From W-2 Job, To Startup Life, To Acquisition Entrepreneurship

In May of 2024, after a self-funded search, Brian Seeling became CEO of PGM Service, a Florida-based company that focuses on maintenance, service, and repair of commercial food equipment. His journey to become an acquisition entrepreneur is distinct in that he first worked as a software engineer, was then involved in startup life for a number of years, and only recently embarked on the ETA path. In this episode, Brian reflects on the decision to pursue ETA, including his experiences of entrepreneurship through startup versus through acquisition; how implementation of a preventative maintenance service is empowering him to turn an episodic revenue business into a recurring revenue business; his thoughts on Rick and Royce’s suggestion to focus on synergies and cross-selling opportunities via the acquisition of a cold-side business; and more! Brian bought a company in which there are “many ways to win”, an important attribute in assessing acquisition opportunities, and listeners will learn a great deal from Brian’s accomplishments in the ETA space.    

Om Podcasten

Are you looking for an alternative to a career path at a big firm? Does founding your own startup seem too risky? There's another compelling path open to you: acquiring a small business and running it as CEO. Co-hosted by Harvard Business School Professors Richard Ruback and Royce Yudkoff, the show is an extension of their courses on small firms, including Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition, which has been taken by thousands of MBA students, and their highly-regarded book, HBR Guide To Buying A Small Business, which has sold more than 65,000 copies. In this series, Rick and Royce guide listeners through the different milestones of the journey to acquiring an enduringly profitable small business, sharing insights on how to evaluate prospects, raise capital, and ultimately determine if this path is right for you.