Acquiring Minds The 7-Year Collapse of an SBA Acquisition
69 snips
Dec 11, 2025 Scott Duncan, an entrepreneur and former owner of F&M Tool & Die, shares his rollercoaster seven-year journey in acquiring a business that ultimately failed. He discusses the harsh realities of customer concentration risk and the challenges of managing a skilled but temperamental workforce. Scott reveals painful lessons on employee theft, operational distress, and financial strain during COVID. Despite the collapse, he highlights the relief and insights gained, considering the possibility of pursuing another acquisition in the future.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Office Theft Led To Strong Hire
- The new office manager stole $5,000 on the seller's card within two weeks of hire.
- That theft triggered a quick replacement who later became invaluable.
Manufacturing Can Be A People Business
- Some 'manufacturing' shops function like professional services tied to individual experts.
- Losing that expert can convert a viable company into an unserviceable one.
Use Operating Systems To Build Rapport
- Implement management systems (like EOS) early to build rapport and structure.
- Systems can replace some founder technical dependency and stabilize operations.
