Not every acquisition is worth making.
In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson shares the story of one of the biggest acquisitions he chose to walk away from, even though it had the potential to double the size of his business. What looked like an incredible opportunity on paper quickly unraveled as the due diligence process exposed problems with customer concentration, company culture, cash flow, and the financials.
John explains the acquisition framework he uses to evaluate plumbing, HVAC, and electrical businesses, why revenue and EBITDA rarely tell the whole story, and the common mistakes first-time buyers make when they become emotionally attached to a deal.
Sometimes the best acquisition is the one you don't make.
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In this episode, John covers:
→ The acquisition that looked perfect—but wasn't
→ The biggest red flags uncovered during due diligence
→ Why customer mix and company culture matter as much as financials
→ How to avoid becoming emotionally invested in a deal
→ What every first-time acquisition entrepreneur should know
→ Lessons learned from the deals John decided not to buy
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Watch this episode early on the John Wilson YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnWilsonOAO
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John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC
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