Ryan Rouse

Growth advisor to consumer businesses with a focus on every line of the P&L | Previously, Co-Founder at Factor Meals (acquired), CEO at Highkey

Growth-minded CPG leader with deep experience across finance, brand building, and operational leadership.

After more than a decade in finance—culminating in an eight-year tenure at Merrill Lynch—I co-founded Factor_, a ready-to-eat meal delivery company that went on to be acquired by HelloFresh for $277M in 2020.

I joined HighKey Snacks as Chief Marketing Officer and later CEO, guiding the low-sugar snack brand through rapid expansion and an acquisition in 2024.

I'm currently the President of MALK Organics, a fast-growing, near nine-figure brand redefining the plant-based milk category with its commitment to clean, organic ingredients and uncompromising quality.

And I write a newsletter about what it really takes to grow—your company, your mindset, your tolerance for chaos:
​
​• The unfiltered truth about building a brand
• Why “strategy” isn’t always strategic
• What to do when everything feels on fire
• Mindset shifts that keep you sane(ish)​
• Founder mistakes, market moves, and lessons I’m still learning​
​
​Part playbook, part perspective shift.
For anyone trying to grow something—and keep their head on straight.

Sign up using the link here (or below my profile pic above): https://ryanrouse.me/

Vice President | Partner

Data driven investors in early stage consumer brands. 

Watched someone's face light up yesterday. 

I'd just told them their bonus number.

Not a polite smile. Not a professional nod.

Their entire face changed.

After a killer 2025 at MALK, I got to sit down with my team over the last few days and share what they'd earned.

These conversations are my favorite part of leadership.

Not because I'm handing out money. Because I'm watching bets pay off.

Every hire is a bet. Every promotion. Every time you give someone more responsibility than they've had before, you're betting they'll rise to it.

Most of those bets don't feel safe when you make them.

You're trusting people before they've proven they can handle it. Giving them room to fail. Hoping like hell they don't.

And then you get a year like this one.

Where chaos turned into wins. Grind turned into growth. And the people you bet on delivered more than you imagined.

That's the payoff.

Not the revenue. Not the milestones.

Watching someone realize their work mattered (and was recognized).

Never been on a Forbes list // President @ MALK Organics // Follow for posts about the highs and lows of building consumer brands from 13+ years in the trenches actually doing it

MALK made the Bain 2026 US Insurgent Brands list 👀 

What I love about this list is it's numbers based (i.e., not a popularity contest.)

• Greater than $35MM in revenue
• Grown at least 10x faster than their category average over the last 5 years
• Maintained positive growth over the past 2 years

A couple other stats that stand out. 

- While the overall market grew less than 2% in 2025, the insurgents captured 36% of market growth.

- Insurgents grew volumes by approximately 55% year over year in a market where overall volumes were largely flat, demonstrating that their growth reflects real consumer demand, not just price inflation.

- Insurgent brands continue to be at the forefront of where consumer demand is accelerating with 44% of the brands featuring natural or organic claims. 

I'm proud of what we're building at MALK. 

And honored to sit alongside the other amazing Brands on this list. 

Let's get after it once again in 2026!

We’re debuting our new Cleaner Creamers at Expo West.

Organic, dairy-free, and made without gums, oils, or natural flavors. 

One thing we all need at Expo is coffee (duh), so come have a cold brew on us at our Cleaner Creamer Coffee Bar outside of Hall E (S21). 

Or explore the full MALK lineup (and more) at our main booth N322.

Lastly, we're also hosting a happy hour on Thursday 3/5, from 4-5PM — where MALKtinis will also make their debut :)

See you there!

(Full details in the link in the comments)

I turn 47 today.

Five years ago, I wrote a post on my 42nd birthday about entering my prime.

Looking back, I was right. But I underestimated what was coming.

Because every year since then, I've finished even stronger than I started.

Not older. Stronger.

Mentally. Physically. Emotionally.

Patience made me stronger mentally.

I stopped needing everything to happen right now. The urgency that used to consume me is more controlled. The more I let things unfold, the quieter my mind gets. Clearer. 

Acceptance made me stronger emotionally.

I stopped fighting what I can't control. The setbacks, disappointments, and other people's opinions that used to stunt me... I learned to let them pass through instead of take up residence.

Balance made me stronger physically.

I stopped treating my body like it was separate from everything else. Sleep matters. Recovery matters. I'm in better shape at 47 than I was at 37 because I finally stopped grinding myself into the ground.

Focus made me stronger universally. 

I stopped giving F's to things that don't fill me up. Relationships, opportunities, envy of other's people's highlight reels on social media. 

I'm still a work in progress, but recognize and acknowledge that if I'm going to grow, those are the areas that need to be more developed. So I work on them. 

At 22, I thought 47 was ancient.

At 47, I know the truth.

I'm not declining. I'm compounding.

Every hard conversation. Every failure I sat with instead of ran from. Every time I chose the long game over the quick win.

It all stacks.

So if the 22-year-old version of me showed up today, I'd tell him the same thing I said five years ago:

You have no shot against this version of me.

But now I'd add one thing:

You won't have a shot against the 60-year-old version either.

We’re hiring a Director of Finance.

You’ll report directly to and work closely with our CFO Jay Stone. 

