PODCAST · business
The SMB Investor
by Nick Bryant
Forget startups. Forget climbing the corporate ladder.The real path to wealth? Owning profitable small businesses.Hosted by Sean Smith and Nick Bryant, The SMB Investor dives into how investors, operators, and dealmakers are building wealth through small business acquisitions, syndicates, and holding companies.We talk to the pros—fund managers, investors, searchers, and service providers—who are making SMB investing the next big asset class.Whether you want to invest, operate, or build your own holding company, this podcast is your playbook.
Episodes
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Ep 34. Protect your assets When Buying a Business
What happens when buying a business means putting your personal assets on the line? In this interview, Sean Smith, Managing Partner of Search Fund Ventures and Founder of SMB Investor Network, sits down with Jason Hunt, Founder of Ink Insurance, to discuss personal guarantee insurance and the…
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Ep.33 Reinventing Small Business M&A | Dylan Gans & the Future of SMB Acquisitions
In this episode, Sean Smith sits down with Dylan Gans, founder of Baton, to discuss how technology is transforming the way small businesses are bought and sold. Drawing from his entrepreneurial background and experience selling a startup to Aramark, Dylan shares why he believes millions of small...
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Ep. 32 - Building a Tech-Enabled Healthcare Roll-Up * Home Care Acquisitions & M&A Strategy
How do you go from running a family-owned home healthcare agency to building a technology-enabled acquisition platform? In this episode, Sean Smith, Managing Partner at Search Fund Ventures and Founder of SMB Investor Network, sits down with Karl Pierre, Founder of Aidbook Holdings, to discuss…
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Ep. 31- Business Operating Systems for ETA and Small Businesses
Anthony Macleod shares his journey from entrepreneur to Pinnacle Business Guide, emphasizing the transformative power of business operating systems like EOS and Pinnacle. Discover how implementing these systems can drive focus, improve team alignment, and significantly increase enterprise value.
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Ep. 30- Sales and Growth Strategy for Small Business Buyers
Tivan Amour shares his journey from being a serial entrepreneur to working with ETA (Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition) entrepreneurs. He discusses the importance of grit, patience, and the right mindset in entrepreneurship, as well as the transferable skills from startups to ETA. Tivan...
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Ep. 29 - The Value of Industry Experience in ETA
In this conversation, Lisa Piercey shares her journey from being a physician to becoming a successful business buyer in the healthcare sector. She emphasizes the importance of industry experience in making successful acquisitions and building trust with stakeholders. Lisa discusses her approach…
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Ep. 28- Inside the Search Fund Playbook
In this in-depth conversation, Sean Smith, Managing Partner of Search Fund Ventures and Founder of SMB Investor Network, sits down with Jon Staenberg, Founder & CEO of Agate Hound Fund, to explore the evolution of search funds and the rise of microcap private equity. Jon shares firsthand...
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Ep. 27- Understanding LP Agreements, GP Stakes & Fund Governance
In this interview, Sean Smith, Managing Partner at Search Fund Ventures and Founder of SMB Investor Network, sits down with Michael Huseby, founder of The Investment Lawyers, to break down the real-world legal dynamics behind LP agreements, fund structures, 506(c) fundraising, governance rights,...
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Ep. 26- Independent Sponsor Playbook: How Great Deals Really Get Done
In this episode, Sean Smith, Managing Partner of Search Fund Ventures and Founder of SMB Investor Network, sits down with Ariez Dustoor of NB Group, an experienced independent sponsor with meaningful reps investing in both sponsors and searchers. Ariez shares a rare dual-sided view of the...
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Ep. 25- SBA Lending Shifts & Search Fund Insights | Robert Graham (SIG Partners)
In this interview, Sean Smith, Managing Partner of Search Fund Ventures and Founder of the SMB Investor Network, sits down with Robert Graham, Co-Founder of SIG Partners and Co-Founder of Pillar Health Group. Robert shares his journey from HBS to building a healthcare group that grew from $6M in...
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Ep. 24- Self-Funded Search, Deal Structures & Red Flags: Jacob Hall on Investing in Small Businesses
In this interview, Sean Smith (Managing Partner of Search Fund Ventures & Founder of SMB Investor Network) sits down with Jacob Hall, Founder of Kando Capital, to explore the fundamentals of investing in small businesses through self-funded search and independent sponsor deals. Jacob shares his...
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Ep.23- The LP Playbook: Pascal Wagner on Cash Flow Investing Across Asset Classes
In this episode, Sean Smith (Managing Partner of Search Fund Ventures & Founder of SMB Investor Network) sits down with Pascal Wagner, founder of Grow Your Cash Flow and seasoned LP investor. Pascal shares his journey from working with the investment team at Techstars, one of the world’s top...
