Acquisitions Anonymous - #1 for business buying, selling and operating

In this episode the hosts uncover a highly profitable niche manufacturing business in rural Virginia that produces patented thermal spray systems for aerospace and oilfield applications, sparking excitement over its recurring revenue, engineering moat, and massive growth potential.

Business Listing – https://www.bizbuysell.com/business-opportunity/high-margin-industrial-equipment-manufacturer-70-gm-no-debt/2472503/

Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.

Looking to build a professional website in minutes? Try Wix: https://wix.pxf.io/c/6898629/3115214/25616?trafcat=template

HubSpot is the backbone for how businesses scale without chaos. Try them out here: https://go.try-hubspot.com/OeG9Vr

Subscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.acquanon.com/newsletter

💰 Sponsored by:
Viso Business Capital — Get the right SBA loan tailored to your acquisition needs with Heather Endresen’s firm. Sign up for a free live Q&A on SBA loans at https://www.visocap.net and click “Zoom Sign Up” in the top-right corner.

Acquisition Lab – Your fast-track to business ownership. Get hands-on support, world-class resources, and join a top-tier community of acquisition entrepreneurs. Schedule your free consultation at https://www.acquisitionlab.com and mention Acquisitions Anonymous!

Key Highlights:
- Patented thermal spray manufacturing business with aerospace and oilfield customers
- 60–70% recurring revenue from installed systems, parts, and maintenance
- $2.5M revenue and ~$1M EBITDA at roughly a 5x asking multiple
- Strong engineering moat with patents valid through 2035 and 2037
- Major growth opportunity through outbound sales and expanded distribution
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In this episode the hosts break down a wildly unconventional Shopify-focused business brokerage using a “spread-based” commission model, debating whether it’s a scalable innovation or just an overpriced job disguised as a business.

Business Listing – https://mailchi.mp/websiteclosers/new-deal-alert-ma-digital-business-brokerage-shopify-ecommerce-store-sales-65-repeat-purchase-rate-100-organic-strong-community-reputation-gmfgmhkz201?e=42dc999128

Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.

Looking to build a professional website in minutes? Try Wix: https://wix.pxf.io/c/6898629/3115214/25616?trafcat=template

HubSpot is the backbone for how businesses scale without chaos. Try them out here: https://go.try-hubspot.com/OeG9Vr

Subscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.acquanon.com/newsletter

💰 Sponsored by:
Quiet Light Brokerage specializes in helping entrepreneurs buy and sell businesses with experienced operators as brokers. They offer a free valuation clarity call to help owners understand what their business is worth and how to increase its value before selling. Learn more at https://quietlight.com/

CapitalPad is a private equity co-investment group for lower middle market deals. Accredited investors invest in searcher and independent sponsor transactions on a deal-by-deal basis, with minimums starting at $25K. Acquisition entrepreneurs with a deal under LOI can raise equity through CapitalPad's single-SPV structure, closing with one partner and one wire. Raise capital or invest at https://capitalpad.com

This week on Acquisitions Anonymous, the hosts tackle one of the most meta deals they’ve ever reviewed: a business brokerage that specializes in selling Shopify and e-commerce businesses. The company claims over 230 completed deals, a 92–94% close rate, and an unusual monetization strategy where they earn a percentage of the “spread” above a seller’s expected valuation instead of charging traditional commissions. The asking price? A hefty $14.5 million.

Key Highlights:
- Shopify-focused brokerage claims 230+ completed deals and 85 closings in the last year alone
- Unique “spread-based” pricing model replaces traditional broker commissions
- Hosts discover inconsistencies between stated revenue, EBITDA, and transaction math
- Debate over whether the business is scalable infrastructure or simply “buying a job”
- Asking price of $14.5M sparks major skepticism from the panel
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Do you love Acquanon and want to see our smiling faces? Subscribe to our Youtube channel.
Do you enjoy our content? Rate our show!
Follow us on Twitter @acquanon Learnings about small business acquisitions and operations.
For inquiries or suggestions, email us at [email protected]

In this episode the hosts break down a Southern California industrial automation equipment business whose niche customer base, unclear recurring revenue, and likely customer concentration risks turn what looks like a profitable manufacturing deal into a potential acquisition nightmare.

Business Listing – https://www.bizbuysell.com/business-opportunity/industrial-and-automation-equipment-manufacturer/2443997/

Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.

Looking to build a professional website in minutes? Try Wix: https://wix.pxf.io/c/6898629/3115214/25616?trafcat=template

HubSpot is the backbone for how businesses scale without chaos. Try them out here: https://go.try-hubspot.com/OeG9Vr

Subscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.acquanon.com/newsletter

💰 Sponsored by:
FRANZY - Thinking about buying a franchise instead of an independent business? FRANZY is a free platform built for acquisition-minded entrepreneurs who want to explore franchise ownership without broker bias. FRANZY matches you with franchise opportunities based on your capital, goals, and lifestyle—and includes free coaching from experienced franchise operators. If you're exploring ETA but want a structured, system-driven alternative, check out https://franzy.com/ 

Viso Business Capital — Get the right SBA loan tailored to your acquisition needs with Heather Endresen’s firm. Sign up for a free live Q&A on SBA loans at https://www.visocap.net and click “Zoom Sign Up” in the top-right corner.

This week the Acquisitions Anonymous crew reviews a $2.6M industrial automation and system integration business based in Riverside, California. The company reportedly generates $2.1M in annual revenue and approximately $656K in seller’s discretionary earnings while serving manufacturers with custom automation systems, conveyor applications, aircraft windshield handling equipment, and proprietary aluminum framing products.