MALK is growing fast with a smaller team which means you’ll have meaningful ownership and impact.

It also means we need a builder. 

Someone comfortable operating in the fast-moving, messy world of high-growth CPG.

You’ll partner closely with Sales, Marketing, Category Insights, and Demand Planning to help us understand what’s driving growth and how we invest to scale the business.

We have a culture we protect furiously. 

A group of humans who are all different, but who have common traits. 

Self motivated, open minded, intellectually curious, and cool. 

Last thing I’ll say is this.

This place is special. And will be one of the most fun and rewarding work experiences of your life if you’re the right fit. 

I don’t just believe that. I know it. 

If you’re interested, or know someone great, email hr@malkorganics.com. 

Or text me if you know me.

I've never met a happy person in a hurry.

Last week I looked down and realized I'd eaten an entire lunch without tasting a single bite.

Fork in one hand. Slack in the other. Eyes on the next call starting in 4 minutes.

I couldn't tell you what I ate. I was already somewhere else.

And I thought: what am I actually racing toward?

Look, I get it. Speed wins. 

I've built my entire career on moving fast. I preach it constantly.

But there's a difference between moving with urgency and living in a constant state of hurry.

Urgency is a choice. Hurry is a disease.

Urgency says "this matters, let's go."
Hurry says "this moment isn't good enough. I need to be somewhere else."

Every time you're rushing, you're basically telling yourself: I don't want to be here. I want to be there.

"There" is always some future moment. When the deal closes. When the launch is done. When you're "further along."

You know what you'll find when I got there?

Another "there."

Happiness isn't waiting for you at the finish line.

It's not in the next milestone or the cleared inbox or the lunch you inhaled at your desk.

It's here. Right now. 

Even if "here" isn't where you thought you'd be.

If you can't get your arms around that, happiness will always elude you.

—

I write emails. Unfiltered takes from 12+ years building brands.

It's free. Subscribe (or don't):

https://ryanrouse.me/

Stop trying to be Steve Jobs.

He's the exception, not the rule.

An entire generation of founders watched the turtleneck tantrums and thought that was the playbook for great leadership. 

It's not.

I've watched brilliant people flame out because nobody wanted to work with them.

Being easy to work with is a competitive advantage.

Nice people make more friends.
Nice people create more loyalty from colleagues.
Friends and loyal colleagues expand your network.
Your network brings more opportunity.

The math is simple.

Be decent.

—

I write emails. Unfiltered takes from 12+ years building brands.

It's free. Subscribe (or don't):

https://ryanrouse.me/

There’s nothing like putting your skills to the test.

I say it to the team all the time. 

No doubt they’re sick of hearing it. 

But getting the chance to put your hard work to the test is a privilege. 

Full stop. 

I’ve worked really hard on my jiu jitsu since picking it up 3.5 years ago. 

And love to compete in tournaments because what better way to test skills than that?

This is me getting a choke submission in the gold medal match at the Austin Open last week. 

Stoke Level = Off The Charts

Really proud of the work I’ve put in regardless of the outcome. 

But winning is pretty sweet.

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I used to think good leaders had an opinion on everything.

Every deck. Every decision. Every damn detail.

If someone brought me something, I had to weigh in. That was my job, right?

Wrong.

I was exhausting my team and myself.

Not everything demands your judgment.

You're actually allowed to say "I trust your call on this."

You can sit in a meeting and just listen. You can let your direct report run with their idea without inserting yourself into every corner of it.

The best leaders I know? They're selective about where they spend their opinion capital.

They know the difference between:

• Things that need their input
• Things that need their approval
• Things that need neither

When you comment on everything, two things happen:

Your team stops thinking for themselves. And you become the bottleneck.

So now I ask myself: Does this actually need me? Or do I just want to feel important?

Most of the time, it's the latter.

Shutting up is a skill. And it might be the most underrated one in leadership.

—

I write emails. Unfiltered takes from 12+ years building brands.

It's free. Subscribe (or don't):

https://ryanrouse.me/

Nothing will advance your career faster than being able to connect with other humans.

It trumps every other skill by a country mile.

This starts with you making everything less about you and more about them.

Ironically, even though it's the most important skill to get you into a leadership position, it's actually more important once you get there.


—

I write emails. Unfiltered takes from 12+ years building brands.

It's free. Subscribe (or don't):

https://ryanrouse.me/

The best leaders don't announce themselves.

Sure, you can feel their presence.

But when they're with their team, there's no performance. 

No need to remind everyone they're the boss.

Their authority comes from how they listen. How they ask questions instead of giving orders. How they make space for others to shine.

The insecure ones do the opposite.

They interrupt. 
They dominate conversations. 
They make damn sure you know they're running the show.

But real leadership shows up in the room without saying a word. 

People lean in when they speak. 
Decisions get made faster. 
The team moves with confidence.

That's the tell.

If someone has to constantly remind you they're in charge, they probably aren't.

Your best relationships aren't built in the good times.

They're forged in the shit storms.

When revenue's down. When you're making layoffs. When the product launch flops and everyone's pointing fingers.

That's when you find out who's really on your team.

I've watched partnerships crumble during growth phases that should've been celebrations. And I've seen teams get tighter during crises that should've torn them apart.

The difference?

