Publius

Self-Funded SMB Searcher. Former IB/PE. Miami-Based.

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

It's amazing how unprofessional and bad some of these SMB brokers are. Remarkably unavailable (via phone or email) and zero communication. So aggravating lol Makes you not even want to look at their business just to spite them. And the Seller has no clue.

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

The company has 4 employees + the owner. No professionalized infrastructure / systems in place. I'd be developing, implementing, and maintaining everything e.g., SOPs for hiring / onboarding, training, safety, fleet management, purchasing, servicing, etc. vs. tweaking existing systems. That will take a good amount of time and time is money!

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

Started my pest control search hoping to buy something around $5M. Reality check: the only real opportunity is a proprietary deal in FL for ~$1M (3x SDE). Wife wants to move back to TX, so location isn’t ideal.

Torn between waiting for the right opportunity or just getting in the game and starting to build.

Anyone who has been in this position have any thoughts?

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

The licenses are a huge pain. Another area I think is interesting is pond / lake management (algae/weed control, water quality testing, fountains, etc.) - seems to only be one sponsor playing in the space rn, but I worry there's a lowkey technical knowledge requirement there. Also evaluating access control and fire safety but those seem late cycle (same with pest control but I could own pest forever and seemingly less technology obsolescence risk).

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

@blueprintsmb22 @NEILfinneran1 Hey @NEILfinneran1 - looks like you're DMs are locked. If you're open to sharing your story for a few minutes, I'd love to hear it. I'm looking to acquire a pest business and looking for some advice. Thanks!

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

@blueprintsmb22 @NEILfinneran1 Awesome, thanks! I'll send a note.

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

Three months full-time. I am focused on TX but currently based in Miami while my wife finishes up grad school this December, and this popped up through the network.

I've been thinking through the growth plan for this business and it's so much initial systematizing, hiring, and developing that it feels like it puts me behind a good bit.

One benefit with this business is I trust the owner and he's willing to stay on while I get licensed. My understanding is FL is a 1-year credentialing process vs. ~2-years in TX.

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

Dropped off 40 letters (addressed by hand) at the post office to SMB owners in TX who hopefully are looking to sell… Hope those addresses are correct!

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

Interesting comp, thanks for sharing. I’m evaluating similar size pest business in FL that’s done $800k - $1M revenue the last 3 years (no marketing spend, owner likes lifestyle) but only has 4 in the field and 1 in office. Love the industry but at this size it feels like it would take forever to scale and lack of existing processes / systems could be a challenge but I can’t afford the $1M EBITDA businesses 😭

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

An SMB broker just said he needs to know my wife’s cup size in order for me to receive the 5 page “CIM” post-NDA???

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

@blueprintsmb22 What was the most effective way to source those 100 (e.g., broker network, bizbuysell, cold calling directly, other)?

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

PTJ says he wants to stay out of politics then proceeds to note everything wrong with NY as a result of policy.

New Yorkers in a nutshell.

Yes, listing the results is implicitly an indictment of the politics. But the unwillingness to say it openly is the whole problem.

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

Expanding coverage to autos. Any good book recommendations on its history, business models, key figures, etc.? I’ve already read My Years with GM by Sloan.

[Lee (Greater) @shortmagsmle]

I’m noticing a lot of foreigners who seem to not understand why we’d risk hundreds of lives, spend millions of dollars, and sacrifice several aircraft to rescue one guy. And the reason they don’t understand is also the reason people can’t be made American by a piece of paper.

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

$PCAR

[Sawyer Merritt @SawyerMerritt]

NEWS: Aurora’s driverless trucks can now run longer than humans drivers are legally allowed.

The company said the latest software update to its driverless hardware suite will enable its trucks to drive nonstop from Phoenix to Fort Worth. That trip is roughly 1,000 miles long and takes 15 hours to complete. By contrast, a human driver would legally have to take a 30 minute break after 11 hours of driving.

The company currently has five autonomous trucks carrying cargo without safety monitors between Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth and El Paso, Texas. By the end of 2026, the startup expects to have over 200 driverless trucks in operation.

Their trucks use lidar, radar, and cameras.

via @InsideEVs

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

@JaredKubin @FundamentEdge Do you guys have a Sunday process to prep for Monday? Curious what works for you both. Thanks!

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

@johnlovell275 whats the security protocol when protestors breach the church, as occurred in Minneapolis?

[Publius @RiskFreeReturns]

I suspect it’s a franchise location, but perhaps @BillAckman can put in a call to mgmt.!

[Homeland Security @DHSgov]

NO ROOM AT THE INN!

@HiltonHotels has launched a coordinated campaign in Minneapolis to REFUSE service to DHS law enforcement.

When officers attempted to book rooms using official government emails and rates, Hilton Hotels maliciously CANCELLED their reservations.

This is UNACCEPTABLE. Why is Hilton Hotels siding with murderers and rapists to deliberately undermine and impede DHS law enforcement from their mission to enforce our nation’s immigration laws?