Bootstraps, Buyouts, and the Business Lessons No One Teaches You with Scott Schaper

In this episode, I’m joined by Scott Schaper (see his bio below), the President of RSM Marketing, serial entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed “empathy-driven business builder.” If you’ve ever dreamed of buying, selling, or merging a business—or are just curious how the sausage is made—this episode is your behind-the-scenes mini-course in small business acquisitions.

Scott takes us on a candid journey from his early days managing First Watch restaurants to launching multiple startups, building IFTA Plus (now owned by an industry giant), and eventually leading two back-to-back mergers that culminated in a full buyout of RSM Marketing in 2024. Along the way, he opens up about the messy, fascinating, and often painful realities of deal-making.

In this episode, we cover:

• What it’s really like to merge two small companies—and why financial discipline is non-negotiable

• Why the right business culture matters more than the math in a merger

• The emotional rollercoaster of buying out your partners

• The importance of mentorship and why he eventually did bring in outside advisors

• How niching down to serve construction and contractor clients has unlocked growth

• Tips for first-time managers and founders who want to lead with purpose

Whether you're building your first business or eyeing an exit, Scott shares the real talk on what it takes to navigate growth, acquisition, and leadership the smart (and human) way.

 

This episode is brought to you by... Ever wished your company updates could be less "quarterly earnings report" and more "late-night talk show"? At Pelaccio & Partners, we're revolutionizing internal communications with podcasts that employees actually want to listen to. Imagine podcast episodes that make your employees laugh while staying informed. Our founder, Jeff Pelaccio, doesn't just create podcasts; he creates conversations that break through the noise. Whether you're a growing startup or a massive corporation, we turn your company's story into audio gold. Leadership becomes human. Remote teams feel connected. Your message cuts through the clutter. Jeff is happy to share his insights on podcasting with you. You can contact him via LinkedIn or schedule a Zoom call via this link - 15-minute call with Jeff.   About ​Scott: Scott Schaper currently serves as President of RSM Marketing, a full-service marketing agency based in Lenexa, Kansas. Assuming this role, post-merger, in January 2019, Scott has been instrumental in steering the company's strategic direction and fostering its growth. RSM serves 100s of customers in the Midwest with customers in 40 states, delivering on a deep specialty serving the Construction, Contractor, and Sub-contractor industry.​ Prior to RSM, Scott founded Unravel Digital in Kansas City, providing web design and web app development to his Kansas City clientele. Pre-Unravel, Scott founded AgilCor, the makers of IFTAPlus. Early career development was during the dot-com boom of the 2000s, when Scott held project management roles at KC tech companies Freightquote.com and GeoAccess.​ Scott holds dual degrees in Psychology and Business Administration from The University of Kansas and hails from St. Louis. Through his leadership roles and dedication to the digital marketing field, Scott Schaper continues to make significant contributions to the industry, driving innovation and mentorship, and strives to foster the next generation of marketing and technological leadership.