How you communicate when it's hard. 

Whether you protect respect even when you disagree. If you can trust each other when the path forward isn't clear.

You can't go back to the early days when everything felt simple. When the stakes were lower and disagreements didn't matter as much.

And honestly? You shouldn't want to.

Because every hard conversation, every tense board meeting, every moment you chose trust over ego made you stronger.

The relationships that survive the pressure are the ones worth keeping.

Everything else is just networking.

Self reflection is in short supply.

Most people are so damn sure they're right.

I get it. Confidence feels good. Certainty is comfortable.

But what I've learned in nearly 47 years on this planet is the most dangerous thing you can do is stop asking yourself one simple question:

Am I wrong?

Not once in a while. Regularly.

Pick something you're convinced of and argue against yourself. Make the best case you can for the opposite view.

You'll either strengthen your position or realize you need to change it.

Either way, you win.

The people who do this consistently? They make better decisions. They build stronger teams. They avoid costly mistakes.

The ones who don't? 

They get blindsided by their own blind spots.


—

I write emails. Unfiltered takes from 12+ years building brands.

It's free. Subscribe (or don't):

https://ryanrouse.me/

People who tell you to "enjoy the journey" have already finished theirs.

They're not wrong. They're just not useful.

When I was grinding 90-hour weeks at Factor_, people would say "enjoy the process!"

I wasn't enjoying anything. I was trying not to go bankrupt.

You can't enjoy drowning while you're drowning. You're just trying to breathe.

Here's what actually helps:

• Permission to not love every moment
• Knowing survival mode is temporary
• Understanding gratitude comes later

Stop beating yourself up for not loving the grind.

The appreciation comes when you've got bandwidth for it.

Right now? Just keep climbing.

—

I write emails. Unfiltered takes from 12+ years building brands.

It's free. Subscribe (or don't):

https://ryanrouse.me/

Intelligence isn't why leaders fail.

They fail because they can't connect.

I watched a VP with all the talent in the world lose his team in 6 months. Not because the plan was wrong. Because no one wanted to follow him.

He couldn't read a room. Couldn't give feedback without destroying morale. Couldn't build trust.

The gap between good and great leadership isn't IQ. It's EQ.

You can be the smartest person in the building and still create a vibe people don't enjoy.

Because leadership isn't about being right. It's about bringing people along with you.

Your direct reports. 
Your counterparts. 
Your boss. 

The hard skills get you in the door. The soft skills determine how far you go.

If you're stuck at a certain level, ask yourself: Is it really your capabilities holding you back? Or is it how you make people feel?

Start there.

The hardest workers at startups aren't always the ones who get promoted.

I've watched this play out dozens of times across three companies.

Everyone's grinding. Everyone's busy. That's table stakes.

The difference? It's not who works the most hours.

It's who takes ownership of their own growth.

Take two different people. Both talented. Both working their asses off.

One finishes a project and asks "what's next?" before you even have time to think about it. She spots gaps in your process and just... fixes them. Builds skills you didn't even know you needed yet.

The other does his job well. Really well. But he waits. Waits for you to assign the next thing. Waits for feedback. Waits for someone to tap him on the shoulder and say "here's your growth opportunity."

Guess which one gets promoted?

Here's the reality at a startup: No one has time to manage your career development for you.

Your boss is putting out fires. Your company is trying not to die. There's no HR department building you a nice little development plan.

If you're waiting for that, you're already behind.

The people who make it aren't necessarily the smartest or most experienced.

They're the ones who look at their current role and ask "what's next?" without being prompted.

They find the gaps. They raise their hand. They build new skills before they need them.

The others? They're always surprised when growth opportunities go to someone else.

Stop waiting. Start owning.


—

I write emails. Unfiltered takes from 12+ years building brands.

It's free. Subscribe (or don't):

https://ryanrouse.me/

I used to think confidence was more correlated to competence.

That the person dominating the conversation must know what they're talking about.

I was wrong.

Tens of thousands of meetings over the decades taught me this lesson the hard way.

The pattern is always the same.

Someone walks in with all the answers. Voice loud. Presence commanding.

Most people defer to them because of the volume and presence.

But...

The quiet ones. The people who didn't fight for airtime. Who wait until everyone else has spoken before they say anything at all.

They aren't quiet because they have nothing to say.

They're quiet because they were actually thinking. Processing.

Connecting dots that everyone else misses while they're busy talking.

I've watched entire strategies shift because someone who barely said a word for 45 minutes finally raised their hand and pointed out the one thing everyone else overlooked.

The flaw in the logic. The customer insight we missed. The operational reality that would kill the whole plan.

But here's the thing.
If you're not paying attention, you'll miss it entirely.

Because those voices don't demand space. They don't interrupt. They don't repeat themselves three times to make sure everyone heard.

They say it once. Quietly. And if you're not listening, it's gone.

The quiet people aren't always right.

But when they're wrong? They're wrong in interesting ways.

Ways that make you think differently. Ways that open up new angles you hadn't considered.

Real insight doesn't need volume.

It needs space. And attention. And someone willing to create room for it to surface.

If you're leading a team, this matters more than you think.

Because the breakthrough idea you're looking for? It's probably already in the room.

It's just not screaming at you.

