“Verify everything. Don’t take their word for it.”

Happy Friday!

On Monday, I shared Shawn and David’s story - two California entrepreneurs who bought a Northern Colorado landscape installation company, navigated a seller who left a month into a six-month commitment, rebuilt the team from scratch, and landed a snow removal contract worth $350K+ this winter alone.

Today, I’m revealing the 3 most important lessons they learned from that deal. 👇

Before getting to Shawn and David’s biggest lessons, here’s a powerful success spotlight from one of our Acquisition Ace community members.

Mark bought a $4.56M traffic signal maintenance company for just $15K out of pocket, with no electrical background.

He calls himself the “poster child” for what Acquisition Ace teaches, and credits coaches and community for making it possible.

👉 Want coaching and community support to buy a business outside your background? Book a call with our team here.

“Verify everything. Absolutely everything. Don’t take their word for it - double check contracts, numbers, equipment. And don’t be afraid to ask for a lower price or walk away if you find a discrepancy.”

That’s what David and Shawn shared three months into owning a business that threw more curveballs at them than either expected. Despite that, they’re turning a rocky start into something significantly larger than what they bought.

3 key takeaways from our conversation

1. The right GM changes everything

Shawn and David’s general manager came with 15 years of industry experience, a horticulture degree, and industry relationships that landed them a six-figure snow removal subcontract within months of closing.

Hiring the right person solved operational problems and created a major new revenue stream.

2. Family dynamics in a business sale are unpredictable

The previous owner’s sons worked in the business and became a source of serious friction after the sale.

The seller leaving early and the family tension that followed weren’t things due diligence could have fully predicted.

What got Shawn and David through it was their partnership, their mindset, and their refusal to let circumstances become excuses.

(Shawn and David looked at 75 to 80 businesses before finding this one. Inside Acquisition Ace, members learn how to build that kind of disciplined pipeline and move quickly when the right deal appears. To see how our community could help with your first acquisition, book a call with our team here.)

3. Authentic relationship-building wins contracts

David had an honest conversation with the company’s owner, built genuine rapport, flew out for a meeting, and had a contract two days later.

In a relationship-driven industry, authenticity consistently outperforms a polished pitch.

This week’s action item

If you’re evaluating a business with family members working in it, add three questions to your due diligence checklist:

1. Will family employees stay post-sale?

2. What does the owner’s exit timeline actually look like day-to-day?

3. And what happens if a family member decides to leave within the first six months?

Asking these questions before closing is significantly easier than navigating the answers after.

To hear the full story of how Shawn and David found, closed, and rebuilt this business from the inside out…

Watch our full interview here.

P.S. Shawn and David jumped into Acquisition Ace and started searching immediately, creating their search narrative and sending LOIs within weeks of joining.

That speed and discipline is what got them to a deal.

If you want that same structure and momentum behind your search from the Acquisition Ace community…

👉 Book a call with our team here.