New Podcast: How This U.S. Marine Corps Veteran from the Tech Startup World Acquired Two Businesses at Once

Hello SMB Deal Hunters!

I’m excited to share a new interview with Dominick Blue, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former tech startup entrepreneur who acquired two businesses at once in 2024.

Dominick evaluated 2,500 deals before closing two of them—an air duct cleaning company and an HVAC business.

In his first summer after taking over the businesses, Dominick increased the volume of work by an impressive 40%.

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.

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INTERVIEW

In the interview with Dominick, we discuss:

• How Dominick discovered air duct cleaning was the “private sector version” of his job in the military

• How he navigated not having a license in a skilled trades business

• What PE competition looks like when buying an HVAC business sub $5M

• The one thing Dominick wish he did during due diligence in hindsight

• What Dominick implemented in the first year to drive a 40% increase in work volume in the first summer after taking over the businesses

• Why Dominick shifted from the camp of “don’t change anything in the first 90 days” to “make immediate change”

• The unexpected challenges of navigating cultural fit

• Why Dominick's strategy evolved from a rollup-and-exit model targeting private equity to a focus on generating consistent cash flow

• And more!

👉 Watch the full 47-minute interview with Dominick

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

• 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.