BusinessInvestingEducationHow To

Let's Buy a Business

Ryan Condie

Buying a business is a blend of process, timing, and luck. A few times a week Ryan Condie shares the deals he's looking at in a short form podcast. Listen in on updates from investors and bankers. Whether you're buying a business to own and operate or building up your passive income, you'll learn what to focus on and what to avoid during acquisition.

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20 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 19 min
English

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August 13 · 16 min
What is the difference between EBITDA vs SDE? (with a cash flow bonus)
Alright, a question I get often. What is the difference between EBITDA vs SDE? We dive into a few high-level differences to watch out for when evaluating businesses. EBITDA is typically used for larger businesses ($2-3M+ Profit). SDE is typically used for smaller businesses. BUT neither of those is cash flow. A few podcast nuggies: - SDE is not Cash Flow - Loan payments don't show up on the P&L many times - If you take a business with no debt, stack on 80%+ debt, you are fundamentally changing the entire business structure. You are ADDING risk here. You can get into trouble if you only take their costs vs WHAT YOUR costs will be. Inzo Technologies: Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition. Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta.
August 12 · 11 min
Changing Asset Classes - Adding Back an Owner Salary for an Operator?
Can you negatively add back an owner's salary because you're going to put an operator in? Yes, but don't expect the owner to pay for that in the valuation. Or to take you seriously if you propose that. Why hire just 1 person? Why not hire 50 people and go into super growth mode while losing $3M/year? Inzo Technologies: Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition. Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta.
July 17 · 26 min
How to Save on Health Insurance for Entrepreneurs
Oran Rose shares how he moved from door-to-door pest control sales into life insurance, driven partly by losing his father young and seeing firsthand the impact of inadequate coverage. He later shifted into health insurance, where he helps entrepreneurs and self-employed families understand options beyond expensive COBRA or full-price marketplace plans. The big theme is that business owners often overpay because they do not know how income, subsidies, private plans, short-term plans, and marketplace coverage can be combined. Oran's advice: talk to a qualified agent before assuming health insurance has to be a massive monthly burden. * Oran's background in door-to-door sales gave him the persistence needed to succeed in insurance. * How to get health insurance for entrepreneurs * Examples of families saving $1,500–$2,600+ per month by restructuring coverage. * Health insurance is confusing, but the right agent can help business owners avoid overpaying.
July 3 · 13 min
The Journey, Not the Destination - Measuring the Gain
* **The summit is not the end.** Even at the top of Everest, Hillary and Norgay was already seeing the next mountain. * **The journey is what changes you.** The growth comes in the uphill and downhill, not sitting at the summit. * **Chase the next mountain from gratitude, not emptiness.** Measure the gain, not the gap. Inzo Technologies: Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition. Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta.
June 25 · 18 min
How to Get Referrals and Find Hidden Businesses
5 Ways to find subtle businesses for sale. 1. Generous Referral Fees - $25k+ 2. Regional Conferences 3. Build Relationships with Failed Searchers 4. Start with a Smaller Acquisition 5. Micro Reputation Bonus - Create Hyper Local Presence Inzo Technologies: Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition. Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta.
June 9 · 36 min
15 Acquisitions After Leaving His Job in 2000 with Paul Lajoie
Paul Lajoie started as a CPA, spent years in corporate finance, then left the W-2 world after buying his first flooring business with his brother. That first acquisition replaced both his and his wife's income, but he learned hard lessons around working capital, cash flow timing, and not overanalyzing every deal. Across 15 acquisitions, his biggest lessons were to remove emotion and ego, avoid buying what you don't fully understand, live frugally to fund the next deal, and seek help from people who have done it before. Podcast Nuggies: * Bought first business with $45K down * Working capital nearly crushed them * Don't buy based on HOPE * Buy existing before starting from scratch * Cast a wide acquisition net - WHY? Inzo Technologies: Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition. Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta. The Exit Plan Book - https://amzn.to/4d74WPw Free Audio Book - The Exit Plan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYgD_1pks_8 BizBuyPro Website :BizBuyPro.com LInkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-lajoie-51513711/
May 25 · 9 min
Remote Cleaning Business for Sale
