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Jim Stein Sharpe

Jim Stein Sharpe

Sharing about searching, searchers and running an SME. Always learning.

  • Most Recent Blog Post
  • Contemplating Search
  • Launching Search
  • Searching
  • Being a CEO
Most Recent Blog Post

Learning About Search

Jim Sharpe July 1, 2020 Learning About Search2020-11-13T15:26:59-05:00 Most Recent Blog Post
Learning about EtA (Entrepreneurship through Acquisition) is challenging, just like searching for a business to buy! It takes persistence, perseverance, hard work and chasing down a lot of dead ends. For entrepreneurial start-ups there is…
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Contemplating Search

Why Search? Is it right for you?

Jim Sharpe January 2, 2019 Why Search? Is it right for you?2020-11-13T15:30:24-05:00 Contemplating Search
Searching for a business to buy almost sounds too good to be true! You want to be an entrepreneur, but have no "great idea" to launch a start-up. Perhaps you have just completed an MBA…
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Most Recent Blog Post

Roll Up Strategies

Jim Sharpe June 22, 2021 Roll Up Strategies2021-06-22T15:44:55-04:00 Most Recent Blog Post
Acquiring multiple businesses within the same industry is a dream for many searchers, but it’s far from reality in actual practice. While the acquisition process is very similar to Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (EtA), the additional…
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Contemplating Search

When to Search?

Jim Sharpe January 22, 2015 When to Search?2019-08-24T20:09:08-04:00 Contemplating Search
Deciding when to start your search is one of the more significant decisions in your entrepreneurial life; be sure you get it right, as you may likely get only one chance. Search is not for…
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Contemplating Search

Where to search from?

Jim Sharpe January 30, 2015 Where to search from?2017-03-26T09:28:39-04:00 Contemplating Search
Choosing the geographic boundaries of your search has far-reaching implications on your tactics, fundraising, personal expenditures and even the perception of the sellers you may purchase from. Selecting a home base from which to work…
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Contemplating Search

Searching Internationally

Jim Sharpe March 19, 2018 Searching Internationally2018-05-09T21:43:04-04:00 Contemplating Search
An increasing number of searchers return to their "home country" to launch a search. This post is based on input from over 20 international searchers who have launched within the last 5 years and share…
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Contemplating Search

International Searchers Inside the USA

Jim Sharpe April 12, 2018 International Searchers Inside the USA2020-01-10T21:53:19-05:00 Contemplating Search
The USA has the highest number of searchers in the world and a robust infrastructure to support them, yet many international searchers choose to return to their own country to find a business (See Blog…
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Contemplating Search

Choosing a search partner – or not!

Jim Sharpe April 20, 2015 Choosing a search partner – or not!2018-02-25T08:07:30-05:00 Contemplating Search
After fully committing to a search, one of the next critical decision is whether to identify a partner for the journey, or to forge ahead as a solo searcher.  Remember, you may be fully engaged…
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Contemplating Search

Funding the Search

Jim Sharpe August 1, 2017 Funding the Search2018-07-15T22:50:06-04:00 Contemplating Search
Determining how to fund your search process can have a significant impact while searching and afterward as a CEO and business owner.  Over the past few decades, search has evolved in many ways, and in…
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Contemplating Search

Searching Mid-Career

Jim Sharpe October 12, 2020 Searching Mid-Career2021-05-09T21:12:40-04:00 Contemplating Search
When to start an EtA (Entrepreneurship through Acquisition) search in your career can be a vexing and very personal question. Should you do it now, or wait? And if you wait, will "life" get in…
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Posts – Most Recent

  • Learning About Search

  • Roll Up Strategies

  • Buying a Franchise

  • Managing a Blue-Collar Workforce

Posts – Contemplating a Search

  • Learning About Search

  • Why Search? Is it right for you?

  • When to Search?

  • Where to search from?

  • Searching Internationally

  • International Searchers Inside the USA

  • Choosing a search partner – or not!

  • Funding the Search

  • Searching Mid-Career

  • Searching as a Veteran

  • Searching as a Woman

  • Searching as a Couple

  • Your significant other

  • Wearing the coat

  • Compensation

  • Cost of searching

  • Blog Purpose and Objectives

Posts – Launching a Search

  • Selecting your search name

  • Building your search website

  • Searcher Identity

  • Preparing your search brochure

  • Searching with Interns

Posts – Conducting your Search

  • Roll Up Strategies

  • Seller Profile

  • Establishing seller trust

  • Company Profile

  • Buying a Franchise

  • Proprietary Prospecting

  • Brokers & Intermediaries

  • Making Offers

  • Working Capital

  • Bank Financing

  • Seller Financing

  • Raising Equity Capital

  • Due Diligence

  • Quality of Earnings

  • Customer Concentration

  • When your LOI falls apart

  • Getting to Closing

  • Why deals fall apart

  • Managing Professional Support

  • Searching Efficiently

  • Reaching out for help

  • Reporting on search progress

  • What to expect while searching

  • Practice and Repetition

  • When to stop searching

  • Life after winding down search

Posts – Being CEO/Owner

  • Taking Over the Business

  • Seller After Closing

  • Early Years as Searcher/CEO

  • Board of Directors

  • Communicating with Employees

  • Selecting your direct reports

  • Managing a Blue-Collar Workforce

  • IT Systems

  • Wearing your sales hat

  • Knowing your competition

  • Growing Revenue

  • Pricing for Value

  • Sharing profits, not equity

  • Developing an Accountability Culture

  • Strategic Partnerships

  • Downsizing your business

  • Exit and/or Recapitalization

Random Quote

65 Searcher/CEO’s use the first rule of profit sharing: no profit, no payouts. Don’t make excuses for poor results, employees all know when business is soft.(See Blog Post-Sharing profits, not equity)

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