M&A Launchpad
Gain insights on acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, The M&A Launchpad Podcast equips you with the knowledge and guidance to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MALaunchpad Apply to be a guest: https://forms.gle/pqNb8xrzyFzVYxzq6 Join The M&A Launchpad Conference- https://www.malaunchpad.com/
Gain insights on acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, The M&A Launchpad Podcast equips you with the knowledge and guidance to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MALaunchpad Apply to be a guest: https://forms.gle/pqNb8xrzyFzVYxzq6 Join The M&A Launchpad Conference- https://www.malaunchpad.com/
Episodes
34 minutes ago
34 minutes ago
38 min
In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Feras Moussa and Casey Minshew welcome Megan McGee, owner of Virginia Guest Houses, a 50-year-old vacation rental management company in Charlottesville, Virginia. Megan shares her journey through nearly four years of entrepreneurship through acquisition, from raising $500,000 from 13 investors and contacting more than 7,500 businesses to navigating failed deals, due diligence challenges, and ultimately acquiring a business through a self-funded search.
Megan discusses the realities of operating and growing a vacation rental management company, including managing guest and property owner expectations, building a strong team, and balancing daily operations with long-term strategy. She shares how she has grown the business from approximately 75 properties toward 100, while exploring geographic expansion, strategic acquisitions, and AI to improve efficiency and customer experience. The episode offers valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and business buyers on navigating the search process, finding the right acquisition, and building a sustainable business.
In this podcast episode, we discuss:
Traditional Search vs. Self-Funded Search
Raising Capital and Managing a Search Fund
Lessons Learned from Failed Acquisitions and Due Diligence
Proprietary Deal Sourcing and Building Relationships with Sellers
Acquiring and Operating a Vacation Rental Management Business
The Realities and Challenges of Small Business Operations
Growing Through Organic Expansion and Strategic Acquisitions
Leveraging AI to Improve Efficiency and the Customer Experience
Building a Team and Scaling a Business for Long-Term Success
Connect with Megan McGee:
Email: Magee@darden.edu
Megan advises students and alumni on entrepreneurship through acquisition at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business.
Additional Resources:
Access our archive of video interviews on YouTube.
Get in touch with show hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa at info@equitylaunchpad.com.
Looking to invest in M&A opportunities or partner with an advisor to acquire, scale, or sell your business? Visit Equity Launchpad.
About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions.The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community.Connect with M&A Launchpad: đ§ Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7đ§ Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586đď¸ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/
34 minutes ago
38 min
7 days ago
7 days ago
35 min
In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with fellow Houstonian Ian Reynolds of Thesis Capital Partners. Ian shares how he bought his first business, scaled it from about 15 to more than 200 employees in four and a half years, and turned that experience into an operations-focused independent sponsor named one of Axial's top 20 independent sponsors two years running.Â
In this episode, we discuss:Â
Ian's path from startups and Houston energy finance to buying a software services business through a self-funded searchÂ
Why Ian partners with proven operators first, then builds an investment thesis and finds the business around themÂ
What a clear seller catalyst looks like, and why most deals need one to negotiate a reasonable priceÂ
Building the capital stack under $100M TEV: under-levering, over-equitizing, and using banks, SBICs, and BDCsÂ
Seller alignment through notes, rollover equity, and earnouts (typically 25% to 30% of purchase price)Â
How independent sponsors get paid: deal fees, management fees, the 6% to 8% pref, carried interest tiers, and management incentive poolsÂ
Guest Contact InformationÂ
Ian J.H. ReynoldsÂ
Founder & Managing Partner, Thesis Capital PartnersÂ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianjhreynolds/Â
Email: ian@thesiscapital.comÂ
Website: https://www.thesiscapital.comÂ
Additional ResourcesÂ
Thinking about buying a business? Connect with the Equity Launchpad team to learn more about acquisition entrepreneurship and upcoming opportunities.Â
Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: info@equity-launchpad.comÂ
Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.com