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Ep.22- The Art & Science of Quality of Earnings: Mitch Petracca on SMB Deals, Tech, and Diligence
In this in-depth conversation, Sean Smith (Managing Partner, Search Fund Ventures & Founder of SMB Investor Network) sits down with Mitch Petracca, CPA and Founder of Forward Firm, to unpack the art and science of Quality of Earnings (QoE) in small business acquisitions. Mitch shares his journey...
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Ep. 21- Tax Structuring & Diligence in SMB M&A | Sean Smith & Roman Basi
In this episode, Sean Smith, Managing Partner at Search Fund Ventures and founder of the SMB Investor Network, sits down with Roman Basi, Managing Partner of Basi & Basi, Attorneys & CPAs. Roman brings nearly three decades of experience advising on mergers, acquisitions, and tax structuring....
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Ep. 20- Women Driving the Search World: Beki Darlin’s Dealmaker Playbook
In this episode, Sean Smith, Managing Partner at Search Fund Ventures and Founder of SMB Investor Network, sits down with Beki Darlin, growth partner, fractional CMO/CRO, and founder of Our Way (Women’s Acquisition Entrepreneur Ecosystem). Beki shares her journey from an unexpected career pivot...
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Ep. 19- Scaling Beyond $5M EBITDA — Lessons from BDE Capital’s Christien Louviere
In this episode of the SMB Investor Podcast, Sean Smith (Managing Partner, Search Fund Ventures; Founder, SMB Investor Network) sits down with Christien Louviere, Co-Founder of BDE Capital, to explore the journey from venture capital and startup founding to becoming an independent sponsor in the...
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Ep. 18- SaaS Roll-Ups & ETA Playbooks: Brian Wolfe’s Path to Building Funded Ventures
In this interview, Sean Smith (Managing Partner at Search Fund Ventures) sits down with Brian Wolfe, founder of Funded Ventures, to unpack his transition from 17 years of big law to building and scaling SaaS businesses through M&A. Brian shares deep insights from his time advising major PE firms...
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Ep. 17- How to Evaluate Revenue Quality and Working Capital in SMB Acquisitions | Caleb Basile
In this episode, Sean Smith (Managing Partner at Search Fund Ventures and CEO of SMB Investor Network) sits down with Caleb Basile, CPA and founder of QoE Prep, a firm specializing in fast-turnaround buy-side Quality of Earnings (QoE) reports for the lower-middle market.Caleb breaks down what...
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Ep.16- Why Special Ops Make Exceptional Business Leaders | Christian Ruf - Uncommon Elite & SMB talent
In this episode, **Sean Smith**, Managing Partner at **Search Fund Ventures** and CEO of **SMB Investor Network**, sits down with **Christian Ruf**, founder of **Uncommon Elite**, to unpack how elite military operators are thriving in the world of small business acquisitions.Christian shares his...
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Ep. 15 - How SBA Loans Really Work for Searchers & Investors | Lisa Forrest & Sean Smith
In this episode, Sean Smith, Managing Partner at Search Fund Ventures, sits down with **Lisa Forrest**, Head of the Self-Funded Search team at **Live Oak Bank**, to dive deep into the mechanics of SBA financing in small business acquisitions.With over **38 years in banking**, Lisa shares:- How…
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Ep. 14 - How Empire Flippers Facilitates 7-Figure Online Business Deals | Andy Allaway & Sean Smith
In this episode, Sean Smith (Managing Partner at Search Fund Ventures and Co-Founder of SMB Investor Network) sits down with **Andy Allaway**, CEO of **Empire Flippers**, a leading marketplace for buying and selling online businesses.Andy shares the origin story of Empire Flippers, how the…
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Ep-13 How to Finance SMB Acquisitions with SBA Loans
In this episode, Sean Smith (CEO of SMB Investor Network) interviews Mathias Smith, CEO and Founder of Pioneer Capital Advisory. Mathias shares a comprehensive breakdown of the SBA lending process for small business acquisitions, offering valuable insights for first-time buyers, experienced...
