I spent about 6 years working in real estate before becoming an investor/owner of small companies. I've been asked which I liked more and, for me, the answer is small company ownership, but not because it is more lucrative or a better path to wealth.
Let's compare the two...
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Liquidity:
- both asset classes are illiquid, but the edge goes to RE
- I don't have data to support this, but I believe there are many more real estate transactions done every year than there are biz buyouts and the process in RE is more standardized and streamlined/easier
Leverage:
- Again, edge goes to RE
- RE loans are more available and leverage levels are typically higher (70-80% LTV vs 50% or less for senior debt, outside of SBA). Also more likely to get non-recourse financing in RE than in SMB buyouts and this downside protection is vital.
Ability to use other people's money/fundraising:
- RE wins again
- In my experience, RE fundraising is much easier than raising equity for a buyout. RE is familiar to more people, has more tax benefits, and often provides greater near-term yield
Value Creation Potential:
- Buyouts have the advantage
- Even compared to value-add RE projects, most SMBs offer more opportunities to create value (scope, svcs, etc). In RE, once the biz plan is executed (rehab, entitle, etc.), the asset is stabilized and further growth is hard
Complexity:
- RE, while not simple, is usually less complex from an owner perspective (they don't call it mailbox $ for nothing)
- The necessity of people in companies, as well as all of the other systems and functions necessary for success, outweigh the demands of most RE assets
So, for most people, if wealth creation is the goal, RE is a better asset class in which to invest time, effort, and capital.
For me, however, I just really like business and seeing teams come together & thrive and having the constant challenge of staying competitive.
/end
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If you are an owner, investor, broker, banker, etc. that is involved with SMBs, I'd like to request a few minutes of your time.
1/x
Background: For some time now, I've been frustrated by the lack of engaging, relevant, and timely information about what's going on with SMBs at any given point in time and rather than continuing to complain, I'm going to try to do something (small) to start addressing that.
2/x
I have limited time, as I know is the case for you, so I am just asking for some quick responses (1-3 sentences per question w/ responses via DM to me) to the following prompts:
☑️ Funding - Millions of $ from leading business families
☑️ Compelling strategy - Search fund-like model w/ no PG, full $ support, long-term holds
🔲 8-10 top operators who want to buy & grow a SMB
Today, after a year of intense effort, we're launching Majority Search, a new investment firm created to become the preferred buyer of $1-2 million EBITDA service and light manufacturing companies in the US.
We're conducting a highly-selective process to attract a few high-performing, high-potential entrepreneurial leaders to join us.
Everyone knows someone who is amazing at managing & leading teams and orgs.
With our support, we'll be turning those operators into owners.
What does it cost to fund a search for a business to buy?
To support full-time sourcing efforts for 24-30 months, a typical single funded searcher will budget about $500,000 to sustain their efforts. (2 searchers might require $750k)
Broken deal costs, post-LOI costs (legal, QoE, etc., which can be $100-250k).
The amounts shown do usually allow a searcher to stretch things out a bit longer if they need the time, or it provides some cushion in case of a broken deal or two
For much of 2021 I've been developing a new idea for entrepreneurship through acquisition (EtA) with a partner. We're not quite ready to pull back the curtains, but we're really close.
1/6
In anticipation of our launch, we'd like to start identifying the highest caliber mid-career operators we can so that we can connect with them to share more about our opportunity later this year. That's where I could use your help.
2/6
If you have built and led teams, managed a P&L, are humble, curious, driven, and eager to have greater autonomy and a chance to build significant personal wealth, I'd like to hear from you. If this isn't you, maybe there's someone in your network that fits this profile?
3/6