MicroCapClub

Club Conversation with Tim Hanson, Making Millions in Boring Businesses

4 snips
Jan 26, 2026
Tim Hansen, a Private Equity investor at Permanent Equity and author of the Unqualified Opinions newsletter, shares his path from The Motley Fool to buying and operating small firms long-term without debt. He discusses Permanent Equity’s unlevered approach, assessing free cash flow and quality of earnings, recruiting in Columbia, and building durable, culture-driven businesses. Short, engaging stories punctuate the conversation.
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ADVICE

Invest Where You Can Unblock Growth

  • Look for excellent small businesses with a clear blocker you can remove, like talent or marketing gaps.
  • Prioritize high profit margins and fast cash conversion as signs of durable businesses.
ADVICE

Value Businesses By Their 'Beer Money'

  • Reconcile reported earnings to actual cash flow to find the true 'beer money' or free cash flow.
  • Strip one-offs, capex, and working-capital quirks so you only value cash that actually hits the bank.
ADVICE

Use FCF Conversion To Test Earnings

  • Use free-cash-flow conversion (cash / reported earnings) to test earnings quality.
  • If conversion is under ~90%, dig deeper into accounting or cash timing issues.
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