Guardian Fire Protection Services, LLC’s Post

Ah, business acquisitions—the corporate version of swiping right. You’ve found your match, now comes the dowry negotiations! 1. Unearthing the Skeletons: - Due diligence or digging through their hidden closets? - Spoiler alert: Everyone's got skeletons, just pray they're not haunted! 2. The Courtship: - Synergy: The corporate word for “we hope we don't kill each other. - Compatibility: Are you marrying your soulmate or a potential serial killer? 3. The Fine Print: - Contracts thicker than War and Peace,” but infinitely less interesting. - Lawyers and accountants: Cupid’s overlooked, but necessary henchmen. Acquisitions are like bringing two dysfunctional families together for Thanksgiving dinner. There’s laughter, there’s chaos, but maybe—just maybe—you’ll end up with something beautiful. As we romantically sail these stormy acquisition seas, let’s remember that every Titanic had its iceberg. Moral of the story? Marry for love, acquire for strategy. #BusinessAcquisitions #CorporateDrama #LoveAndMoney #StrategicDecisions https://lnkd.in/emdgfXDV

Sort of answering Andrew's question ... Who do I like to pursue when we're placing a senior acquisitions hire? When you can't find a successful acquisitions person from a different firm, I like VP-level brokerage candidates (from your target market). Why? They'll know all the brokers in your market and are likely already well-networked. Additionally, they've seen a lot of deals and likely have a good gut instinct. For a junior acquisitions role, you can pull good ones from brokerage or other investment firms. There is a massive supply of folks wanting to get into CRE acquisitions, so you can typically be picky. PS - Andrew D. Kuhn runs a great shop. Check him out.

I wanted to take a moment to reflect on recent comments from Leslie Elliott, the CEO and Founder of Poolie. A few weeks ago, at our Unity U CXO Summit, Leslie led a discussion on growth through acquisitions. She made the point that her greatest competition is not a rival operating company or private equity acquirer; rather, it is the selling business owners themselves. In other words, sellers who have invested countless years building their businesses do not take the decision to sell lightly, and their motivations and priorities in selling their business can vary widely, often weighted more heavily than the financial outcome itself. Leslie, like the other great leaders we partner with at Unity Partners, understands that the acquisition of a business, especially in the lower middle market, can be a slow and nuanced process. Leslie and her team proactively build a relationship with the seller to understand their goals prior to presenting a financial offer and, where possible, offer guidance on how to think objectively about the prospect of exiting. As a seller engages in the process, Poolie leadership remains actively involved alongside the due diligence team through and beyond the close of the transaction to address any seller concerns. Poolie’s 120 service and repair technicians are working with 3,400 pool customers weekly throughout Texas, with growth achieved both organically and through 20 acquisitions. #poolcleaning #buildbettertogether #businessgrowth #privateequity

If you could ask an expert any question you have related to your family business, what would you ask them? If you could get a real-time answer and resources to navigate you through that question, would you take advantage of it? If you could meet other family business owners and create a peer network to offer support and encouragement and keep you accountable, would you feel less "Am I the only one going through this?" That's what you'll get when you join The Collective, a virtual event & group focused on solving family business issues and building a peer network in one. "Attending The Collective introduced me to other family business owners facing similar challenges. The conversations we had during this session as well as the expert insights provided by Tom are invaluable." - Andrei Kin, Head of Investments and Acquisitions, Military & Commercial Fasteners Corp. HQ Learn more and register for the next event, coming up on December 7: https://bit.ly/46NIfdd #thecollective #familybusiness #businessdevelopment #businessgrowth #nextgeneration #businesscoaching #businesstrategy #transitionplanning

If you run an agency, and you're thinking of selling, here are 3 great resources to understand how to value your business... 1. This video on agency valuation by Madison Alley (a strategic M&A firm) https://lnkd.in/e7jk9b28 2. Barney's PDF on Valuing Agencies If you don't know them, they're a strategic M&A firm that specializes in agencies. https://lnkd.in/ejJ8HtPN 3. Our member @alexisgrant runs a company called @TheyGotAcquired They publish behind-the-scenes info on of all kinds of acquisitions and compiled a roundup of 9 agency sales worth looking into https://lnkd.in/ejUsr3zw

Join our "Town Hall" style webinar next week to learn from our expert Bob Williamson

Step into the world of a founder's acquisition journey: navigating timelines, due diligence, and the relentless pursuit of balance. Olly Fawcett candidly expressed his apprehension about juggling his primary responsibilities with the demands of the acquisition process. The pressure of not dropping the ball for their existing business weighed heavily on his shoulders, leading to moments of self-doubt and careful consideration. Have a glimpse into the complexities of acquisitions and the delicate balance required to navigate them effectively. https://buff.ly/43OhXW9 #FounderStories #AcquisitionJourney #EntrepreneurialInsights #BusinessGrowth

Step into the world of a founder's acquisition journey: navigating timelines, due diligence, and the relentless pursuit of balance. Olly Fawcett candidly expressed his apprehension about juggling his primary responsibilities with the demands of the acquisition process. The pressure of not dropping the ball for their existing business weighed heavily on his shoulders, leading to moments of self-doubt and careful consideration. Have a glimpse into the complexities of acquisitions and the delicate balance required to navigate them effectively. https://buff.ly/43OhXW9 #FounderStories #AcquisitionJourney #EntrepreneurialInsights #BusinessGrowth

Mike Houston, the seasoned owner of Sureguard Lawn & Pest, joins Nick Bartolo and Patrick Baldwin 🎙🐝 in the Boardroom to share his extensive experience in the pest control industry. Mike’s humble beginnings in the industry accelerated into a successful business he exited. Mike took a break from pest control but has built again. He prioritizes maintaining strong customer service and building relationships as foundational to his business strategies, including acquisitions. How might you approach acquisitions on the buy side vs. the sell side? In the interview, Mike Houston detailed his approach to growing his business through multiple strategies. He stressed the importance of not just analyzing acquisitions by looking at the financials but also ensuring a good fit with the existing business model. Mike also highlighted the significance of clear communication and mutual benefits in making acquisitions successful. What strategies does Mike consider essential when evaluating a potential business for acquisition? Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gPMZnnz6

In a recent article published by the Rochester Business Journal, Daniel Collins, a partner at Harter Secrest & Emery and head of the corporate practice group, highlights the critical post-closing phase of M&A deals, emphasizing the need to assess the entire deal, including considerations like earnouts and rollover equity. Additionally, the article emphasizes that due diligence, integration planning, and expert involvement are underscored as essential for a smooth transition and risk mitigation in the post-closing period. #corporatelaw #business #rochester