It's sitting quietly in the corner, waiting for someone to notice.

Pay attention to the people who don't fight for airtime.

Ask them what they think.

Then shut up and listen.

You might be surprised what you've been missing.

Momentum is the most powerful force in business.

It's intoxicating. And finicky as hell.

When you have it, deals close faster. Hiring gets simpler. Problems suddenly have solutions.

That part is obvious. The part that isn't... 

Your team doesn't feel it the way you do.

They're in the weeds. Focused on tasks. They don't see the pattern you're seeing.

So when momentum's on your side, your job isn't just to ride it.

It's to make sure everyone else feels it too.

Point it out. Celebrate wins. Connect the dots between their work and the results. 

So you can get the most out of it when the winds are at your back. 

Because it can disappear as fast as it arrived.

Consuming content doesn't build confidence.

Doing does.

I spent years thinking I needed one more book, one more course, one more framework before I was ready. Spoiler: I was never ready.

The confidence I have now didn't come from any of that.

It came from:

• Launching things that flopped
• Making calls I wasn't sure about
• Building Factor_ with no roadmap
• Getting it wrong, then getting it right

You can watch every YouTube video on swimming. But you don't learn to swim until you're in the water.

Same with business. Same with parenthood. Same with life.

The reps are the education. The failures are the curriculum. The wins are just proof you survived long enough to figure it out.

Stop waiting until you feel ready. You won't.

Start before you're confident. That's how confidence actually gets built.

Acquired & scaled 7 businesses with little or $0 down. | Off-market deal sourcing fanatic. | Helping others do the same.

Hey! Ben here...

I help everyday people buy profitable businesses with little to no money down.

My journey started 6 years ago when I was working 60 hours/week at JP Morgan, dreaming of more time with my family.

Today, I own a portfolio of 6 businesses that generated $7M+ in revenue last year, and I only work 18 hours per week.

The secret?

I discovered how to acquire existing, profitable businesses using creative financing strategies and government-backed loans.

I've used this method to build a portfolio that includes:

• A SaaS company making $150k/year (bought for $5k down)
• An ATM route generating $40k/year (zero money down)
• A financial services company producing $450k/year
• 3 other businesses bringing in steady cash flow

The best part?

I never work more than 20 hours a week.

This gives me the freedom to spend quality time with my wife and three kids while still growing my wealth.

Here's what most people don't realize:

Right now, 10,000 Baby Boomers are retiring every day, many looking to sell their profitable businesses. 

This creates an unprecedented opportunity for those who know how to take advantage of it.

You don't need to start from scratch.
You don't need huge savings.

You just need to know how to structure the right deals.

Want to learn how to buy profitable businesses using other people's money?

📲 DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.
🤝 Follow me to stick around for more!

Thanks for being here!

Ben Kelly

In 2018, I got the “opportunity” of a lifetime…

But it came at a cost.

Sure, I made more money. Even had more prestige.

But it also meant more hours away from my family...

I knew I couldn't stay there forever, and I noticed that some of our clients were buying boring businesses.

So I decided to do the same.

It was a small SaaS company.

That single decision changed everything.

Today, I own 7 businesses that pay me $850k/year.

I work 20 hours a week.

I'm present for my family and get to take them on amazing vacations.

Business acquisition made me realize that the corporate ladder isn't the only path.

Most people just don't know there's another one.

If you want to learn the exact process you can use to buy your first "boring" business and take control of the one life you have...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

The only thing better than buying a business...

Is buying one with $0 of your own money.

Most people think wealth comes from working harder.

(It doesn’t)

Wealth comes from owning the right assets.

I discovered this after years of climbing the corporate ladder.

My first business acquisition changed everything.

I invested $5,000 into a software company, and in my first year, I returned $150,000.

That’s when I realized the game-changing truth:

The wealthy don’t trade time for money.
→ They acquire cash-flowing assets using leverage.

Warren Buffett didn’t become a billionaire from a salary.
→ He did it by acquiring ownership in businesses.

Your local millionaire probably isn’t a celebrity or tech founder.
→ They likely own 3-5 “boring” businesses in your community.

My portfolio now includes 8 boring businesses.

Combined annual income: $900,000.
Hours worked weekly: Under 20.

The most valuable lesson I’ve learned:

Stop chasing paychecks.
Start acquiring businesses.

If you want to learn the exact process I used to scale my portfolio to $900k/year...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

Most people spend 20 years climbing.

Smart people spend 1 year buying.

I hate to break it to you, but acquiring a car wash from a retiring Boomer and hiring a GM will beat 95% of people grinding out promotions for the next 20 years.

Here's why:

The promotion path gets you a title and maybe 15% more salary.

The business path gets you an asset that pays you whether you show up or not.

& I'm not saying corporate careers are bad.

I'm saying ownership beats employment almost every single time.

Right now, there are 10,000 Boomers retiring every single day with businesses they need to sell.

The opportunity is sitting right there.

Most people just refuse to see it.

If you want to learn exactly how to buy a boring business and collect the cash flow every single month...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

75 Million Baby Boomers Will Retire by 2030.

That's 10,000 per day.

And they own 2 out of every 3 small businesses in America.

Most people see this as a retirement crisis.

But the smartest graduates from Harvard Business School see it differently...