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Ep 12. How to Make 7 Micro-Acquisitions by Age 23 | Dev Shah
Sean Smith, Managing Partner of Search Fund Ventures and Co-Founder of the SMB Investor Network, sits down with Dev Shah, a rising micro-acquisition entrepreneur and founder of Pocket Fund. At just 23 years old, Dev has already completed seven digital business acquisitions — starting with a…
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Ep. 11 - Disciplined Investing and Sponsor-Led Growth with Ian Reynolds
In this episode, Ian Reynolds, Managing Partner at Thesis Capital, joins Sean Smith to explore what makes an SMB acquisition truly sustainable. Ian shares how his firm evolved from a traditional search model into an operator-led sponsor platform, why capital structure can make or break a deal…
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Ep.10 - Top Leadership Traits for Small Business CEOs
Discover the top leadership traits every small business CEO needs to succeed! In this episode of SMB Investor, Sean Smith from Search Fund Ventures and Burton Francis of ECA Partners explore the essential qualities like scrappiness, coachability, and adaptability that drive success in small...
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Ep.9 From Insurance to Investing: Ricky Bouchard on Lower Middle Market Discipline
In this episode of The SMB Investor Podcast, Sean Smith talks with Ricky Bouchard — a former insurance professional turned disciplined SMB investor. Ricky walks through his transition from backing friends to building a strategic investment approach grounded in familiar industries, strong operator...
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Ep. 8 More Than Capital: Jeff Driskel’s Playbook for Operator-Led Acquisitions
In this episode of The SMB Investor Podcast, Sean Smith sits down with Jeff Driskel — NFL quarterback and founder of The Four Pillars Group — to discuss his transition from professional sports to private equity, and his innovative, operator-led approach to acquisitions. Jeff explains how Four...
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Ep. 7 How to Finance SMB Acquisitions: SBA, SBIC & Debt Strategies | Zach Pavlosky & Sean Smith
In this episode, Sean Smith interviews Zach Pavlovsky from Cerebro Capital, who has led over $850M in debt financing for lower middle market acquisitions. They discuss the landscape of SBA, bank, and SBIC financing, and what searchers and sponsors need to consider when negotiating loan terms. A...
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Ep. 6 Investing in Hidden Gems: How to Evaluate Trade Businesses
What makes blue-collar businesses some of the most valuable and overlooked opportunities for private investors? In this episode, John Bartlett (Founder of Brentwood Growth) joins Sean Smith to share over three decades of experience in trade services M&A. From roofing and janitorial to fencing and...
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5. Scaling Through Strategic Acquisitions | Bob Wang & Sean Smith
How can entrepreneurs use acquisitions to unlock growth and scale more effectively? In this episode, Bob Wang (Founder of T-Up Advisors) joins Sean Smith to explore how small business owners can leverage inorganic growth to overcome operational challenges, reduce customer concentration, and boost...
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4. Elliott Holland - Key Things to Look Out For in the Quality of Earnings (QoE) Report
How can investors avoid costly mistakes when buying a small business? In this episode, Elliott Holland (Founder of Guardian Due Diligence) joins Sean Smith to break down the importance of Quality of Earnings (QOE) in small and mid-sized business acquisitions. From identifying hidden risks to...
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3. Building Communities for SMB Success - Rand Larson
What helps small business owners thrive in such a challenging ecosystem? In this episode, Rand Larson (Founder of SMB Community) joins Sean Smith to share his experience in building support networks for entrepreneurs in the small business acquisition space. From the loneliness of business…
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2. How to Think About SMB Investing- Jason Ehrlich
Why do some search funds fail while others thrive? In this episode, Jason Ehrlich (Managing Partner at Fruition Capital) joins Sean Smith to break down the key differences between self-funded searchers, independent sponsors, and traditional search funds. Learn what makes a successful SMB investor...
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1. Building a SMB Portfolio with Grant Hensel
In this conversation, Sean Smith and Grant Hensel discuss the intricacies of small business investing, focusing on the value of small businesses, the importance of empathy in investing, and the key qualities to look for in searchers. They explore the challenges of investment decision-making, risk...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Forget startups. Forget climbing the corporate ladder.The real path to wealth? Owning profitable small businesses.Hosted by Sean Smith and Nick Bryant, The SMB Investor dives into how investors, operators, and dealmakers are building wealth through small business acquisitions, syndicates, and holding companies.We talk to the pros—fund managers, investors, searchers, and service providers—who are making SMB investing the next big asset class.Whether you want to invest, operate, or build your own holding company, this podcast is your playbook.
HOSTED BY
Nick Bryant
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The SMB Investor have?
The SMB Investor currently has 34 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The SMB Investor about?
Forget startups. Forget climbing the corporate ladder.The real path to wealth? Owning profitable small businesses.Hosted by Sean Smith and Nick Bryant, The SMB Investor dives into how investors, operators, and dealmakers are building wealth through small business acquisitions, syndicates, and...
How often does The SMB Investor release new episodes?
The SMB Investor has 34 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The SMB Investor?
You can listen to The SMB Investor on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The SMB Investor?
The SMB Investor is created and hosted by Nick Bryant.
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