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About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions.The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community.Connect with M&A Launchpad: đ§ Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7đ§ Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586đď¸ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/
7 days ago
35 min
Oct 9, 2026
Oct 9, 2026
39 min
In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Sarah Andrews, SBA Senior Business Development Officer at Northwest Bank, who reviews 200 to 300 acquisition deals a year with her partner Lisa Forrest. Sarah shares what lenders look for in buyers, how to pitch a deal to your bank, and what the latest SBA rule changes mean for acquisition entrepreneurs.Â
In this episode, we discuss:Â
Why lenders now weigh the buyer as heavily as the business, and why grit mattersÂ
How to stand out to a lender with a one-to-four slide summary instead of the broker's CIMÂ
New SBA rules on QoE for deals of $3M or more, the 10% equity requirement, seller notes, and investor distributionsÂ
Loan deferrals, the 75% SBA guarantee, and the 20% rule for trusts in the cap tableÂ
Guest Contact InformationÂ
Sarah AndrewsÂ
SBA Senior Business Development Officer, Northwest BankÂ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-andrews-22a78364/Â
Email: sarah.andrews@northwest.comÂ
Office Hours: Every Wednesday at noon, covering all things SBA and the Northwest processÂ
Additional ResourcesÂ
Thinking about buying a business? Connect with the Equity Launchpad team to learn more about acquisition entrepreneurship and upcoming opportunities.Â
Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: info@equity-launchpad.comÂ
Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.comÂ
Â
About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions.The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community.Connect with M&A Launchpad:đ§ Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7đ§ Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586đď¸ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/
Oct 9, 2026
39 min
Oct 1, 2026
Oct 1, 2026
29 min
In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Antoine Campbell, founder of CEO 929 Business Solutions, to talk about building the back end of a service business so it's ready to scale, take on capital, or sell. Antoine has been a full-time entrepreneur since 2013, starting with a tag and title agency that grew to three locations, then moving into real estate before launching CEO 929 to build marketing systems, custom CRMs, and software for established service businesses.Â
The conversation covers the low-hanging marketing fruit most new owners miss, why recurring revenue should be the first lever you pull, and a real case study: an AI-powered quoting and checkout tool built for a plumber who specializes in hot water heaters. Antoine also shares how he's now applying that playbook to acquisitions through his new firm, Maurant Ventures including an automated underwriting system and a three-part strategy for sourcing deals directly from sellers.Â
In this episode, we discuss:Â
Why understanding your customer and increasing lifetime value comes before spending more on acquisitionÂ
Turning one-off customers into recurring revenue with continuity offers, from plumbing maintenance plans to flat-rate slow-day pricing at a barbershopÂ
Moving off generic, out-of-the-box software and building custom CRMs and lead-capturing tools tailored to the businessÂ
A case study: an AI tool that scans a water heater's data plate, recommends replacements, and gives customers an all-in, out-the-door price they can pay on the spotÂ
Building an automated underwriting system that screens deals for seasonality, cash reserves, and treasury management before you sink weeks into themÂ
Three ways to source deals: marketplace scanning, direct-to-seller outreach drawn from real estate, and an education funnel for owners who aren't yet ready (or financeable) to sellÂ
Guest Contact InformationÂ
Antoine CampbellÂ
Founder, CEO 929 Business SolutionsÂ
Website: ceo929.comÂ
Instagram: @ceo929Â
Additional ResourcesÂ
Thinking about buying a business? Connect with the Equity Launchpad team to learn more about acquisition entrepreneurship and upcoming opportunities.Â
Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: info@equity-launchpad.comÂ
Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.com
About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions.The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community.Connect with M&A Launchpad: đ§ Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7đ§ Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586đď¸ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/
Oct 1, 2026
29 min
Sep 17, 2026
Sep 17, 2026
36 min
Hazem Ahmed co-founded a bank in 2007, grew it to $800M, and sold it. Then he did it again â building Integrity Bank, SSB from scratch into a $360M institution in just 23 months, one of only seven de novo bank charters approved nationwide in 2024.Â
