ACQUIRE 101 - buy a business to build generational wealth

4.5 (5)

·

3 Days

·

Cohort-based Course

Understand if buying a business is your path to generational wealth & how to start in a weekend.

Course overview

how this course will change your life

Baby boomers own over 40% of US small businesses, and over 75% are profitable. Over the next 5-10 years, most of these owners will look to sell to fund retirement, yet many of their children are not interested in taking over the family business.


For experienced enterprising professionals, this convergence of factors creates a generational opportunity to take control of your destiny, remove any ceiling on your potential, and build significant wealth by acquiring and running one of these businesses.


Unfortunately, too many early & mid-career professionals are either unaware of the opportunity, mistakenly believe they aren't a good 'fit' for this path (lack M&A experience), are "too busy" to explore seriously, or don't know where to start.


In a single weekend, ACQUIRE 101 will address these challenges and will specifically help you:


1) identify your unique unfair advantage in business


2) learn the keys to an effective search process


3) create a blueprint for closing the right deal


4) set yourself up to go the distance running a company until you exit


5) connect with a community of like-minded peers to help support you on the journey


Ultimately, this course provides the clarity to make what may be the most important decision of your life for building generational wealth.


If you decide that acquiring a business is the right path for you, this course will kickstart your journey in a serious way.

this course is for busy working professionals who:

01

want to build generational wealth through biz ownership and unlock their full potential

02

want to assess the risk of buying a business vs. other types of entrepreneurial ventures

03

want to confirm if they're the right type of person to buy a business and how to start the journey

this course will teach you how to approach:

preparing

you'll learn how to understand your financial runway and identify your unique unfair advantage. You'll also establish your success principles and deal breakers, setting you up for success from the start.

searching

you'll narrow your focus to 3-4 industries and master your pitch and deal flow strategy. You'll also learn about industry multiples and be ready to review 50+ deals before making an offer.

closing

you'll learn how to stay disciplined and confident during the closing process. You'll understand how to get creative with deal structure and verify what you're buying with diligence partners.

going the distance

you'll tap your network and experts to solve problems, incorporate self-care and mental health into your business plan, and have an exit strategy prepared for whatever ups and downs may come your way.

What people are saying

        Loved the course. Definitely tailored for the people who are dipping their toes into this world but are working a corporate job.
Chudi

Chudi

Consulting Manager at Big 5 Accounting Firm
        I really enjoy the information shared and the drills that Brian gives are great for preparation.
Bari

Bari

Tech Industry COO and General Counsel
        The course was well put together from a content and activity perspective. I appreciated Brian sharing his real-world experiences. I like that the course encouraged dialogue and everyone was able to participate and get answers to their questions in real time. 
Jabari

Jabari

Partnerships Manager at Fintech Company

meet your instructor

brian shields

brian shields

business acquirer and ex-finance & operational exec.

I'm passionate about entrepreneurship through acquisition as a path to building generational wealth, especially for underrepresented professionals. I've achieved financial freedom, and I'm excited to partner with Gravy (gravywealth.com) to share my knowledge.


I spent the earlier part of my career in various Wall Street investment & operating executive roles at large financial firms, including Barclays and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, and later in Silicon Valley in leadership at pre-IPO fintech & proptech companies.


I was raised in Houston and graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta. I live in LA. I love to cycle, and I love to ginga (if you know, you know).


In 2022, I exited Hill & Co., a real estate services company that I bought and ran for 2 years with a business partner, and am now taking time off to recover and enjoy the arrival of my 2nd kid 👶🏽

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ACQUIRE 101 - buy a business to build generational wealth

course syllabus

01

Defining your Why, Your Unfair Advantage & Target Industry


  • A deep dive into how exactly buying a business generates wealth


  • Are you the ideal person to buy a business (readiness quiz)?


  • Identifying your unfair advantage


  • Selecting a target industry



  • Talking to sellers (live exercise)

02

Becoming an Overnight Deal Expert & Getting Started


  • Diligence & documents


  • Valuation basics


  • Deal process overview


  • Live case study discussion/exercise


  • Leveraging AI tools for a more efficient search & acquisition process



  • How to get started and put yourself out there

course schedule

12 hours

  • Friday, Oct 13, 2023 (optional)

    12 pm - 1:00 pm PT (3 pm - 4:00 pm ET)

    Welcome orientation

    Course overview

    Instructor + cohort introductions

  • Saturday, Oct 14, 2023

    9 am - 11:00 am PT (12 - 2:00 pm ET)

    Introduction to buying a business

    Understanding your unfair advantage

    Creating your pitch and talking to sellers

  • Sunday, Oct 15, 2023

    9 am - 11:00 am PT (12 - 2:00 pm ET)

    Overnight deal expert

    Putting It together and getting started

  • Monday, Oct 16th, 2023 (optional)

    12 pm - 1:00 pm PT (3 pm - 4:00 pm ET)

    Optional Office Hours / Cohort Q&A

  • Project Work (optional)

    4 hours total

    Business acquisition case study reviews

Learning is better with cohorts

Learning is better with cohorts

Active hands-on learning

This course builds on live workshops and hands-on projects

Interactive and project-based

You’ll be interacting with other learners through breakout rooms and project teams

Learn with a cohort of peers

Join a community of like-minded people who want to learn and grow alongside you

Frequently Asked Questions

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ACQUIRE 101 - buy a business to build generational wealth