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.

0deals dissected
$0lost, where stated (9 of 15)
0mistakes catalogued
Operational problemsmost common mistake
1 fatal · 4 major 1:18:22

How to Recover from a Fraudulent Seller | Jason Jackson Interview

dental practices · 2017 · Recovered

“If you see cracks in a seller’s integrity, do not try to price or structure around them—stop, verify, or walk.”

Misrepresented financialsDue-diligence gapsLegal / regulatoryKey people leftCulture clashPoor strategic fit
$1M lost 2 fatal · 4 major 1:06:46

From Rookie Deal to $17M in Revenue

trailer manufacturing · 2022 · Sold at a loss

“A cheap multiple and seller financing do not protect you from bad people, bad books, or a business you are not ready to run.”

Misrepresented financialsDue-diligence gapsPoor strategic fitKey people leftOperational problemsOverpaid / bad valuation
5 major 1:02:29

I Bought a $7M Roofing Business… Then Almost Lost It

commercial roofing · 2022 · Recovered

“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.”

Customer concentrationKey people leftCulture clashDue-diligence gapsOperational problemsPoor strategic fit
3 major 13:54

You Bought Small Businesses. Now You Can't Exit

home services · Recovered

“A business can be healthy and still be hard to sell if it was optimized for owner cash flow instead of the buyer universe you expect at exit.”

Poor strategic fitKey people leftOverpaid / bad valuationOperational problemsOther
$160K lost 2 fatal · 4 major 1:29:13

How 1 SBA Loan Brought Down 2 Businesses | Edgar Galindo Interview

landscaping · Bankruptcy

“Do not let a new add-on acquisition borrow against your healthy platform until the people, liabilities, and downside are fully understood.”

Too much debtKey people leftMisrepresented financialsLegal / regulatoryCulture clashPoor strategic fitIntegration failure