In today’s episode, we’re breaking down the different types of business buyers, and why understanding which one you are is critical to getting noticed by brokers.Brokers meet hundreds of buyers every month. With deal flow more competitive than ever, they’re looking for one thing: fit. Knowing how to position yourself, communicate your funding structure, and present your background can be the difference between being taken seriously… or getting ignored.In this episode, you’ll learn:0:20 - The importance of “fit” when talking to brokers1:15 - Mistakes buyers make during their intros to brokers2:10 - The most common buyer types2:13- Buyer type 1 2:38- Buyer type 22:59- Buyer type 34:27 - How to improve credibility with brokers4:59 - Acceleration tipsSubscribe to the Village Wellth Podcast for more practical insights on buying smarter, building wealth, and turning ambition into ownership.Explore the Everything software for buying a business and create a free account today: https://www.villagewellth.com/

In this episode of The 7 Minute Takeover, Elizabeth MacRae and Eamonn Gamble explore the realities of buying businesses across borders—specifically, Canadian buyers entering the U.S. market and vice versa. They unpack key challenges around financing, deal credibility, and return potential, while inviting community input on future cross-border topics.

Eamonn highlights common buyer hesitations, including access to financing, lender limitations, and ensuring credible offers. Elizabeth stresses that success often depends on being a strong strategic buyer with a clear rationale for going cross-border—especially in competitive environments.

They also examine the lender landscape: most banks require local presence, and Canadian buyers face hurdles like ineligibility for SBA loans without a U.S. partner. While multinational banks can help, that’s typically limited to larger corporate deals.

Despite the complexity, both agree cross-border acquisitions can deliver strong returns if managed strategically. The key lies in understanding the risks—like local market unfamiliarity and FX exposure—and structuring deals to mitigate them.

In this episode of The 7 Minute Takeover, Eamonn Gamble and Robert Irwin break down a real business listing from the Village Wellth Marketplace: a turnkey kitchen and bath design-build company based in Barrie, Ontario.

Eamonn and Rob dig into the company’s biggest selling points—its stellar reputation, repeat customer base, and one-stop-shop model that covers design, sourcing, and construction—and why those strengths might translate into healthy margins and a sticky client base. But they don’t shy away from the challenges: project-based revenue, sensitivity to economic downturns, niche focus that could limit growth, and the operational complexity of scaling a renovation business.

Key insights include:

• Why a strong reputation and repeat business create a moat in the renovation sector

• How full-service models can protect margins (but also complicate operations)

• Economic cyclicality and why project-based revenue can be risky

• Growth constraints of focusing purely on residential kitchen and bath projects

• The three must-have diligence items before making an offer: 3–5 years of financials, customer/project pipeline, and competitive analysis

Valued at under 3× SDE, this business might be a solid acquisition target—if the numbers, pipeline, and competitive moat check out.

In this episode of The 7 Minute Takeover, Elizabeth MacRae sits down with Madison Clohessy, who recently acquired Urist Cosmetics—a private-label skincare manufacturer just outside Vancouver. At the request of a Village Wellth member, Madison shares a candid look at what it’s really like to step into ownership during the first 100 days.

Madison reveals how she and her dad at EGP Capital found Euris, what it felt like to walk in on Day 1, and how she approached leading a team that only learned about the ownership change the morning of closing. From navigating surprise operational challenges (like no ERP system and FDA shipment holds) to managing the emotional transition for staff, Madison’s insights are practical and refreshingly honest.

Key insights include:

• Why the first 100 days require balancing stability with fresh energy

• How to earn employee trust while reshaping roles left by the previous owner

• Turning operational “shocks” into opportunities for improvement

• Making decisions with imperfect information—and why speed matters

• The mindset shift from trying to control everything to embracing uncertainty

If you’re preparing to buy a business, Madison’s story is a must-listen for understanding how to lead with confidence, adapt quickly, and make the most of your first months as a new owner.

In this Deal Decode edition of the 7 Minute Takeover, Eamonn Gamble and Robert Irwin break down a marketplace listing for an accounting and financial services firm on Vancouver Island, BC. With 35+ years in business, eight staff, and subscription-based revenues trending upward, the firm offers a stable foundation with meaningful growth potential.

Eamonn and Rob explore what makes this opportunity attractive—and what risks buyers should watch for. They dive into the industry’s resilience through economic cycles, the rise of advisory services, and how cloud tech and AI are reshaping bookkeeping.

They also flag critical diligence items: labor shortages in accounting, cybersecurity risks, competition from both local firms and the Big Four, and the need to verify profitability, client contracts, and staff qualifications.

Key insights include:

• Why subscription-based revenue and client trust are major assets

• How accounting’s shift toward advisory services opens new growth avenues

• The looming CPA labor shortage and how it impacts acquisitions

• Cybersecurity as a non-negotiable diligence factor

• What buyers must validate: profitability margins, client mix, employee retention, and tech stack readiness

For buyers exploring professional services acquisitions, this episode offers a rapid-fire decode of what makes accounting firms attractive, and where to dig deeper before making an offer.