They're calling it the greatest wealth-building opportunity of our generation.

While everyone else is chasing startup dreams or climbing corporate ladders, they're buying profitable businesses from Boomers who are desperate to retire.

Here's why this works:

→ The sellers want out. They've spent 30+ years building these businesses. Their kids don't want them. They just want a good successor and a smooth exit.

→ The banks are eager to lend. SBA loans cover 90% of the purchase price because the business is already profitable. The risk is lower than funding a startup.

→ The businesses already work. These are cash-flowing operations with employees, systems, and customers in place.

I've used this exact strategy to acquire 7 businesses generating over $7M in revenue.

The math is simple:

• Find a Boomer-owned business making $300k/year.
• Offer 2-4x cash flow
• Use an SBA loan for 90%
• Find an investor for the 10%
• Give them 15% equity in return

You put in little to $0 of your own money and keep the cash flow.

The Silver Tsunami is the biggest wealth transfer in history, and most people are completely sleeping on it.

If you want to learn the exact process I used to acquire 7 businesses paying me $850k/year...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

I spent 2 years & $60,000 getting my MBA.

My #1 takeaway?

They’re teaching outdated methods.

& now that my business portfolio is generating $7,000,000+ per year…

Here’s your 2-minute MBA for 2025:

--

1. Stop chasing unicorns, buy cash cows.

Business schools teach:

• Innovation
• Disruption
• Valuation

But in reality? 90% of startups fail.

Meanwhile, boring businesses like HVAC, plumbing, and accounting firms print money year after year.

--

2. Debt isn't the enemy, it's your best friend.

They teach you to avoid debt at all costs.

But smart entrepreneurs use SBA loans to control $1M+ businesses with just 10% down.

The government literally wants you to buy small businesses.

Use their money, not yours.

--

3. The best business plan is buying someone else's.

MBA programs obsess over writing 50-page (hypothetical) business plans.

Skip it.

Get out there and find a 60-year-old with a profitable business who wants to retire.

Their 20+ years of operations are your business plan.

--

4. Time is the only currency that matters.

Business school teaches you to optimize for profit margins and market share.

I optimize for time.

My 8 businesses run without me because I hire great managers that I can trust.

In my book, $850k/year working 20 hours/week beats $200k/year working 60.

--

5. The best customers already exist.

They might teach:

• Market research
• Customer acquisition costs
• Building audiences from scratch

But here's what works:

Buying businesses with existing customers & improving what's already working.

--

6. Your network is your net worth (but not how they teach it).

Business school “networking” is basically just cocktail parties with other students.

But real networking?

It’s finding:

• Investors with capital
• Retiring business owners
• Accountants who audit deals

--

7. The fastest path to wealth is buying it.

They teach you to climb corporate ladders for 20 years to maybe make $300k.

Or you can buy a business making $400k/year profit right now.

The math is simple…

Why build when you can buy?

--

Business school gave me credentials.

Business acquisition gave me freedom.

You don't need the degree to build wealth…

You just need to know where to look.

--

If you want to learn how to build your own portfolio of cash-flowing businesses without the MBA debt…

📲 DM me “Biz” and I'll show you how
🤝 Follow me for more content like this

Thanks for being here!

I hate to break it to you...

But buying a business from a retiring Boomer and hiring a GM will beat 95% of people climbing the corporate ladder.

The best part?

I've done multiple deals like this.

Now I'm exposing my $850k/year blueprint:

–

Step 1: Target retiring boomers.

10,000 Baby Boomers retire every day, & most have no one to hand their business to.

Find owners who:

• Are 55-70 years old
• Have profitable businesses
• Want to retire in 12-24 months

–

Step 2: Focus on boring industries.

Skip the sexy stuff.

I look for:

• Accounting firms
• Laundromats
• Storage
• HVAC
• ATMs
• SaaS

These businesses print cash & aren’t going anywhere.

–

Step 3: Get SBA pre-approved.

The US government WANTS you to buy small businesses.

They'll back up to 90% of the loan.

You'll need:

• 2 years of W-2s or tax returns
• Personal financial statement
• Basic business plan

Have this before making offers.

–

Step 4: Run the numbers.

I only look at businesses with:

• $10k+/month cash flow
• 5+ years operating history
• $500k-$2M purchase price
• Consistent revenue (not declining)

The math has to work from day 1 (if it doesn't cashflow immediately, walk away).

–

Step 5: Structure creative financing.

Here's how I buy with little to $0 down:

• SBA loan covers 90%
• Private investor covers 10%
• Give investor 15% equity in return

They get immediate cash flow, I keep the rest & build equity, it’s a win-win.

–

Step 6: Hire a general manager.

I don't want to buy myself a job.

Before closing, I budget:

• $5-7k/month for a GM (if there isn’t one already)
• Systems documentation
• Training period with seller

The business should run without me full-time there every day (that's the whole point).

–

Step 7: Close & optimize.

The first 90 days are critical.

I focus on:

• Meeting with all employees
• Understanding every system
• Finding quick wins (10-20% improvements)
• Building trust with the team

–

6 years ago…

I was working 60-hour weeks at JP Morgan.

Today?

I work 20 hours/week across 8 businesses that generate $7M+ in revenue.

–

If you want to learn how to buy your first business using this exact strategy...

