New Podcast: Former Talent Agent Buys 40-Year-Old Trade Publication And Modernizes It for the Digital Age

Hello SMB Deal Hunters!

I’m excited to share a new interview with Nathan Gregory, a former talent agent in the entertainment industry who acquired Auto Body News, the leading trade publication in the collision repair industry.

Nathan’s journey into entrepreneurship started with flipping raw land and investing in commercial real estate. After building and selling an Amazon-based product business, he spent over a year searching for the right company to buy. His first few deals fell through, until he pivoted to a niche he actually knew: media and marketing.

If you’re exploring business buying, especially in niche industries or legacy businesses with growth potential, don’t miss this one.

Today's issue is sponsored by SMB Diligence, the platform I helped start for matching business buyers with vetted legal counsel and Quality of Earnings providers.

COMMUNITY WINS

Here’s what one SMB Deal Hunter Pro member shared this past week:

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INTERVIEW

This episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone looking to buy their first business, or grow a legacy company in a modern way. We dive into:

• How Nathan went from talent agent and Amazon seller to acquiring Auto Body News, a 40+ year-old B2B media company serving the $40B collision repair industry

• Why his initial search in home services failed, and how shifting to a niche he actually understood changed everything

• How he structured the deal using SBA financing, creative seller notes, and no outside investors

• What it’s really like to step into a 12-person business as the fifth owner, replace the founder, and retain a nervous team

• How he’s growing the business by modernizing its digital presence and offering full-funnel marketing services to national brands

• Why brokered deals aren’t always bad, and how his acquisition came from a listing site

• And more!

👉 Watch the full 52-minute interview with Nathan Gregory

PRESENTED BY SMB DILIGENCE

Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Skip Due Diligence…

A friend of mine put a business under LOI and asked me for my advice.

I recommended he contract a 3rd party due diligence partner to rebuild the company's P&L from scratch.

Turns out their EBITDA was off by 2x 😳

Enter SMB Diligence.

SMB Diligence is the platform I helped start for matching business buyers with vetted diligence providers, from M&A lawyers to Quality of Earnings providers.

Their network of experts has worked on hundreds of small business transactions (including many from the SMB Deal Hunter community).

👉 Get introduced to due diligence experts today

COMMUNITY PERKS

• Ready to buy and operate a $1M+ business? Get expert help at every step.

• Want to invest passively in SMB acquisitions? Get access to investment opportunities.

• Get a personal introduction to my preferred SBA 7(a) lender, non-SBA lenders, Quality of Earnings providers, or legal counsel

• Raising capital for your deal? I’ll connect you with investors from the SMB Deal Hunter Community.

• Interested in selling your business? I’ll help you connect with buyers from the SMB Deal Hunter Community.

THAT’S A WRAP

Want me to interview you for my podcast? Hit reply.

See you tomorrow with some new deals!

-Helen Guo
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Disclaimer

This publication is a newsletter only and the information provided herein is the opinion of our editors and writers only. Any transaction or opportunity of any kind is provided for information only; SMB Deal Hunter does not verify nor confirm information. SMB Deal Hunter is not making any offer to readers to participate in any transaction or opportunity described herein.