions

Will Smith
About this episode

Reid Tileston bought a business that relied on $800k trucks, capex he came to love for the fat margins they produced.

Topics in Reid’s interview:

  • Working on the business instead of in it
  • Writing a book about acquisition
  • People are the worst and best part of business
  • Power of feedback and relationships for business owners
  • The company’s slow temp-to-hire process
  • Getting his CDL to be hands-on 
  • Moving paper processes to the cloud
  • Pros and cons of an Employee Stock Ownership Program
  • Personally testing field service management tech
  • Risks of informing employees of a business sale

References and how to contact Reid:

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

Learn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Up next
Today
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
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
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
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
Aug 2024
61: Rebuilding After Shutting Down a $40M Business - Colin Wayne
Colin Wayne (CEO @ Wayne Enterprises Inc) joins us in this special episode hosted by Ashton Shanks, where we dive deep into his journey from being a fitness model to CEO of one of Alabama's fastest-growing companies. In this episode, Colin shares how he leveraged social media to ... Show More
50m 11s
Sep 2024
Meet the Man Who Did Over $4B in Acquisitions - Roland Frasier 💵 EP 86
Roland is a "recovering attorney" and the co-founder and principal of five different companies recognized by Inc. Magazine as some of the fastest-growing in e-commerce, e-learning, real estate, and SaaS sectors. As a serial entrepreneur, he has founded, scaled, or sold more than ... Show More
32m 57s
Dec 2024
Rebuilding a £150k/month Meat Business After a £1.5M Setback
In this episode, James and JB discuss the journey of a £150K/month meat broker working to rebuild after a £1.5M setback. They explore the challenges and strategies for recovery and growth. Videos mentioned in the podcast: Importing Products from Istanbul: https://www.youtube.com/ ... Show More
52m 15s
Mar 2025
How Tommy Mello Became a Billionaire Painting Garage Doors (And How He Shares the Wealth)
What does it take to turn a blue-collar business into a billion-dollar empire?For Tommy Mello, the answer is simple: relentless competition, strategic investing, and an unwavering commitment to winning. From painting garage doors to building A1 Garage Doors into a massive industr ... Show More
30m 47s
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
Sep 2024
"I didn't have any idea what I was spending:" Nearly Burning Through a $13M Exit
13 million dollars is a lot. But is it enough to retire on?For pre-epiphany Ryan Begelman, the answer is no.Ryan built his wealth working in the corporate world, then decided to risk it all and bought into Bisnow. That risk paid off, and Ryan made a huge profit. But despite his s ... Show More
40m 9s
Jul 4
How I Bought a $3.4M Business For $200K
Want Sam's Playbook to Uncover Hidden Business Opportunities? Get it here: https://clickhubspot.com/weo Episode 723: Sam Parr ( https://x.com/theSamParr ) and Shaan Puri ( https://x.com/ShaanVP ) talk to Shaan’s college friend Dan Certner ( https://x.com/youneedbags ) about how h ... Show More
1h 21m