In this episode of 7 Minute Takeover, Elizabeth MacRae and Eamonn Gamble unpack the strategy of proprietary search—direct outreach to business owners who aren’t officially selling their companies.

They explore why some buyers pursue this path, weighing the pros—like less competition, better terms, and stronger seller relationships—against the cons, such as guiding unadvised owners through a slow and uncertain process. Elizabeth breaks down two key approaches:

• Mass outreach campaigns that play the numbers game

• Targeted, researched outreach designed to connect with high-fit businesses

They also explain how your resources—time versus money—should guide whether you manage the process yourself or outsource.

Key insights include:

• Why proprietary search can unlock unique acquisition opportunities

• The trade-offs between broad outreach and targeted strategies

• How resource availability shapes your approach

• Why this path may be challenging for first-time buyers

• When outsourcing sourcing makes the most sense

  
  

If you’re serious about buying a business, this episode gives you a clear, practical look at proprietary search—helping you decide if it’s the right path for your acquisition strategy.

In this episode of 7 Minute Takeover, Elizabeth MacRae and Eamonn Gamble break down one of the biggest misconceptions in buying a business—how lenders actually evaluate acquisition financing.

While real estate lending revolves around loan-to-value (LTV), business lenders care far more about cash flow and debt-to-EBITDA ratios. Eamonn explains why EBITDA is the gold standard for measuring a business’s debt capacity, how lenders “stress test” earnings, and what typical debt-to-EBITDA ranges look like. Elizabeth underscores why “cash is king” for lenders and how many buyers get blindsided when their high LTV expectations clash with weak cash flow.Key insights include:

• Why cash flow matters more than collateral in business lending
• Typical debt-to-EBITDA ranges lenders use to gauge debt capacity
• The role of buyer equity—why 10–20% is often the minimum
• How lender due diligence works (and why you should provide more than three years of financials)
• Strategies to secure better financing terms by creating a competitive lender process

If you’re thinking about buying a business, this episode will give you a clear, lender-focused perspective to avoid financing surprises and make stronger offers.

In this episode of 7 Minute Takeover, Eamonn Gamble is joined by M&A lawyer Brad Schneider (Partner at Fasken) to demystify indemnities—one of the most critical protections in any business acquisition.

Brad explains what indemnities are, why they’re included in almost every purchase agreement, and how buyers can use them to guard against post-closing risks like lawsuits, environmental fines, or unpaid taxes. He breaks down four essential deal terms every buyer should understand:

• The scope of indemnification

• Survival periods and how long protections last

• The use of escrow/holdbacks

• Caps and baskets to limit and qualify claims

Brad also shares a real-world example where indemnities saved a buyer from costly environmental fines—and gives final advice on what to look for (and negotiate) when reviewing your next definitive agreement.

Whether you're a first-time buyer or knee-deep in due diligence, this episode will help you close smarter, safer deals.

In this episode of 7 Minute Takeover, Liz MacRae and Eamonn Gamble introduce Village Wellth’s powerful new acquisition tooling—designed to help buyers evaluate, structure, and manage small business deals more effectively.

They walk through a live demo of key features, including:

• A streamlined Deal Dashboard for organizing listings from brokers and marketplaces

• AI-powered uploads that automatically extract deal data and generate SWOT analysis

• A flexible Deal Structure Calculator to compare multiple price and financing scenarios

• Built-in tools for analyzing counter-offers, return on equity, and debt service ratios

Whether you're actively searching for a business to buy or want better tools to make smarter acquisition decisions, this episode offers a firsthand look at how Village Wellth’s platform combines AI and financial modeling to simplify the buying process.

In this episode , Eamonn Gamble and Robert Irwin analyze a $2 million vape shop for sale in Toronto—offering a step-by-step example of how to evaluate a small business acquisition using limited deal information.

Through a detailed SWOT analysis, they assess the vape industry’s growth potential, regulatory risks, competition, and the importance of location. Eamonn highlights opportunities in customer retention and recurring revenue, while Robert questions the valuation and stresses the need for reliable foot traffic data and three years of clean financials.

They walk through key steps for evaluating retail acquisitions, including:

• Reviewing three years of financial data: revenue, EBITDA, and SDE

• Assessing storefront location, foot traffic, and nearby competitors

• Checking for regulatory compliance and risk of legal infractions

• Judging the strength of the customer base and retention metrics

• Validating whether a 4x SDE multiple is justified for a vape retail business

If you’re learning how to buy a small business, this episode offers practical insight into evaluating deal quality, asking the right broker questions, and avoiding overpaying in a regulated, competitive industry.

In this episode of 7 Minute Takeover, Elizabeth MacRae and Eamonn Gamble challenge the myth of "love at first sight" in business acquisition. Instead of expecting instant clarity, they encourage buyers to embrace a process of trial, error, and self-discovery, often involving pivots across industries.

They outline a practical three-step framework:
1️⃣ Define your acquisition criteria on paper2️⃣ Engage actively with the market to gain experience3️⃣ Reflect on passed deals to sharpen your focus

With most searches taking 12–24 months, Eamonn and Elizabeth stress the importance of patience, discipline, and trusting your gut. Whether you're just starting your search or reevaluating your criteria, this episode offers realistic, grounded advice for finding the right business—often where you least expect it.

