Course Teaser: Why Buy a Business Instead of Starting One? - Matt Uhler
What's Your Deal? - Insights on Business Acquisitions and Management for Smart Investments
Release Date: 05/06/2025
What's Your Deal? - Insights on Business Acquisitions and Management for Smart Investments
In this episode of What’s Your Deal?, Matt sits down with close friend and colleague Steve Williams, CEO of Aspire Family Bank, to unpack a powerful alternative to traditional estate planning: the Family Bank. Steve shares his journey from growing up in generational poverty to climbing the corporate ladder— and then walking away to build a boutique real estate development firm with his wife. Along the way, he learned the hard lessons of leadership, doing hard things, and raising kids who have accountability instead of entitlement. Covering topics like—why whole life insurance are the...
info_outlineWhat's Your Deal? - Insights on Business Acquisitions and Management for Smart Investments
In this heartfelt episode, Matt sits down with his wife, Audrey Uhler, for an unfiltered conversation about marriage, blended family life, and the realities of running multiple businesses together. They share how they’ve navigated financial stress, busy travel schedules, parenting transitions, and the constant pull between work and family. Matt and Audrey open up about what it takes to keep both a marriage and a business thriving through seasons of change. They also talk about the emotional shift that comes with an emptying nest, rediscovering purpose, and dreaming up their next chapter...
info_outlineWhat's Your Deal? - Insights on Business Acquisitions and Management for Smart Investments
In this episode, Matt sits down with longtime friends Steve and Michele Sullins — two powerhouse restaurateurs who’ve built, bought, and sold multiple restaurants and retail stores over the past 35 years. Michelle started with a coffee cart in Sedona and grew it into a thriving restaurant empire, while Steve worked his way up from dishwasher to opening restaurants for major resort brands like Hyatt and Loews. Together, they’ve mastered the balance of systems, leadership, and partnership — both in business and marriage. From promoting employees into management to scaling multiple...
info_outlineWhat's Your Deal? - Insights on Business Acquisitions and Management for Smart Investments
Matt shares the origin story behind his career in business brokerage and ownership: growing up with a single mom working seven days a week, taking third-shift janitorial work at 13, and starting his first company at 17. A shop teacher’s nudge (“why not start a business doing what you already know?”) led to a janitorial company that scaled from one account to 40 employees across New Hampshire and Massachusetts. That first exit came with hard lessons—especially around reading P&Ls and not letting the business “run” the owner. The sale also revealed a bigger truth Matt has...
info_outlineWhat's Your Deal? - Insights on Business Acquisitions and Management for Smart Investments
Today we welcome Dana De Vito, a longtime business owner, franchise operator, and co-founder of Elite Performance Associates. From owning Jack in the Box and Scooter’s Coffee franchises to coaching business leaders, Dana shares his insights on responsible growth, the difference between consulting and coaching, and why defining a desired end statematters more than tactics. This conversation digs into lessons learned from franchising, building culture, and balancing ambition with life outside of business. Timestamps: 00:01 – Intro & welcome to the show ...
info_outlineWhat's Your Deal? - Insights on Business Acquisitions and Management for Smart Investments
In part two of our series on preparing your business for sale, Matt is once again joined by Lindsay Denton. Together they dive deep into the often-overlooked details that can make or break a deal: commingled entities, lease negotiations with landlords, environmental and maintenance concerns, and the importance of correctly titled assets. Packed with real-world stories, hard-earned lessons, and practical strategies, this conversation is a must-listen for business owners looking to maximize their exit value — and for buyers who want to understand the hidden risks behind the numbers. ...
info_outlineWhat's Your Deal? - Insights on Business Acquisitions and Management for Smart Investments
Part 1 of a two-episode series on preparing your business for sale. Today, Matt is joined by Lindsay Denton (Financing Specialist at WCI Business Brokers) to break down what sellers must have dialed in before they list. Timestamps: 1:00 – Why seller preparation matters 3:10 – Business financing vs. home financing 5:50 – The importance of organized financials 7:55 – Real-world examples of deals derailed 15:10 – When sellers change their minds mid-process 19:30 – Hidden obligations & underlying debt issues 23:15 –...
