Post-mortems of real deals
Educated. Successful. Smart.
Still, they failed.
Learn why — before you buy a business. Buyers and founders tell on camera how their acquisition fell apart. Each story becomes a case study: what went wrong, at which stage of the deal, and the due-diligence step that would have caught it.
1 fatal · 5 major
1:10:13
When a $2.8m Acquisition Is More Like Zero to One | Dave Gilbert Interview
“If the EBITDA, customers, people, and sales engine are not verified bottom-up, you may buy a “cash-flowing” business that is really a leveraged turnaround.”
$5M lost
6 major
1:32:58
The 7 Year Collapse of an SBA Acquisition | Scott Duncan Interview
“If the seller, a few craftsmen, or one customer relationship are the real business, you are not buying systems—you are buying people who can walk out the door.”
5 major
1:02:29
I Bought a $7M Roofing Business… Then Almost Lost It
“In a relationship-driven business, you are not just buying revenue—you are buying customer trust, seller credibility, and a team’s willingness to follow you.”
$230K lost
3 fatal · 4 major
1:26:18
Plumbing Acquisition Gone Wrong | Josh Key Interview
“A rushed partner can be more dangerous than a bad business—diligence the person, lawyer up early, and write the breakup plan before you close.”
$8K lost
2 fatal · 5 major
1:09:23
How This Entrepreneur Failed At A Turnaround Acquisition And What He Learned Through The Experience
“In a turnaround, do not buy the P&L—buy only what you can prove transaction by transaction.”