Key Highlights:
- Riverside, CA industrial automation business listed for $2.6M with $2.1M revenue and $656K SDE
- Hosts suspect the “automation company” may actually function more like a machine shop
- Potential customer concentration and project-based revenue create major transferability concerns
- Discussion on how SBA lenders cap deal pricing and force acquisition discipline
- Deep dive into QoE reports, accounting red flags, and why diligence matters before signing a personal guarantee
Subscribe to  weekly our Newsletter and get curated deals in your inbox

Advertise with us by clicking here
Do you love Acquanon and want to see our smiling faces? Subscribe to our Youtube channel.
Do you enjoy our content? Rate our show!
Follow us on Twitter @acquanon Learnings about small business acquisitions and operations.
For inquiries or suggestions, email us at [email protected]

In this episode the hosts analyze a niche executive recruiting firm serving the printing, packaging, and paper industries, debating whether its deep relationships and proprietary network create a durable moat—or a dangerous key-man dependency.
Special thanks to Tighe Burke with SRCH for joining us on today's pod! Check out more here: https://www.srchpartners.com/

Business Listing – http://bizbuysell.com/business-opportunity/reputable-high-margin-executive-recruiting-company/2446959/

Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.

Looking to build a professional website in minutes? Try Wix: https://wix.pxf.io/c/6898629/3115214/25616?trafcat=template

HubSpot is the backbone for how businesses scale without chaos. Try them out here: https://go.try-hubspot.com/OeG9Vr

Subscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.acquanon.com/newsletter

💰 Sponsored by:
CapitalPad is a private equity co-investment group for lower middle market deals. Accredited investors invest in searcher and independent sponsor transactions on a deal-by-deal basis, with minimums starting at $25K. Acquisition entrepreneurs with a deal under LOI can raise equity through CapitalPad's single-SPV structure, closing with one partner and one wire. Raise capital or invest at https://capitalpad.com

Acquisition Lab – Your fast-track to business ownership. Get hands-on support, world-class resources, and join a top-tier community of acquisition entrepreneurs. Schedule your free consultation at https://www.acquisitionlab.com and mention Acquisitions Anonymous!

The hosts break down a niche executive recruiting business focused on the printing, packaging, and paper industries. The company generates approximately $1.1M in annual revenue with $365K in seller discretionary earnings and is listed for roughly 3x SDE. What initially looks like a straightforward recruiting agency quickly turns into a fascinating discussion about retained vs. contingent search, proprietary databases, and the true value of industry-specific relationships.

Key Highlights:
- Executive recruiting firm focused exclusively on printing, packaging, and paper industries with ~$365K SDE on ~$1.1M revenue
- Hosts debate retained vs. contingent recruiting economics and why the split is unusual in executive search
- Major diligence concern: founder generates 60% of client engagements and key recruiters may hold most relationship value
- Discussion on whether the company’s 200,000-profile CRM database is truly proprietary or just scraped public data
- Deep dive into how AI tools may improve recruiting efficiency but still struggle with nuanced executive sourcing
Subscribe to  weekly our Newsletter and get curated deals in your inbox

Advertise with us by clicking here
Do you love Acquanon and want to see our smiling faces? Subscribe to our Youtube channel.
Do you enjoy our content? Rate our show!
Follow us on Twitter @acquanon Learnings about small business acquisitions and operations.
For inquiries or suggestions, email us at [email protected]

In this episode the hosts analyze a Maine shed and garage construction business generating $840K in cash flow, but ultimately reject the deal due to heavy owner dependence, limited growth potential, and questionable transferability.

Business Listing – https://www.bizbuysell.com/business-opportunity/shed-and-garage-construction-business-central-maine/2364392/

Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.

Looking to build a professional website in minutes? Try Wix: https://wix.pxf.io/c/6898629/3115214/25616?trafcat=template

HubSpot is the backbone for how businesses scale without chaos. Try them out here: https://go.try-hubspot.com/OeG9Vr

Subscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.acquanon.com/newsletter

💰 Sponsored by:
Quiet Light Brokerage specializes in helping entrepreneurs buy and sell businesses with experienced operators as brokers. They offer a free valuation clarity call to help owners understand what their business is worth and how to increase its value before selling. Learn more at https://quietlight.com/

FRANZY - Thinking about buying a franchise instead of an independent business? FRANZY is a free platform built for acquisition-minded entrepreneurs who want to explore franchise ownership without broker bias. FRANZY matches you with franchise opportunities based on your capital, goals, and lifestyle—and includes free coaching from experienced franchise operators. If you're exploring ETA but want a structured, system-driven alternative, check out https://franzy.com/ 

This week the hosts review a shed and garage construction business in central Maine with $3.1M in revenue and $840K in seller’s discretionary earnings, listed for $3.2M. Founded in the early 1980s and employing nine staff, the business specializes in custom sheds and garages for local homeowners. The seller cites retirement as the reason for exit, and the operation runs from a leased 6,000 sq. ft. facility with relatively low overhead.

Key Highlights:
- The business is listed for $3.2 million and generates approximately $840,000 in seller’s discretionary earnings on about $3.1 million in annual revenue.
- The company operates with nine employees and serves a small regional market in central Maine with limited population growth.
- A major concern is that the business appears to rely heavily on the owner’s personal relationships, reputation, and hands-on involvement.
- Financing the acquisition would likely require conservative leverage due to uncertainty around customer retention and seasonal demand.
- All three hosts ultimately gave the deal a unanimous thumbs-down, concluding that the buyer would likely be purchasing a job rather than a scalable business.
Subscribe to  weekly our Newsletter and get curated deals in your inbox

Advertise with us by clicking here
Do you love Acquanon and want to see our smiling faces? Subscribe to our Youtube channel.
Do you enjoy our content? Rate our show!
Follow us on Twitter @acquanon Learnings about small business acquisitions and operations.
For inquiries or suggestions, email us at [email protected]