DM me "Biz" and I'll walk you through it.

I’m 35.

I make $850k per year.

I owe it all to the world's most boring strategy.

Here's what I do (& how you can too):

--

The "boring" strategy?

Buying businesses from retiring Boomers.

While everyone's grinding at corporate jobs or chasing the next tech unicorn, I'm acquiring established businesses that print cash.

Here's the blueprint:

--

The Foundation (Months 1-3)

Most people overcomplicate this.

You need 3 things to start:

1. A pre-approval for an SBA loan
2. A target industry that you understand
3. Understanding of basic financial statements

You don’t need an MBA, a million-dollar net worth, or a tech background.

--

Step 1: Finding the Right Business

This is where 90% of people fail.

They chase sexy industries instead of profitable ones.

My rule:

If it's exciting or trendy, I'm not interested.

--

Best targets:

• Plumbing businesses (recession-resistant)
• HVAC companies (an essential service)
• Accounting firms (recurring revenue)
• Car washes (predictable cash flow)
• Laundromats (simple operations)

Boring = Best

--

Step 2: The SBA Loan Strategy

Use the government's money to acquire cash-flowing businesses.

SBA 7(a) loans give you:

→ 10-year terms
→ Competitive rates
→ 90% financing (put down 10%)

--

Step 3: Finding Sellers

Target owners who are actually ready to exit.

I focus on the "Silver Tsunami" (10,000 Boomers retire daily with no succession plan).

But if you want to find the best deals?

You won’t always be able to find them listed on business broker websites…

--

Some great places to look:

• Direct outreach
• Online communities
• Industry association events
• Referrals from attorneys/accountants
• LinkedIn messages to 60+ year old owners

(The best deals don't always hit the open market)

--

Step 4: The Due Diligence Process

This is where I went from just looking at deals to actually closing on them.

The secret?

I stopped trusting what sellers told me and started verifying everything.

Do NOT get lazy here.

--

Step 5: The Scaling Mechanism

As you start stacking businesses, you realize you can’t do everything yourself.

The key is hiring general managers.

My best advice:

Look for businesses that already have someone operating the day-to-day.

--

I started doing this while working at J.P. Morgan with no entrepreneurial experience.

Today:

• Total businesses owned: 7
• Combined revenue: Over $7M
• My annual take-home: $850,000

--

This path isn't glamorous.

It won't get you on magazine covers.

But it gave me something worth more than status:

• No boss to report to
• Mornings with my children
• No forced travel away from family
• Building generational wealth with assets

--

Want to learn how to find and close your first deal?

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you exactly how.

As a millionaire, I don’t invest in the S&P 500.

Here's why:

A lot of people call me crazy.

But the truth is...

If you’re looking to grow and maintain your wealth slowly, it’s a great strategy.

But if you actually want to get rich and retire early, you need to look elsewhere.

That’s why when I was working at J.P. Morgan, I started acquiring small businesses on the side.

Today, they’ve replaced my entire income and allow me to work as much or as little as I want.

10,000 baby boomers are retiring each day and selling these businesses, so it’s literally the perfect time to buy one, but the window is closing…

These businesses will either be bought by someone else or they’ll end up closing down, as they’ll have no one to be passed on to.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and if you want to learn exactly how you can take advantage of it...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

If I had $50k sitting in a savings account right now...

Here's exactly how I'd invest it for monthly cash flow:

--

Most people think you need hundreds of thousands in cash to buy a business.

But the truth?

You can buy a cash-flowing business with way less capital than you think.

--

The reality is:

• Banks will loan you 90% (SBA loan)
• Private investors can put up 10%
• You can offer equity in return

That's how you can secure a solid income stream for little to $0 out of pocket.

--

I focus on "boring" businesses:

• HVAC
• ATM Routes
• Accounting Firms
• Waste Management

(They're always cash flow positive with systems that I can improve).

I'll give you my go-to process:

--

1) Pick a recession-proof industry (HVAC, Accounting, Laundromat, etc.)

2) Use a broker (or SMBMarket) to look for businesses that are up for sale.

• 5 years old
• $500k-$1M price
• $10k+/month cash flow

3) Apply for an SBA Loan pre-qualification

4) Bring your tax returns & W2 pay stubs

5) Explain which business you want to acquire and why you are buying it.

6) Hire an accountant to analyze the financials of the business you're looking at.

7) Look for consistent, increasing revenue

8) Talk to sellers (see why they're selling)

9) Make an offer between 2-4x SDE (cash flow)

Example:
↳ If the seller took home $400k last year, you should make an offer of $800k-$1.2M.

10) Use your SBA loan to finance 90%

11) Find an investor who'll give you the last 10% (give them 15% equity in return)

& there you have it.

You bought a business with $0.

--

If you're looking for a real path to ownership that doesn't require you to quit your job or drain your savings, this is it.

Simple. Repeatable. Proven.

DM me “Biz” and I’ll show you how to get started.

If you want to quit your job & replace it with a boring income stream...

Here’s a full blueprint to make $10k/month by the end of 2026:

--

First, let's get real about quitting your job.

You can't just walk away without a plan.

But here's what you CAN do:

Buy one boring business that generates $10k/month while working 15-20 hours per week.

