E187: Clint Fiore Discusses the Challenges and Strategies of Buying Businesses

How2Exit: Buy, Don't Build - M&A of Small Businesses

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About the Guest(s): Clint Fiore is a seasoned entrepreneur with broad experience in the small to medium-business acquisitions and mergers sector. As a family business scion, Clint grew up involved in his family's nursery business in North Texas. His entrepreneurial journey led him through sales and marketing roles and on to a series of startups involving manufacturing and angel investment. Clint successfully founded and sold stakes in several startups before identifying his passion for the business brokerage field. He holds multiple credentials in the business acquisition space and founded Bison Business, specializing in sell-side representation and advisory services for business transactions.
Summary: In this engaging episode of the "How to Exit" podcast, host Ronald Skelton welcomes Clint Fiore, the founder of Bison Business and an influential figure in the realm of business acquisitions. Fiore shares his journey from early entrepreneurial ventures to establishing a full-service brokerage, touching on the highs and lows of navigating the business acquisition landscape.
The conversation begins with Fiore's backstory, offering listeners insight into the roots of his entrepreneurial spirit and the transformative journey from family nurseries to the competitive world of startups. Clint's pivot into the brokerage world and his mission to rectify his initially unimpressive encounters with business brokers are candidly discussed. He lays out the challenges faced by buyers in the market, emphasizing the importance of pattern recognition and the ability to sift through unsatisfactory financials to ascertain the real value of a business.
Key Takeaways:

• Clint Fiore's personal narrative exemplifies the transformative potential of entrepreneurship and the journey from a hands-on family business to tech startups and eventually business brokerage.
• The business acquisition space is rife with learning opportunities, and success often hinges on the ability to discern patterns and hidden value in diverse businesses.
• Transferable skills, such as salesmanship or technical knowledge, are crucial in identifying the right business to acquire and can be more decisive than industry-specific experience.
• Fiore advocates for a first-principles approach, encouraging buyers to dissect an opportunity beyond messy financials and focus on fundamentally sound business attributes.
• Bison Business, under Fiore's leadership, offers a comprehensive suite of services, including sell-side advisory, buyer assistance, and a specialized program to identify and acquire off-market businesses.

Notable Quotes:

• "But I tend to agree, like, a larger target that has a deeper bench might be the best way for them to go." - Clint Fiore on matching skillsets to the size of the acquisition target.
• "The only way to really combat that is with a team and technology." - Clint Fiore on improving the responsiveness in the brokerage field.
• "I'd rather have a light net worth buyer that has a good down payment and a good resume than the super rich buyer..." - Clint Fiore on the importance of fit over financials.
• "I think there's a balance of if you want to stand out from the pack as a buyer and be the top favored buyer on a good deal represented by a broker." - Clint Fiore advising on how to stand out as a buyer in the market.
• "Every business out there, they just have their quirks and especially ones that have been around a long time." - Clint Fiore on the idiosyncrasies of established businesses.

Watch it on Youtube: https://youtu.be/wlOP4Zr2BmM
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Contact Clint on
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintfiore/
Website: https://bisonbusiness.com/
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If you are interested in learning more about the process and current market valuations, complete the contact form and we’ll respond within one business day. Everything is kept confidential.
Are you interested in what your business may be worth? Unlock the value of your IT Services firm, visit https://www.itexchangenet.com/marketplace-how2exit and complete the contact form.
Our partnership with IT ExchangeNet focuses on deals above $5M in value. If you are looking to buy or sell a tech business below the $5M mark, we recommend Flippa.
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