He Bought a Failing Print Business... (from Sinking Ship to Multi-Unit Success)

In this episode of the Business Sales & Acquisitions Podcast, we sit down with Chris Shaw, owner of SpeedPro of West Chester and Lancaster, to talk about buying, rebuilding, and growing an existing business.Chris shares how he got started as an entrepreneur, why he moved from a water feature business into large-format printing, and how a frustrating customer experience eventually led him to acquire a SpeedPro franchise resale.We get into what he saw in the business before buying it, what he missed during due diligence, and what day one actually looked like after taking over. Chris also breaks down the realities of buying a business that needed work — including old equipment, uncertain customer retention, operational cleanup, and the pressure of figuring things out quickly as the new owner.From there, we talk about how he grew the West Chester location, invested in better equipment, expanded into Lancaster, and began thinking about additional acquisition opportunities within the SpeedPro system.We also discuss one of the biggest issues in small business sales: sellers who are not prepared. Chris shares what he saw while looking at other businesses for sale, including messy financials, missing tax returns, unrealistic valuations, and deals that could not be supported by bank financing.If you’re thinking about buying a business, selling a business, or growing through acquisition, this episode gives a real-world look at what buyers evaluate, where deals get complicated, and why preparation matters before going to market.Topics We Cover:-How Chris Shaw got started as an entrepreneur-Buying an existing SpeedPro franchise location-What to evaluate before buying a small business-Common due diligence mistakes when buying a business-Rebuilding a business after acquisition-Growing a local service business through sales and customer experience-Expanding from one location to multiple locations-Why clean financials matter when selling a business-How banks, valuations, and seller expectations impact deals-Advice for buyers, sellers, and entrepreneurs=============================Want to Connect With Chris or Learn More About SpeedPro of West Chester and Lancaster?Visit: https://www.speedpro.com/west-chester/Email: [email protected]============================= ❇️ What We Do ❇️We help business owners understand, prepare for, and execute a successful exit — whether that means selling now, later, or simply understanding what their business is worth.❇️ Who We Work With ❇️We primarily work with two types of owners:1️⃣ Owners considering an exit in the next 6–36 months who want to understand their options2️⃣ Owners who are burned out, distracted, or ready for a change but aren’t sure if selling makes senseOur role is to keep the process moving, protect your leverage, and help you make decisions with clarity — not pressure.============================= 👤 Connect with Us 👤 Website:➡︎ TheTurnBusinessAdvisors.comFacebook:➡︎ / theturnbusinessadvisors Instagram: ➡︎ / theturnbusinessadvisors LinkedIn:➡︎ / theturnbusinessadvisors ============================= Want help buying or selling a business? That’s what we do at The Turn Business Advisors. Visit theturnbusinessadvisors.com to learn more. If you know someone exploring a purchase or considering a sale, share this episode with them.