What can 231 business acquisitions teach you about buying, scaling, and selling companies? In this video, I break down the most powerful lessons I’ve learned from real-world experience in business acquisitions, from identifying red flags to building post-close growth strategies. If you’re an entrepreneur, business buyer, or M&A professional, you’ll gain actionable insights into deal sourcing, due diligence, and integration.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to scale through acquisition, these proven tips will help you avoid costly mistakes and close smarter deals. Learn what sets a successful business acquisition strategy apart, and how to create long-term value in every transaction.

Watch now and take your business buying journey to the next level with lessons from 231 company acquisitions.

We break down:
✅ What makes a business truly durable and sellable
✅ The $15 trillion transfer of private business ownership
✅ Private equity vs. family office deal dynamics
✅ How to avoid slimy deals and structure smart exits
✅ Why most founders regret selling (and how to prepare better)

00:00 – Meet James Thompson: From Montana to 231 Business Acquisitions
01:00 – His Path: CFO, CEO, VC, and Back to M&A
02:45 – Why Durability is the #1 Trait of a Sellable Business
04:50 – Signs You’re Ready (or Not) to Exit
07:00 – What Buyers Really Want in a Business
09:00 – The $15 Trillion Opportunity Explained
11:30 – Private Equity vs. Family Offices vs. Debt Funds
15:00 – Anatomy of a Great Deal (Cold Call to Close)
21:00 – Emotional Rollercoaster of Selling a Business
23:00 – Red Flags That Kill Deals (Revenue, Working Capital, Trust)
27:00 – Deal Structures: Cash, Seller Notes, Equity Rolls
31:00 – Choosing the Right Buyer (Culture Fit & Track Record)
35:00 – Best Sectors for Roll-Ups Right Now
38:00 – B2B, Home Services, IT, and Under-Managed Assets
42:00 – Individual Buyers: Capital Risk & Track Record
44:00 – James’ Full Sell-Side M&A Process (Step by Step)
50:00 – Final Thoughts: Boards, Advisors, and What Most Founders Miss

→ Join our community – https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
→ Follow us – @AcquisitionCollective
→ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquisitions-collective
→ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/acquisitioncollective/
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#BusinessAcquisitions #HomeServices #RealEstateInvesting #FranchiseMistakes #EntrepreneurPlaybook
#ServiceBusiness #OperationalExcellence #SmallBusinessGrowth #HorizontalIncome #ScalingSmart
#BusinessPodcast #OutsourcingOps #FounderJourney #PassiveIncome #FranchiseLawsuit
#FlooringBusiness #FoamBusiness #WheelbarrowProfits #DealMakers #PrivateEquityInsights
#AcquisitionStrategy #BusinessTurnaround

Learn how Zain Yacub sold 3 companies built entirely on LinkedIn marketing no ads, no fluff, just smart LinkedIn lead generation, sharp messaging, and relentless execution. In this episode, he breaks down the exact LinkedIn outreach strategy that scaled each business and led to successful exits. From optimizing LinkedIn profiles for trust and conversion to using AI-powered personalization and outbound systems, Zain shares the full playbook.

We cover how to:
✅ Scale LinkedIn outreach to thousands weekly
✅ Use AI + VAs for outbound leverage
✅ Optimize your LinkedIn profile for inbound leads
✅ Craft irresistible offers that close
✅ Replace agency fees with equity growth

If you’re a founder, investor, or operator, this LinkedIn marketing strategy is a game-changer. Watch until the end to see how Zain is now partnering with businesses on a revenue share basis.

00:00 Intro & Background
01:00 Building Companies on LinkedIn
03:40 Scaling LinkedIn Lead Generation
06:00 LinkedIn Outreach Tools & Strategy
08:30 Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile
12:00 Offers That Actually Convert
17:30 Why LinkedIn Marketing Still Works
22:00 New Venture: Equity-Based Growth



→ Join our community – https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
→ Follow us – @AcquisitionCollective
→ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquisitions-collective
→ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/acquisitioncollective/
→ Tiktok – https://www.tiktok.com/@acquisitioncollective


#BusinessAcquisitions #HomeServices #RealEstateInvesting #FranchiseMistakes #EntrepreneurPlaybook
#ServiceBusiness #OperationalExcellence #SmallBusinessGrowth #HorizontalIncome #ScalingSmart
#BusinessPodcast #OutsourcingOps #FounderJourney #PassiveIncome #FranchiseLawsuit
#FlooringBusiness #FoamBusiness #WheelbarrowProfits #DealMakers #PrivateEquityInsights
#AcquisitionStrategy #BusinessTurnaround

What kind of company walks away from $200K/month in revenue? One that understands culture, clarity, and long-term thinking. In this episode, you’ll hear how Kurt built and scaled a commercial cleaning empire without a sales team and why turning down his biggest client became the catalyst for massive growth.

From walking away from toxic revenue, to rebuilding the business with purpose, to fighting a federal investigation that nearly destroyed it all—this is a masterclass in resilience, M&A strategy, and operational culture.

We break down:
✅ Why “revenue at all costs” kills long-term value
✅ When to fire your highest-paying client
✅ How to build a culture that survives federal raids
✅ Structuring deals without salespeople
✅ Using values as your filter for acquisitions
✅ What makes a business worth buying or walking away from

If you’re a business buyer, founder, or operator, you need to watch this.

00:00 Why We Said No to $200K/Month
02:30 Survival Years and Scrappy Growth
05:00 Taking the Wrong Clients for the Wrong Reasons
08:00 Culture Crash and Turning Point
11:00 Canceling Our Biggest Contract
14:30 Rebuilding Culture From the Inside
17:00 A $600K Government Investigation
22:00 Fighting Prosecutorial Overreach
26:00 The Hardest Years And the Breakthrough
29:00 Scaling With Purpose and Values
32:00 How They Buy Cleaning Companies Now
35:00 The “We vs. Me” Test for Acquisitions
38:00 Worst Acquisition Mistake (And Why)
42:00 Best Deal Ever And It Wasn’t About Money
46:00 How They Source, Vet, and Structure Deals
50:00 Would You Walk From $200K/Month?

→ Join our community – https://www.acquisitionscollective.biz/
→ Follow us – @AcquisitionCollective
→ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquisitions-collective
→ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/acquisitioncollective/
→ Tiktok – https://www.tiktok.com/@acquisitioncollective


#BusinessAcquisitions #HomeServices #RealEstateInvesting #FranchiseMistakes #EntrepreneurPlaybook
#ServiceBusiness #OperationalExcellence #SmallBusinessGrowth #HorizontalIncome #ScalingSmart
#BusinessPodcast #OutsourcingOps #FounderJourney #PassiveIncome #FranchiseLawsuit
#FlooringBusiness #FoamBusiness #WheelbarrowProfits #DealMakers #PrivateEquityInsights
#AcquisitionStrategy #BusinessTurnaround