How to Buy the RIGHT Business and Avoid Costly Mistakes

Acquisition Collective

Learn how to buy the right business and avoid killer small business acquisition mistakes.
We sit down with the Brian Stroh, president of Acquira to break down how they went from a digital deal directory to a full-on buy-side advisory powerhouse, helping acquisition entrepreneurs not just source deals, but close the right ones. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or scaling your acquisition firm, this conversation uncovers how to build a pipeline, avoid bad fits, and accelerate closings with smarter systems and expectations.
You’ll learn how to:
✅ Build a realistic investment thesis that actually converts
✅ Avoid unicorn-hunting mistakes that kill momentum
✅ Structure off-market conversations sellers want to have
✅ Use LOIs as a strategic weapon (not a final answer)
✅ Align with sellers on values—not just valuation
✅ Create an advisory ecosystem that unlocks capital, talent, and trust
✅ Streamline due diligence with the right prep before QofE
✅ Avoid the rookie trap of overanalyzing and missing great deals
Whether you're an entrepreneur, business buyer, or M&A advisor, this episode helps you shift from chasing deals to closing them, confidently and consistently.
00:00 What Acquire Actually Does (It’s More Than “An Accelerator”)
03:00 How Their Deal Flow Engine Works (On vs. Off Market)
06:45 Why Most Searchers Struggle (And How to Fix It)
09:30 How They Vet Investment Theses That Actually Work
13:00 Getting Faster to LOI Without Sacrificing Diligence
17:00 What Makes a Deal Die (And How to Spot Red Flags Early)
22:00 The New Role of Buy-Side Advisors in SMB Acquisitions
25:00 Why It’s Your Deal (And You Need to Lead It)
31:00 The Trap of Over-Delegating in M&A
38:00 Secrets to Off-Market Sourcing that Doesn’t Feel Spammy
42:00 Aligning With Sellers Through Empathy, Not Ego
46:00 What “Right Buyer” Means (With a Real Electrical Biz Example)
50:00 Handling Post-Close Transitions Without Drama
54:00 SBA, LOIs, and Why Price Isn't Everything
01:00:00 Why Flexibility Beats Perfection in Every Deal
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