I generally keep this podcast and my brokering separate, but there's some crossover here. I dive into a local Utah cleaning business that does residential and commercial cleanings and can be run entirely remotely. It has about $5k a month in recurring revenue and about $150k in revenue the last 12 months. It did about $20k in profit, with some clear paths to growth in terms of marketing and focus. Link to listing: https://quietlight.com/listings/18828377/ Inzo Technologies: Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition. Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta.
May 13 · 11 min
The First Stages of an Entrepreneurial Foundation
Just like there are levels to businesses and experience, there are levels to entrepreneurship and stability. Need that first foundation? Check out these guys. https://x.com/ShannonJean https://x.com/mhp_guy Inzo Technologies: Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition. Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta
April 17 · 9 min
Managing Yourself as an Entrepreneur
How to fail when you switch from employee to entrepreneur / business owner. 1. No one is coming to save "your calendar" 2. Forget time, focus on Results 3. Check Your Emotions at the Door - Tired? Who cares. No motivation? Who cares. 4. Create an accountability / reward system. 5 Q's to Ask 1. If today repeated for 30 days, would revenue go up? 2. What did I do today that directly created a lead, a call, or a checkout? 3. What's the one activity I did today that I can tie to dollars within 7–30 days? 4. If I had to make $5k this week, what would I do next? Did I do any of that? 5. What did I do that was avoidance dressed up as work? (branding tweaks, tools, busywork) SMBs are the biggest target for cyber attacks. Protect your business with Inzo Technologies. Check out....www.inzotechnologies.com, I-N-Z-O, or email Nick directly at nick@inzotechnologies.com.
April 7 · 6 min
Potential SBA Updates for Investors - This impacts you...
SBA changes for minority, non personally guaranteed owners! This could be massive. SMBs are the biggest target for cyber attacks. Protect your business with Inzo Technologies. Check out....www.inzotechnologies.com, I-N-Z-O, or email Nick directly at nick@inzotechnologies.com.
March 30 · 22 min
SBA Deal Structure - Real Example with Jaryd Krause
Jaryd Krause shares how he went from being a plumber in Australia to buying online businesses (starting on Flippa in 2014) because he wanted a travel-friendly lifestyle. He then breaks down a recent deal where his clients bought a US-based business that helps Amazon sellers get product feedback and saw big upside from systems, team, and expansion opportunities. The acquisition used SBA financing plus a seller note, but the process got messy with legal slowdowns, tax/IRS hiccups, and classic "deal fatigue." Podcast Nuggies: Real SBA deal dive with real structures Why this was a fit for the buyers?? Respect - how to have the buyer/seller get along. SMBs are the biggest target for cyber attacks. Protect your business with Inzo Technologies. Check out....www.inzotechnologies.com, I-N-Z-O, or email Nick directly at nick@inzotechnologies.com. ****** Join the last cohort for a while. **How to Buy a Business Live Cohort** - April 2026 https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/ ****** Learn more about Jaryd here! https://buyingonlinebusiness.com/
March 11 · 8 min
$250k - $400k Window: Why Businesses Get Stuck Here
Growth is Expensive. Why do businesses seem to hover in the $200k to $400k SDE range? SMBs are the biggest target for cyber attacks. Protect your business with Inzo Technologies. Check out....www.inzotechnologies.com, I-N-Z-O, or email Nick directly at nick@inzotechnologies.com. ****** Join the last cohort for awhile **How to Buy a Business Live Cohort** - April 2026 https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/
March 5 · 30 min
Cybersecurity Horror Stories in Due Diligence and Post-Closing with Nick Akers
Nick Akers started by founding a venture-capital-backed company, then moved into a more "traditional" track leading a manufacturing company before spending ~2.5–3 years doing an ETA-style search. He ultimately acquired an IT services business (STL Communications) and rebranded it to Inzo Technologies, where he focuses heavily on cybersecurity for small/legacy businesses. He sees buyers walking into messy, outdated environments (personal email accounts, weak licensing, no backups/firewalls, passwords shared everywhere) and argues IT + cybersecurity due diligence should be part of every deal. Podcast Nuggies: Legacy IT is usually a "mess" post-close Add IT/cyber due diligence before closing MFA + password manager are non-negotiable Phishing clicks can wreck you in minutes USE POSITIVE PAY to approve every expense SMBs are the biggest target for cyber attacks. Protect your business with Inzo Technologies. Check out....www.inzotechnologies.com, I-N-Z-O, or email Nick directly at nick@inzotechnologies.com. ****** Join the last cohort for a while. **How to Buy a Business Live Cohort** - April 2026 https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/
February 25 · 10 min
Add Back - Math and Logic
Add backs. How to use Math and Logic: 1 - Does it make logical sense? 2 - Is there a paper trail? Documented? - A real add-back has receipts + it shows up cleanly in the books/bank. 3 - Is this a re-occurring expense or 1-time? 4 - Is this Tax Fraud? SMBs are the biggest target for cyber attacks. Protect your business with Inzo Technologies. Check out....www.inzotechnologies.com, I-N-Z-O, or email Nick directly at nick@inzotechnologies.com. ****** Join the last cohort for a while. **How to Buy a Business Live Cohort** - April 2026 https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/
