Hey Biz-Buyers,

If you’re new here, welcome to Main Street Minute — where we share some of the best tips, tools, and ideas from inside our Main Street acquisitions community.

Whether you’re curious or serious about buying an SMB, you’re in the right place. Today we’ve got 1 quote, 1 lesson, and 1 idea for buyers. Let’s get down to business.

“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it”

- Simon Sinek

Know Why You’re Doing It

How the Magic Happens as a Buyer

In SMB acquisitions…

• It’s not about WHERE you start
• It’s about WHY you start and WHO you surround yourself with when you do

Take Brian, who recently joined the Contrarian Community with his wife Chelsea. Check out this resume:

• Worked in agriculture his whole life.
• Manages a feed yard with 35,000+ heads.
• Increased profit margin monthly in a volatile market and during the pandemic.

“Ranching isn’t the most profitable business, but it’s a necessary one and we do it because we love it,” as Brian put it.

“My goal is to be able to buy a small business so we can diversify, continue ranching, and feed America, which is what we love to do.”

When Brian introduced himself to the group, a bunch of other members welcomed him in, including…

• An 8-figure startup CEO
• A former Army Operations Specialist and current Sr. Project Data Manager
• An owner of a dog grooming & boarding business
• A Deputy Sheriff (who — no big deal — started multiple successful service businesses while being a full-time W-2)

At the end of the day, the power of our people isn’t just in deals closed or businesses built, it’s in how they do it. Together, supporting each other. Across industries, states, perspectives, skill sets, and each with a unique WHY.

Welcome to the Contrarian Community, Brian and Chelsea. You’re in good company.

Tuck-In Acquisitions

A Growth Hack For Business Building?

Tuck-in acquisitions are an often under-appreciated, overlooked move that can turbocharge a small business. You want to grow faster? Maybe that means skipping the DIY route and tucking in that smaller competitor.

Example:

Imagine you own a local HVAC company. Instead of spending years building a plumbing division from scratch, maybe it makes sense to acquire and absorb a small plumbing business. They’ve already got the infrastructure, talent, and client base. You can integrate that business, cross-sell services to their customers, and suddenly you’re a one-stop shop for home services.

Tip 1: Start Small, Scale Fast

If you run a landscaping business, ask yourself if it makes sense acquire a smaller, nearby competitor that specializes in a certain area. It can be faster than competing head-to-head for years, and cheaper than struggling to organically grow.

Tip 2: Size Does Matter

… And so does synergy. It’s not about buying the biggest or smallest fish — it’s about buying the right fish. For example, if you own a marketing agency, acquiring a small content creation firm with 3 employees could fill a gap in your service offerings, allowing you to sell new services to your existing clients without the pain of building something from scratch.

Enough Reading. Time to Act.

Our Top Resources for Main Street Biz Buyers

Not sure where to start? Keep an eye out for our next FREE business buying training in October. In the meantime, check out these other resources:

• Enroll in our Seller Financing Navigator course
• Access 4 hours of lessons on buying businesses (without needing millions)

• Enroll in our Main Street Accelerator course
• Access 20 hours of lessons on small business acquisitions
• Learn to source, evaluate, and negotiate for businesses like a pro

• Join the all-access Contrarian Community
• ALL of our course material and videos
• Personalized mentorship, weekly group calls, and expert office hours
• Exclusive peer network for expert guidance, accountability, and events

Thanks for taking a minute to get smarter on biz buying.

Now here’s a meme to send you off into the sunset… 

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