Don’t Be Like These Buyers. Get a Real QoE.
THE TEST
Spend 15 mins, watch 3 reaction videos. If you’d catch all 3, pick a cheaper solution.
The Test · 3 videos · ~15 min
One glance, one decision. If yes, take the cheaper route. If no, you need Guardian.
Reaction Video
Reaction Video
Reaction Video
VERDICT TIME
Be honest. Your answer changes which path makes sense for your deal.
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Joe Odell’s $20M compounding pharmacy acquisition collapsed when a 90% reimbursement cut wiped out 50% of EBITDA overnight—a rare but foreseeable risk in healthcare that wasn’t caught in diligence.
Scott Duncan’s $3.6M tool and die acquisition seemed solid until a key employee departure took 50% of EBITDA, steel prices spiked 240%, and bookings collapsed from $6M to $3M.
Scott Alexander bought a marketing agency where the seller deleted unpaid invoices to hide rapid client loss. Then COVID hit and 80% of revenue vanished—but he rebuilt it.
Jason Jackson spent $400K+ on due diligence but learned more from a $17/hour employee than all professional advisors combined. The seller was committing Medicaid fraud.
Jan Roll partnered with someone based on industry experience alone without vetting their character. A lawsuit in year 1 consumed attention during the critical learning period.
Adam Goldberg paid $600K with no due diligence on inventory value, discovering obsolete stock. Revenue dropped by half post-acquisition with no recurring orders.
Matt O’Brien’s trucking company acquisition resulted in a $500K loss within one year due to increased insurance costs, freight attrition, and working capital burn.
Jack Carr bought an HVAC business for 2.5x multiple—all technicians quit on day one, leaving him to personally perform 3-7 service calls daily for four months.
Ayo Phillips discovered widespread corruption in the resurfacing industry, faced a traumatic family crisis, Hurricane Harvey, and plummeting sales—all within year one.
Josh Key’s SBA lender demanded a master plumber on the cap table at the last minute. His hastily-chosen 50/50 partner turned hostile, leading to Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 6 months.
Justin Willess discovered that a confession of judgment clause allowed sellers to garnish $5M+ in accounts receivable overnight with no opportunity to cure—freezing all business funds instantly.
Dustin Fusillo lost $32K deposit on a manufacturing deal, then acquired a declining ATM business with $25K/month rent for space 2-3x larger than needed—and had to shut it down.
Dan Verboski bought Leon’s Signs for $2.7M without purchasing accounts receivable, creating a financial cliff within 3 months. He also missed $1.5M in CapEx needs over 6 years.
Chris Jones discovered QuickBooks discrepancies during due diligence but proceeded anyway. His general manager quiet-quit and started a competing business 8 days post-acquisition.
Monte Marcum’s small Filta franchise acquisition exposed him to immediate equipment breakdown crises within days of closing—revealing the fragility of businesses without backup capacity.
John Ikalowych’s hail repair acquisition faced mass turnover of half the staff immediately, a competing business splintered off, and a hailstorm damaged 250 cars in their facility.
Damon Chlarson returned to a W-2 job despite owning a profitable business generating $250-275K net profit, realizing solopreneur lifestyle was unsustainable for his mental health.
John Schooler lost a customer representing 20% of revenue, exposing unprofitable contracts and operational inefficiencies that were previously hidden.
Judd Lorson presented himself as an advisor which backfired when he became CEO. He needed to change the business model immediately because of illegal practices and faced several lawsuits.
A buyer bragged about doing her own Quality of Earnings analysis. 9 months later she appeared on Acquiring Minds discussing mistakes. 3 months after that—bankruptcy.