February 18 · 33 min
Build It. Bank It. Sell It. Repeat.
Chad Petersen has done A LOT of deals. We dive into his accidental entrepreneur journey....started mowing lawns at 13, realized ownership = freedom, then built + sold his first company at 19 and kept repeating the "build cash flow → sell for a liquidity jump" playbook (six of his own). * What buyers do wrong with brokers (and how to stand out): the market has more motivated buyers; buyers kill deals by showing entitlement, fighting NDAs, and not having a personal financial statement ready. * Real-world examples: a CPA bought an ~$8M drywall business by staying patient/emotionally steady (and spent about $2.5k on legal) SMBs are the biggest target for cyber attacks. Protect your business with Inzo Technologies. Check out....www.inzotechnologies.com, I-N-Z-O, or email Nick directly at nick@inzotechnologies.com. ===== Find more about Chad at his website below. https://chadpeterson.com/ ===== Join the next **How to Buy a Business Live Cohort** - April 2026 https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/
January 12 · 31 min
How to Speak the Foreign Language of Personal Finances with Your Spouse
Dan Ockey is a financial guru but not in the weird guru way. He's full of incredibly practical advice and has worked with hundreds and hundreds of couples to help with their finances. * $20k debt → debt-free; built Sensei (26 coaches, 1.5k clients) * Foundations: track spend, separate biz/personal, kill debt, 3–6 mo EF, simple cashflow * Owners: pay yourself 30–50% early; avoid burnout; better decisions * Couples: shared plan/coach; align goals; win together Join the How to Buy a Business Cohort - Feb 2026 https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/ Sourcing List: https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/source https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-ockey/ https://www.centseifinance.com/base-organic-free-class/
January 6 · 9 min
A Searcher Bought a Job and Thought it Would be Passive
I knew a searcher who was buying a job, but didn't know they were buying a job. Buying a job is a bad thing. You just need to be realistic about what you are actually buying and what your intent is with acquiring a business. Repeat, there is nothing passive about buying a business. If you want a mailbox check, buy dividend-paying stocks or CDs. Join the How to Buy a Business Cohort https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/p/how-to-build-a-business-cohort-with-ryan-condie/ Sourcing List:https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/source SMBs are the biggest target for cyber attacks. Protect your business with Inzo Technologies.Check out....www.inzotechnologies.com, I-N-Z-O, or email Nick directly at nick@inzotechnologies.com.
Dec 26, 2025 · 21 min
2025 Recap - How to Do Something When You Don't Know the Ending
How to review 2025. Measuring the Gain, Not the Gap. AND...starting something you do not know the ending of before you start. Two opportunities to receive help: 1. One-on-one consulting 2. January Life Cohort Jan 2026 - Live Cohort - Jan 7-9th https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com Consulting - https://www.Letsbuyabusiness.com/2026
Dec 25, 2025 · 41 min
From 1,500 House Flips in 7 Years to a $800K-EBITDA Countertop Acquisition with Sean Tagge
You're gonna love this episode. No joke, someone needs to make a series about Sean. He constantly bets on himself and has an incredible story. Podcast Nuggies From biomedical engineer to investor: moved to Memphis, flipped ~1,500 houses, syndicated ~800 units. Transitioned back to Utah; year-plus search with multiple failed LOIs, then bought PSI Tops (countertops/cabinets) in late 2024 (~$800k EBITDA, 35 employees, included real estate/SBA). DON'T be afraid of being the backup buyer! Join the How to Buy a Business Cohort - Jan 2026 https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/ Sourcing List:https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/source SMBs are the biggest target for cyber attacks. Protect your business with Inzo Technologies.Check out....www.inzotechnologies.com, I-N-Z-O, or email Nick directly at nick@inzotechnologies.com. Guest Name: Sean Tagge Additional guest information https://www.linkedin.com/in/seantagge/ acornea.com
Dec 9, 2025 · 17 min
Income and Wealth Multipliers - The Equity Multiplier Map
Math doesn't lie. Be real with your position, which side of the equation are you on? Are you using Multipliers? Are you capturing 7% of the value or 93% of the value created? Wealth comes from owning equity. Salary is linear while equity compounds via multiples. $1M profit. $250k goes to employee. $750k in profit left goes to owner. $750k x 4 (equity multiplier) = $3M $3.75M goes to owner. 6.6% of the value goes to the employee. 93% of the value goes to the owner. Owners have huge risks. Employees get paid first. That's ok. That's the way it's supposed to be if you don't take any risks. Check out....www.inzotechnologies.com, I-N-Z-O, or email Nick directly at nick@inzotechnologies.com. Join the next How to Buy a Business Cohort https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/p/how-to-build-a-business-cohort-with-ryan-condie/ Sourcing List:https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/source

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