It all comes down to simple execution:

--

Step 1: Find businesses to buy.

Go to SMBmarket and filter for:

• $500k-$1M asking price
• $100k+ annual cash flow
• Service-based businesses

Make a list of 20-30 businesses that fit this criteria.

--

Step 2: Contact sellers & evaluate deals.

The goal is to set up meetings to find out:

• Their reason for selling
• Current team and operations
• Real financials (3 years tax returns)

Hire a CPA to analyze the numbers.

Look for businesses with employees already in place.

--

Step 3: Structure the financing.

Here's how you buy a business with minimal cash down:

• SBA loan covers 80-90% of the price
• Seller financing covers 5-10%
• You cover 5% even potentially bringing $0 to closing

The SBA loan is the key that unlocks everything.

--

Step 4: Complete due diligence.

Spend 30-45 days reviewing:

• 3 years of tax returns
• Customer concentration
• Employee contracts & systems
• Equipment condition & lease agreements

This protects you from buying someone else's problem.

--

Step 5: Close the deal & transition.

The first 90 days are critical.

Focus on:

• Finding quick wins
• Building trust with staff
• Meeting with all employees
• Understanding all the systems

Don't try to change everything at once.

--

Step 6: Hire a general manager.

I don't want to buy myself a job.

Before closing, I budget:

• $5-7k/month for a GM (if there isn't one already)
• Systems documentation
• Training period with seller

The business should run without you there every day.

--

Step 7: Optimize & scale.

After 6 months, you can:

• Adjust pricing structure
• Streamline payment systems
• Look for your second acquisition
• Improve marketing & online presence

The cash flow from business #1 funds business #2.

--

This isn't a 90-day get-rich scheme.

It's a 12-month system that replaces your salary.

If you want the complete framework I used to go from JP Morgan to 8 businesses generating $850k/year...

DM me "Blueprint" and I'll send you the details.

Everyone should learn how to buy a business with little to $0 down.

Why?

Because it's one of the fastest routes to financial freedom.

I discovered this after years of climbing the corporate ladder.

My first acquisition changed everything.

I invested $5,000 into a software company, and in my first year, it returned $100,000+

That’s when I realized:

The wealthy don’t trade time for money.
→ They acquire cash-flowing assets using leverage.

Warren Buffett didn’t become a billionaire from a salary.
→ He did it by acquiring ownership in businesses.

Your local millionaire probably isn’t a celebrity or tech founder.
→ They likely own a “boring” businesses in your community.

My portfolio now includes 8 boring businesses.

Combined annual income: $850,000
Hours worked weekly: ~20

The most valuable lesson I’ve learned?

Stop chasing paychecks...

Start acquiring businesses.

--

If you want to learn the exact strategy I've used to build a $850k/year income stream...

📲 DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

Buying businesses changed my life:

• I quit my 9-5 forever
• I get paid $850k every year
• I can travel the world with my kids

If you want to buy your first business in 2026...

Here's my full beginner blueprint:

--

Before I give you the steps…

It’s essential that you understand WHY this opportunity exists right now.

10,000 Baby Boomers retire every single day.

They've spent 20, 30, sometimes 40 years building profitable small businesses.

& most of their kids don't want them.

So what happens when a Boomer wants to retire but has no one to take over?

They sell.

Often at a fair price, with flexible terms, to someone willing to keep their legacy alive.

--

Step 1: Pick a boring, recession-proof industry.

I'm talking about businesses people need no matter what the economy is doing:

• HVAC
• Plumbing
• Accounting
• Laundromats

--

Step 2: Find businesses for sale.

Go to SMBmarket(.)com and start browsing daily.

What you're looking for:

• 5+ years in operation
• $500k–$1M asking price
• $10k+/month in cash flow
• Ideally owned by a Boomer

--

Step 3: Talk to the seller.

Once you find something promising, get on the phone.

1. Ask them why they're selling.
2. Ask for 3 years of financial statements (tax returns, profit & loss).

You're looking for consistent revenue and clean books.

If they can't produce that, walk away.

--

Step 4: Get pre-approved for an SBA loan.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) backs loans that let you finance up to 90% of a business purchase.

It's a government-backed loan designed to help people buy small businesses.

Go to a lender like Live Oak Bank, Byline Bank, or Truliant.

Bring your last 3 years of tax returns, W-2s, and a personal financial statement.

--

Step 5: Run the numbers.

Hire a CPA to look at the financials.

You want to see:

• Healthy profit margins
• No major inconsistencies
• Stable and growing revenue

If the business doesn't cash flow after debt payments, it’s time to move on.

--

Step 6: Make your offer.

Look at the seller's yearly earnings.

Take the average of the last 3 years and multiply it by 2x–4x (deal dependent).

Example: Business earns $200k/year → you offer $400k–$800k.

Then you negotiate from there.

--

Step 7: Structure the deal with creative financing.

Here's how I would buy businesses with little to $0 out of my own pocket:

• SBA loan covers 90%
• Private investor covers the 10%
• Give that investor 15% equity in return

They get immediate cash flow.

I keep the rest and build equity.

--

Step 8: Close & hire a general manager.

Once the deal closes, you don't have to run the day-to-day yourself.

The business already has employees and systems.

