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The SMB Deal Hunter Podcast

Helen Guo
Acquisition Entrepreneurship
Home Services
Private Equity
SBA Loans
Acquisitions
Bray Electrical
HVAC
Small Business Acquisition
SMB Deal Hunter Pro
Electrical Contracting
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition
Covid-19
Atlanta, Georgia
SBA Loan
Business Growth
Acquisition
Simple Showing Real Estate
Digital Marketing
SBA Financing
Business Acquisition

Every week, Helen Guo interviews successful acquisition entrepreneurs, independent sponsors, and investors who have acquired businesses. Learn how to buy a business rather than starting one from scratch from those who have done it themselves.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes102Founded8 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessEntrepreneurshipInvesting

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Artwork for The SMB Deal Hunter Podcast

Latest Episodes

Want help buying a business? smbdealhunter.link/pro-yt

In this episode, David breaks down why he left 15 years of VC-backed startups to buy a 28-year-old lawn care business, how he closed with $50K down and no bank after an SBA rule change k... more

Want help buying a business? smbdealhunter.link/pro-yt

In this episode, Chris Edwards breaks down how he quit a comfy consulting

job in the middle of the pandemic, bought an overlooked flooring store with

just 10% down, and turned it into a ... more

YouTube

Want help buying a business? smbdealhunter.link/pro-yt

In this episode, Alejandro Vega breaks down why he walked away from a six-figure tech sales career to buy a concrete coatings company, how he beat out more than 10 other buyers and got i... more

Want help buying a business? smbdealhunter.link/pro-yt

In this episode, Ryan Murray breaks down how he left a corporate career to buy a $5.5 million blinds and shutters business, why he was confident enough to sign a nearly $5 million loan t... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Chris Edwards
flooring business owner; former owner of Affordable Flooring Warehouse; founder of Right This Way Flooring
Right This Way Flooring
Episode: How He Turned This Boring Business Into a 24x Return (No Experience)
Ryan Murray
Owner of AAA Blind and Shutter Factory (Little River, SC)
AAA Blind and Shutter Factory
Episode: How His Boring Business Does $4.7M/Year
Sarah Childs
Co-founder building a holding company that acquires and operates local businesses in Aspen
Aspen Total Automotive / local businesses
Episode: How 2 Friends Bought a Business That Prints $780K/yr
Matthew Ferguson
Co-founder building a holding company that acquires and operates local businesses in Aspen
Aspen Total Automotive / local businesses
Episode: How 2 Friends Bought a Business That Prints $780K/yr
Rob Carpenter
Entrepreneur who acquired two Merry Maids locations; former VC-backed AI founder
Merry Maids South Denver and Boulder locations; former AI company founder
Episode: From $18M AI Founder to a Cleaning Business (Working 15hr/week)
Paul LaJoy
Acquisition entrepreneur who has bought and scaled numerous small businesses across flooring, lighting, sandblasting/painting, and oil & gas.
Independent entrepreneur/investor
Episode: Why He Won't Sell The Business He Could Exit For $18M
Robert Gaiden
Acquired a home health care business; Chicago area based, former banker and CMU ETA student
Independent entrepreneur
Episode: How He Went From $0 to $1.8M/yr (While Living on His Wife’s Salary)
Steve Carroll
Owner of Kelso Industries, specializes in HVAC, plumbing, refrigeration, industrial, mechanical, and electrical services
Kelso Industries
Episode: How He Went From $0 to $1B/yr in ONLY 5 Years
Brian Hartman
Owner of Arbor Alliance, tree service platform, serial acquirer
Arbor Alliance
Episode: How He Bought a Tree Care Company (and Built an Empire)

Hosts

Helen Guo
Host of SMB Deal Hunter, focused on entrepreneurship through acquisition and strategy for buying and growing small businesses.
Raj Kankaria
Co-owner of Lone Star Attorney Service, appears as a guest with insights on acquisitions in the legal support services space.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 10 ratings
  • Amazing Podcast!

    Great community and podcast for anyone wanting to learn more about the SMB acquisition space!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bill92826
    United States8 months ago
  • Must Listen!

    Been listening for a year now and some of the information talked about is genuinely useful. Not just for business acquisition but also running my existing business. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Matthew_James2
    United States8 months ago
  • A weekly must-listen for me as someone in the business buying space

    Have been listening on YT for a nearly a year now, so glad this is finally on audio-only! Love that Helen really digs into the tactical takeaways business buyers can get from other people just a few steps ahead.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zain_AK
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Great tactical takeaways for buyers
Listeners praise the actionable insight for running acquired businesses
Many find the deal-making discussions and financing guidance highly valuable
Hosts and guests are described as practical and results-oriented

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How His Boring Business Does $4.7M/Year
Q: What operational changes had the biggest impact on growth?
Recasting the sales process so field reps focus on in-home sales while the office handles intake and scheduling, plus a strong emphasis on a data-driven, scalable marketing flywheel including digital ads and referrals, dramatically increased appointment throughput and revenue.
How His Boring Business Does $4.7M/Year
Q: How did you structure the deal, including real estate, and what were the key financing levers?
The total deal was about 5.5 million, with 1.1 million for real estate and 4.1 million for the business. The funding was roughly 78% debt, about 11% seller note, and the rest equity from me and LPs, blending a 7A for the business with a 504 for the real estate to optimize debt service.
How His Boring Business Does $4.7M/Year
Q: What attracted you to this business and to entrepreneurship through acquisition?
I wanted autonomy and to be in control of my time, inspired by my dad's independent business background, and ETA offered a path to ownership with a manageable scale and growth potential rather than starting a brand-new venture from scratch.
From $18M AI Founder to a Cleaning Business (Working 15hr/week)
Q: What did you learn about franchisor vs. independent operation after your first acquisition?
Franchises provide infrastructure and brand stability but can limit flexibility; the key is balancing the franchise's systems with selective, strategic changes to improve profitability without losing the core value that customers expect.
From $18M AI Founder to a Cleaning Business (Working 15hr/week)
Q: What were the high-level terms of the deal and how much did you put down yourself?
The deal was about 2.8x EBITDA, with around 15% seller financing; I used debt secured against my primary residence alongside other traditional loan options to complete the purchase.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The SMB Deal Hunter Podcast

What is The SMB Deal Hunter Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A show centered on entrepreneurship through acquisition, spotlighting real-world journeys of buyers who acquire and scale small- to mid-size businesses across industries. Episodes emphasize due diligence, deal financing (including SBA loans), integration, and growth through acquisitions rather than starting from scratch. Noteworthy angles include acquisitions in home services, professional services, and niche B2B industries, plus practical tactics for marketing, operations, and team-building during transitions. The format provides tactical takeaways from operators who've completed 5–7-figure deals, and often features guests who pivot from other sectors into ownership, underscoring a hands-on, outcome-driven perspective for prospective buyer... more

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How many episodes of The SMB Deal Hunter Podcast are there?

The SMB Deal Hunter Podcast launched 8 months ago and published 102 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The SMB Deal Hunter Podcast?

Recent guests on The SMB Deal Hunter Podcast include:

1. Chris Edwards
2. Ryan Murray
3. Sarah Childs
4. Matthew Ferguson
5. Rob Carpenter
6. Paul LaJoy
7. Robert Gaiden
8. Steve Carroll

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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