In this episode, Hazem breaks down what it really takes to charter a bank (an 1,800-page application, a 14-15 month approval process, a $40-50M capital raise) and why he measures success in relationships and reputation, not just the balance sheet.Â
In this podcast episode, we discuss:Â
Hazem's path from a reluctant banking intern to a 25-year career banker, building and selling the original Integrity Bank (2007, grown to ~$800 million, sold to a North Texas regional bank)Â
What it actually takes to charter a de novo bank: an ~1,800-page regulatory application, 14-15 months to conditional approval, and raising a $40-50 million minimum capital target amid a shifting 2024 marketÂ
Being one of only seven de novo banks chartered nationwide, opening in October 2024, and reaching ~$360 million in total assets by month 23Â
Why âfamiliarityâ and local ownership are Integrity Bank's edge over national institutions, and how Hazem measures success through relationships and reputation rather than just balance sheet growthÂ
Guest Contact Info:Â
Hazem Ahmed, Founder & President, Integrity Bank, SSBÂ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hazema/Â
Additional Resources:Â
Thinking about buying a business? Connect with the Equity Launchpad team to learn more about acquisition entrepreneurship and upcoming opportunities.Â
Contact Casey Minshew: info@equity-launchpad.comÂ
Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.comÂ
Save the Date: M&A Launchpad Conference is coming May 8, 2027. Learn more at malaunchpad.comÂ
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About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions.The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community.Connect with M&A Launchpad: đ§ Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7đ§ Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586đď¸ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/
Sep 17, 2026
36 min
Sep 10, 2026
Sep 10, 2026
33 min
In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Feras Moussa and Ben Suttles sit down with Jason Hunt, founder and CEO of Ink Insurance, to unpack one of the biggest hidden risks in small business acquisitions: the personal guarantee. Jason's path here started in restructuring during the 2008 financial crisis, continued through buying and selling his own education company, a decade in tech at Reverb, Amazon, and QuickNode, and finally hit a wall in 2024 when he went to buy another business and got stopped cold by the size of the PG he'd have to sign. With no personal guarantee insurance product on the market, he built one.Â
The conversation covers how SBA 7(a) loans work without much business collateral, why that makes the personal guarantee so much larger and riskier for buyers of cash-flow-based businesses like professional services and trades, and how Ink Insurance's coverage, claims process, and pricing actually work. Jason also shares how his company (which recently raised $2.2 million) is backed by an A-rated, AM Bestârated carrier, and how the product is starting to solve a newer problem: sellers who roll equity and get stuck personally guaranteeing a loan on a business they no longer control.Â
In this episode, we discuss:Â
Why SBA loans require a personal guarantee when a business doesn't have $2M+ in EBITDA or enough hard collateral, and why that hits cash-flow acquisitions (professional services, trades) hardestÂ
How Ink Insurance's coverage works: targeting roughly 80% of the loan amount, the claims process after a default and business liquidation, and why full coverage (100%) can actually reduce an owner's incentive to fight for the businessÂ
Pricing: about 2% of the coverage amount per year, based on risk scoring from SBA industry/location default data, personal credit, and deal metrics like DSCRÂ
Deal sizing: Ink Insurance covers SBA 7(a) loans from $350,000 up to $5 million, with plans to expand into 504 loans and eventually non-SBA products like real estateÂ
Using PG insurance as a negotiating chip in a deal (similar to reps and warranties insurance) and as a solution for sellers now required to personally guarantee rolled equity for two years after closeÂ
Being backed by an A-rated, AM Bestârated carrier with a $5â6 billion balance sheet, Ink Insurance's role as the MGA, and the company's recent $2.2 million capital raiseÂ
What happens to buyers who previously defaulted and went through bankruptcy, and why paying off a prior SBA loan in full (even after default) keeps the door open for future financingÂ
Guest Contact InformationÂ
Jason HuntÂ
Founder & CEO, Ink InsuranceÂ
LinkedIn:Â https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonchrishunt/Â
Website:Â https://inkinsurance.comÂ
Apply:Â https://apply.incinsurance.comÂ
Additional ResourcesÂ
Thinking about buying a business? Connect with the Equity Launchpad team to learn more about acquisition entrepreneurship and upcoming opportunities.Â
Contact Feras Moussa and Ben Suttles: info@equity-launchpad.comÂ
Explore more:Â https://www.equity-launchpad.comÂ
Â
