From Startup to Search Fund: Buying and Scaling a Digital Marketing Agency with Grant Hensel

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Grant Hensel — a seasoned entrepreneur and acquisition professional who transitioned from starting companies to buying and scaling them. Grant shares his journey from founding and exiting Nonprofit Megaphone to launching a self-funded search that led to the acquisition of a digital marketing agency specializing in SEO for personal injury attorneys. Together with his wife Julia, Grant built upon their prior entrepreneurial experience to acquire, operate, and grow the business while implementing EOS and exploring bolt-on opportunities. Throughout the episode, Grant discusses the lessons learned from acquiring a service-based business, navigating due diligence for digital assets, managing client retention, and building operational structure with EOS. The conversation dives into how Grant and Julia identified the right target, financed the deal through seller notes, and created growth through sales, marketing, and a bolt-on acquisition. He also touches on his fund, Entrepreneurial Capital, which supports other ETA operators, and his perspective on growth, transparency, and building long-term client trust. In this podcast episode, we discuss: Self-Funded Search and Finding the Right Business Due Diligence in Digital Acquisitions Operating and Growing a Marketing Agency Implementing EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) Structuring Seller Financing and Building Trust with Clients Bolt-On Acquisitions and Expanding Services Investing in Other ETA Entrepreneurs Guest Contact Info: You can connect with Grant on LinkedIn or X (Twitter): @GrantHensel Learn more about his fund: Entrepreneurial Capital M&A Launchpad Conference: The next M&A Launchpad Conference is happening in October 2025 in Chicago. Date and location details coming soon.  This is the premier event for entrepreneurs, investors, and dealmakers in the lower-middle market. Get your ticket at https://www.malaunchpad.com and use code LAUNCH for $200 off.  Sponsored by O’Connell Advisory Group  Work with a trusted Quality of Earnings and Financial Diligence partner who focuses solely on business acquisitions.  Schedule a discovery call with Patrick of O'Connell Advisory Group—your dynamic Quality of Earnings partner.  Visit: www.oconnelladvisorygroup.com   Additional Resources: Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa at [email protected] Learn more at https://www.equity-launchpad.com   About the M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community. Connect with M&A Launchpad: 🎧 Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7 🎧 Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586 🎟️ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/