The SMB Investor
The SMB Investor
Podcast Description
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.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers a range of content themes centered on small business investing, including evaluating small business acquisitions, building supportive communities for entrepreneurs, and the nuances of creating a profitable SMB portfolio. Specific episodes highlight important factors such as Quality of Earnings evaluations, effective community building for success, and strategies for distinguishing successful SMB investing approaches.
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.
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 businesses need better succession solutions and how Baton is modernizing the traditionally fragmented business brokerage industry.
The conversation explores why relationships matter more than ever in acquisitions, how buyers can improve their chances of closing deals, why many owners have unrealistic expectations about valuation, and how Baton combines technology with experienced M&A advisors to simplify the entire transaction process.
Sean and Dylan also discuss:
Why millions of small businesses will change hands over the next decade
The ”Silver Tsunami” creating unprecedented acquisition opportunities
Common mistakes first-time buyers make
Why passive ownership is often an unrealistic expectation
Building trust between buyers and sellers
Off-market opportunities and Baton's valuation-first approach
How AI is changing white-collar work—and why entrepreneurship may become even more important
Lessons learned from hundreds of small business transactions
00:00 Introduction to Innovative Brokerage Solutions
01:13 Dylan Gans' Entrepreneurial Journey
04:22 Bridging Technology with Traditional Brokerage
10:03 Understanding the Value of Business Valuation
15:14 Enhancing Buyer-Seller Relationships
19:44 Exploring Off-Market Deal Dynamics
22:40 Understanding Seller Expectations
27:20 Building Trust in Buyer-Seller Relationships
29:52 Common Buyer Pitfalls
37:12 Real-Life Examples of Thoughtful Engagement
41:44 The Call to Action for Future Buyers
Whether you're an entrepreneur, search fund operator, acquisition entrepreneur, investor, or simply interested in buying your first business, this conversation offers valuable insights into today's SMB acquisition landscape.
If you enjoyed this interview, be sure to subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, and operators shaping the future of small business acquisitions.
📩 Connect with the speakers:
- Dylan Gans: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-gans/
- Baton: https://www. baton.com
- Sean Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-smith-47ab2a70/
- SMB Investor Network: https://www.smbinvestornetwork.com/
Leave your thoughts or questions in the comments—we'd love to hear your perspective.
Disclaimer
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