About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions.The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community.Connect with M&A Launchpad: đ§ Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7đ§ Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586đď¸ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/
Sep 10, 2026
33 min
Sep 3, 2026
Sep 3, 2026
32 min
In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Ben Suttles sit down with Joseph Cruz, who left a decade-long career in leveraged finance and investment banking at Fifth Third to acquire a sewer and water distributor in the Chicagoland area. Joseph walks through how he found the business on BizBuySell, structured the deal with an SBA loan, seller note, and a side-letter earnout, and what he's learned in less than two years of ownership â from underestimating seasonal cash flow to building toward a broader infrastructure platform.Â
The conversation is a candid, ground-level look at self-funded search: what it actually takes to structure an SBA deal, why buyers should expect a post-close âJ-curve,â and how a search that started industry-agnostic ended up in a defensible, unglamorous niche.Â
In this episode, we discuss:Â
Making the leap from Fifth Third's leveraged finance group to a self-funded search, and finding the deal on BizBuySell after starting industry-agnosticÂ
How the deal was structured: a $536,000 purchase price, a $550,000 SBA loan, a seller note, a holdback, and an off-books earnout tied to the general manager's retirementÂ
Real lessons from year one: underestimating seasonal working capital, living through the post-acquisition âJ-curve,â and staying resourceful when a general manager departs weeks before closingÂ
The long-term vision: pivoting from commoditized distribution toward a defensible infrastructure platform spanning manufacturing, distribution, and equipment serviceÂ
Guest Contact InformationÂ
Joseph CruzÂ
President, A&A Equipment and Supply Co.Â
Website: aa.equipmentÂ
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joseph-cruz-47472150Â
Additional ResourcesÂ
Thinking about buying a business of your own, whether through a self-funded search or an independent sponsorship model? The Equity Launchpad team helps entrepreneurs navigate every stage of acquisition, from search to close. Reach out at info@equity-launchpad.com to start the conversation.Â
Explore more resources at: equity-launchpad.comÂ
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About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions.The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community.Connect with M&A Launchpad: đ§ Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7đ§ Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586đď¸ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/
Sep 3, 2026
32 min
Aug 27, 2026
From Horror Story to $25M Exit with Mike Krupit
Aug 27, 2026
Aug 27, 2026
35 min
In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with Mike Krupit, founder of Trajectify, to talk about mentoring and coaching leaders through the stages of scaling a business â from one to two, two to five, and five to ten â and what it really takes to shift from a founder-led mindset to a CEO-led one. A software engineer turned COO turned CEO across eight Silicon Valley startups over 25 years, Mike walked away from operating companies 13 years ago to build a leadership and organizational development practice instead. The conversation also digs into the acquisition side, including two very different horror stories: a forced take-private during the dot-com bust, and a $1 million company that turned an $8 million offer into a $25 million sale after a bidding war.Â
In this episode, we discuss:Â
Why Mike chose coaching and advisory work over buying a business himself, and the networking exercise (75 meetings in three months) that helped him find his laneÂ
The four jobs of a real CEO â visionary, right people in the right seats, fiduciary accountability, and the outside voice of the company â and the "not-to-do list" that gets founders out of the day-to-dayÂ
Building an accountability chart (not an org chart) and using fractional executives to delegate without adding headcountÂ
Spotting the "sweet spot" between an underprepared and an over-prepared acquisition targetÂ
Two acquisition stories from opposite ends of the spectrum: a chaotic forced sale during the dot-com bust, and a $1 million company that became a $25 million sale after being shopped aroundÂ
Why mastering difficult conversations â not tactics â is the real skill buyers need before, during, and after a dealÂ
Guest Contact InformationÂ
Mike KrupitÂ
Founder, TrajectifyÂ
LinkedIn:Â https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkrupit/Â
Website:Â https://www.trajectify.comÂ
Additional ResourcesÂ
Thinking about buying a business? Connect with the Equity Launchpad team to learn more about acquisition entrepreneurship and upcoming opportunities.Â
Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa:Â info@equity-launchpad.comÂ
Explore more:Â https://www.equity-launchpad.comÂ