In this episode, Jim Friesen of Portage M&A joins Elizabeth MacRae to discuss the evolving landscape of buying a business in Canada, particularly in Ontario. With fewer quality businesses hitting the market—and more qualified buyers ready to move—Friesen shares strategies to stand out in an increasingly competitive acquisition environment.

🔍 Topics Covered

• Why deal volume is down despite strong buyer demand

• How political and economic uncertainty (like the housing market and lending trends) is affecting M&A

• Real-world examples of high-demand deals, like a snow plowing business with 50+ inquiries

• How new buyers can position themselves as serious, credible successors

• The importance of seller rapport, relevant experience, and hands-on intent in closing deals

Jim Friesen also shares how buyers can connect with Portage M&A to discover acquisition opportunities in Ontario.

In this episode, Liz and Eamonn tackle the often misunderstood role of business brokers in the business acquisition process.

🎙️ Listen now to learn how to rise above the noise and secure the right business—even in a crowded market.

In this episode, Liz and Eamonn tackle the often misunderstood role of business brokers in the business acquisition process. While some buyers view brokers as roadblocks or gatekeepers, the hosts explain how experienced brokers can actually accelerate deals, reduce friction, and protect both sides of the transaction.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• Why business brokers get a bad rap—and what they’re actually hired to do

• The key traits of a high-quality broker: experience, transparency, organization

• How to handle deals with inexperienced or disorganized brokers

• Strategies for buyers to get better information and reduce risk during due diligence

• Why partnering with reputable brokers (like those at Village Wellth) improves deal flow

Whether you're actively buying a small business or just starting your acquisition journey, this episode gives you a practical framework to evaluate broker relationships and navigate deals with confidence.

🎙️ Tune in now and learn how to work with brokers—not against them—for a smoother acquisition experience.

In this episode, Elizabeth and Eamonn challenge one of the most persistent myths in business acquisitions: that every business you buy should scale rapidly. They break down why growth projections from sellers and brokers often deserve scrutiny—and how savvy buyers can separate real opportunity from sales spin.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• Why not all small businesses are built to grow

• How to evaluate claims of "untapped potential" during due diligence

• Real examples of growth constraints—like operational costs and market limits

• The role of earnouts and contingent payments in sharing risk

• Why a stable, profitable business might be the best acquisition of all

Whether you're exploring your first business purchase or already deep in deal negotiations, this episode delivers clear, practical insights to help you buy a business with eyes wide open.

In this episode Elizabeth MacRae and Eamonn Gamble explore a key part of learning how to buy a business: handling seller reluctance toward holdbacks. Eamonn explains that holdbacks are a critical tool for protecting buyers from hidden liabilities like undisclosed contracts, and they should be introduced early—ideally at the offer stage.

He shares practical advice on including holdbacks in share purchase agreements, using escrow accounts, and managing pushback from sellers. If you're buying a business, this episode offers insight into reducing risk and negotiating stronger deals.

In this Deal Decode episode, Eamon and CEO Rob Irwin dive into a unique US-based executive airport transportation and logistics company listed on the Village Wellth Marketplace. With $3M in revenue and $270K in seller’s discretionary earnings, the duo explores the fast growing market, the business's asset light model, and challenges around margins, competition, and financing, especially for Canadian buyers. They break down the opportunity’s pros, cons, and what makes it worth a closer look.

In this episode of the 7 Minute Takeover, Liz McRea chats with Israel Peck, CEO of Cratic, about strategic due diligence in acquisitions. Israel breaks down the difference between standard and strategic due diligence, introduces the value chain framework (marketing, sales, operations, customer service), and shares tips for identifying opportunities to grow a business post-acquisition. Tune in for practical advice on evaluating a business's systems, uncovering hidden risks, and creating a roadmap for growth, all while keeping the process fun!

Connect with Israel Peck: (12) Israel Beck | LinkedInHome - Cratic AI

In this episode of the 7 Minute Takeover, Liz and Eamonn bust the myth that only large corporations can buy businesses. They dive into why individual buyers have a real shot at success, the unique advantages they bring to the table, and how emotional connection and leadership potential often outweigh big budgets. Tune in to learn how to compete with the “big dogs” in the world of business acquisitions!

In this episode, Liz McRea chats with Scott Duke, founder of the Business Succession Group, about how buyers can effectively approach brokers in the M&A space. Scott shares insider insights on the broker's gatekeeping role, emphasizing the importance of showcasing the "3 Ms"; Money, Motivation, and Management experience, to build trust and move past initial barriers. He also provides practical tips for buyers navigating capital expectations and how to position themselves as credible, committed acquirers in a competitive market.

In this episode, Liz sits down with Nunzio Presta, founder of BuyAndSellABusiness.com, which was recently acquired by Village Wellth. Nunzio opens up about his personal journey of selling the business he spent a decade building. He shares what led to his decision, how alignment with the right buyer mattered more than just valuation, and the emotional challenges that come with stepping away from something so deeply tied to his identity. Tune in to hear insights on trust, timing, due diligence, and the seller’s mindset during an acquisition.