info_outlineWhat's Your Deal? - Insights on Business Acquisitions and Management for Smart Investments
In this episode of What’s Your Deal?, Matt sits down with Cristian Cruz, a former Miami firefighter who walked away from a secure career and pension to pursue entrepreneurship and business ownership. Cristian shares his bold decision to leave behind stability for opportunity, his first steps into startups, and why he’s now focused on buying an established business instead of building from scratch. This candid conversation dives into risk, motivation, family legacy, and how Cristian is approaching his first acquisition with patience, direction, and clarity. If you’ve ever wondered what it...
info_outlineWhat's Your Deal? - Insights on Business Acquisitions and Management for Smart Investments
In this episode of What’s Your Deal?, Matt sits down with longtime client and friend Chad Cook—a true serial entrepreneur who has started, grown, and sold 12 businesses over the last 34 years. From his humble beginnings running a paper route and selling donuts to owning large-scale Family Fun Centers and a statewide Dippin’ Dots distribution business, Chad shares the real stories behind his business ventures, including the wins, the lessons, and the near-bankrupt moments. Matt and Chad discuss the strategic mindset required to build sellable businesses, the importance of family support...
info_outlineWhat's Your Deal? - Insights on Business Acquisitions and Management for Smart Investments
In this episode of What’s Your Deal?, Matt Uhler sits down with David Davis—an academic-turned-entrepreneur who transitioned from a PhD and professorship in hospitality to launching not one, but three service-based businesses. David shares his real-world startup journey, including the shift away from higher ed, the grit it took to build Fuse Topline Solutions, Boundless Hospitality, and a commercial laundry operation, and the financial realities of building a business from scratch. This conversation is packed with wisdom on balancing family and business, managing investor relationships,...
info_outlineToday, I’m flying solo to address one of the biggest questions I get as a broker and educator:
"Why buy a business when you can just start one?"
At first glance, starting a business seems cheaper and more exciting — but from experience, I’ve found that buying is almost always the smarter play. Less risk, faster results, and more predictable income. In this bonus episode, I’ll walk you through the real reasons why buying often beats starting.
Key Insights from the Episode
✅ Financial History Creates Predictability
When you buy a business, you can (and should) look at 3–5 years of financial history. That lets you see how stable the business is and forecast what to expect — unlike a startup, where nothing is proven yet.
✅ Trained Staff and Existing Customers = Immediate Revenue
A running business has trained employees and customers on day one. You're stepping into something already working. Starting from scratch means hiring, training, and finding customers — all of which delay profitability.
✅ Established Systems and Location Advantage
Businesses come with processes (a recipe) — from opening and closing to customer service — and often locations that are already generating revenue. Even if the location isn’t perfect, you’re not starting from zero.
✅ Financeability Makes Buying Smarter
Most buyers use financing. Buying a business means buying an income-producing asset, which lenders often support. Starting from scratch means using cash or borrowing for something unproven — much riskier.
✅ Instant Revenue vs. Uncertainty
When you buy right, you make money the day after closing because the business is already running. When you start a business, you don’t know when the first dollar will arrive.
✅ Saleable Asset Adds to Net Worth
An existing business, even if not liquid, is a saleable asset — building your wealth over time.
Final Thought
Buying a business, if done right, it’s often the faster, smarter, and more reliable path to success. Starting from scratch is exciting — but buying gives you a huge head start and mitigates risk.
🎓 This Episode is an Excerpt from an Upcoming Course
This bonus episode is a sneak peek from a full course we’ll be launching in just a few weeks! If you’re interested in going deeper into this subject learning everything you need to confidently buy the right business for YOU, email us at admin@ampedsuccess.com and we’ll make sure you’re on the early interest list.
Resources & Links
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