About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions.The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community.Connect with M&A Launchpad: đ§ Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7đ§ Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586đď¸ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/
Aug 27, 2026
35 min
Aug 13, 2026
Aug 13, 2026
30 min
This is a milestone episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast â Episode 100. In lieu of a guest interview, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa look back on how they got started in acquisition entrepreneurship and use the milestone to unpack the capital stack in plain terms. They walk through the three main paths buyers take into the lower middle market â the traditional search fund model, the self-funded search model, and the independent sponsor model â and explain how debt, equity, seller rolls, seller notes, earnouts, SBA loans, and SBICs fit together to get deals done.Â
This conversation is especially useful for anyone trying to figure out which buying model fits them, and for buyers and sellers alike who want a clearer picture of how modern lower middle market deals are actually financed and structured.Â
In this episode, we discuss:Â
Search fund vs. self-funded vs. independent sponsor â Casey and Feras break down the three main paths into a buy-side deal and how to pick the right one for your situationÂ
What an independent sponsor actually is â fundless sponsors, typical deal size ($2â10M EBITDA), and how equity and management fees get structuredÂ
What an SBIC is â how these SBA-backed funds bridge the gap between SBA lending and traditional private equity in the lower middle marketÂ
How to build the full capital stack â mezzanine debt, seller rolls, seller notes, and earnouts, and why understanding your financing options (SBA vs. banks vs. SBICs) matters before you negotiateÂ
Additional ResourcesÂ
Thinking about buying a business? Connect with the Equity Launchpad team to learn more about acquisition entrepreneurship and upcoming opportunities.Â
Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: info@equity-launchpad.comÂ
Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.comÂ
Â
About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions.The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community.Connect with M&A Launchpad: đ§ Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7đ§ Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586đď¸ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/
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Aug 13, 2026
30 min
Aug 7, 2026
Aug 7, 2026
44 min
In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa sit down with John Blanchard and Nick Saloom of Engineered Tax Mitigation to unpack how business owners can dramatically reduce the tax hit on a sale. John and Nick explain how they work alongside a seller's existing CPA and legal team to compress effective tax rates, why depreciation recapture catches so many sellers off guard, and how getting involved years before a sale can also boost a company's valuation.Â
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The conversation includes a real case study: a $25 million business sale where proactive tax planning took the blended tax rate from 27% down to 11%, putting an extra $4.2 million in liquid proceeds in the sellers' pockets.Â
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In this episode, we discuss:Â
Why tax planning needs to start years before a liquidity event, not at closingÂ
How personal expenses run through the business quietly suppress EBITDA and valuationÂ
Why depreciation recapture (Section 1245/1250) surprises sellers who assume they only owe capital gainsÂ
A real case study: compressing a $25M sale from a 27% blended tax rate to 11%Â
Deferred Sales Trusts vs. Deferred Sales Trust Plus, and how they compare to a compressed-rate strategyÂ
Why buyers, not just sellers, can benefit from bringing in a tax mitigation teamÂ
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Guest Contact InformationÂ
John Blanchard, Engineered Tax MitigationÂ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnblanchard/Â
Nick Saloom, CPA, MBA, Engineered Tax MitigationÂ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-saloom-7abb27a4/Â
Website: etmwealth.comÂ
Phone: 888-799-0288Â
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Additional ResourcesÂ
Thinking about buying a business? Connect with the Equity Launchpad team to learn more about acquisition entrepreneurship and upcoming opportunities.Â
Contact Casey Minshew and Feras Moussa: info@equity-launchpad.comÂ
Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.comÂ
Â
About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions.The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community.Connect with M&A Launchpad: đ§ Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7đ§ Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586đď¸ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/
Aug 7, 2026
44 min







