Stop Chasing Sexy Deals: Why This Buyer Chose Sheet Metal with Andrew Kurzrok

In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Andrew Kurzrok, owner-operator of Hopewell Sheet Metal Manufacturing in Hagerstown, Maryland. Andrew shares his unconventional path from national security to Fortune 500 manufacturing executive to self-funded searcher — and how he closed on a 45-year-old business with a 17-year average employee tenure. He breaks down why he chose a self-funded SBA deal over the independent sponsor route, how he found Hopewell through cold outreach, and what the first seven months of ownership actually look like.  In this episode, we discuss:  Why Andrew chose self-funded search over independent sponsor or PE-backed acquisition  How he structured his search: cold outreach vs. broker deals, and what actually worked  The deal structure behind Hopewell — SBA financing, equity strategy, and why he deliberately over-equitized  What it was like to buy a 45-year-old business with a 17-year average employee tenure  The biggest surprise in the first 30 days (hint: it’s HR paperwork)  Why Hopewell’s “best value” positioning mirrors the connector industry he came from  Plans to implement EOS and lean manufacturing — and why the team’s expertise is the real asset  Guest Contact Information  Andrew Kurzrok  Owner-Operator, Hopewell Sheet Metal Manufacturing  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akurzrok/  Additional Resources  Thinking about buying a business? Connect with the Equity Launchpad team to learn more about acquisition entrepreneurship and upcoming opportunities.  Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: [email protected]  Explore more: 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/