Keep the existing team in place, hire a GM to oversee operations, and step into an ownership role.

This is how I manage 7 businesses and only work about 20 hours a week.

--

If you want to learn exactly how to buy your first business for little to $0 down...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

I found the most boring way to make $100k/year.

(I'm 35, making $79k a month)

How?

Boring businesses.

Here's exactly how to copy me:

--

Step 1: Find a business that's already making money.

Go to SMBmarket(.)com and search for businesses with $10k+/month in cash flow.

Look for boring industries:

• Laundromats
• Accounting firms
• Pool cleaning services

--

Step 2: Let the Boomers come to you.

Millions of business owners are retiring right now and need someone to take over.

• High motivation to sell
• Most have zero succession plan
• Existing customers, employees, & systems

You're not building from scratch.

You're buying something that works.

--

Step 3: Get the government to back your deal.

Apply for an SBA loan through a lender like Live Oak, Byline, or Truliant.

The SBA will back up to 90% of the purchase price.

You'll need your last 2-3 years of tax returns and a personal financial statement.

The bank wants to see you're a safe bet.

--

Step 4: Structure it so you pay little to $0 out of pocket.

Here's the formula:

• SBA loan covers 90%
• Seller financing or a private investor covers the remaining 10%

If you use an investor, give them 10-15% equity.

--

Step 5: Hire a GM and step back.

You don't need to run day-to-day operations.

A solid general manager costs $50-70k/year and handles everything while you oversee the big picture.

This is how I manage 8 businesses in about 20 hours a week.

--

Step 6: Scale like crazy.

One boring business can pay you $100k+/year.

But the real play?

Use the cash flow from business #1 to fund business #2. Then #3, #4, #5…

That's when this goes from "side income" to replacing your corporate salary entirely.

--

The beauty of this model:

No venture capital. No tech skills. No starting from zero.

You're buying businesses that have been profitable for years, backed by government loans, and run by managers.

Set it up right, and you collect cash flow monthly.

--

I own 8 boring businesses that pay me $850k/year.

I bought my first few while I was still working at JP Morgan.

If you want to learn exactly how to buy your first business for little to $0 down…

DM me "Biz" & I'll show you how.

In 10 years, the richest people you know won't be software engineers.

They'll be blue-collar business owners.

The best part?

You can buy one from a Boomer for little to $0 down.

Here's exactly how:

--

Step 1: Find the right business.

Go to SMBmarket and search for businesses with:

• $500k-$1M asking price
• 5+ years of operating history
• $10k+/month cash flow
• Owned by a retiring Boomer

Focus on boring industries like accounting, HVAC, or plumbing.

--

Step 2: Get SBA pre-approved.

Before making offers, go to a bank that offers SBA loans (Live Oak, Byline, Truliant).

Bring:

• Last 3 years of tax returns
• Your W-2s
• Personal financial statement

(The government backs these loans, so banks are more eager to give them out)

--

Step 3: Review the financials.

Call the owner and request their last 3 years of financial statements.

Hire a CPA to audit the numbers and look for:

• Stable profit margins
• Steady revenue
• No red flags

If the seller can't produce clean financials, walk.

--

Step 4: Make your offer.

Offer 2-4x the seller's yearly cash flow.

Example:

Business makes $200k/year?

I’d offer $400k-$600k.

--

Step 5: Structure with little to $0 down.

Here's the magic formula:

• SBA loan covers 90% of the purchase
• A private investor covers 10% down
• Give that investor 10-15% equity

They get passive income, you get a business without spending your own money.

--

Step 6: Hire a GM to run operations.

I didn't quit my job just to buy another one.

Look for businesses that already have a team in place or hire a general manager.

You oversee the business while they handle the day-to-day.

--

Step 7: Repeat the process.

Once business #1 is running smoothly, do it again.

Use the cash flow to fund the next down payment.

That's exactly how I went from JP Morgan banker to owning 7 “boring” businesses.

--

If you want to learn the exact system I use to find, acquire, and scale boring businesses...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you everything.

I'm 35.

I own 7 businesses (last year, they made $7,000,000+)

To spread the wealth...

Here’s the most in-depth training I've ever created on small business acquisition:

--

SMBmarket(.)com will be your best friend.

It has tons of listings for owners who are looking to sell their small businesses.

The listings will mention:

• SDE
• FF&E
• EBITDA

–

Search for a business making $10K+/mo in cash flow & has been profitable for >5 years.

🔍 SMBmarket(.)com → Search: *Your Area* / Service Businesses → Price filter = $500k to $1M → More Filters → Cashflow = Min. $10k.

--

Some businesses to look at:

• Financial Services
• Pool Cleaning
• Laundromat
• Plumbing
• HVAC

Before starting the buying process…

–

Determine your goal.

For me, I have a GM who runs day-to-day while I focus on increasing cash flow.

Some people enjoy working day-to-day.

This is your chance to customize your role.

--

You shouldn't make any offers until you've secured your financing options.

There are 4 financing options:

• Buying with your own cash
• SBA loan
• Private investor
• Seller financing

You can use multiple methods or just one.

–

When speaking to lenders (banks/investors)...

1) Position yourself as a "safe" bet.
2) Tell them the type of business you want to acquire & why.
3) Come prepared with your last 3 years of tax returns & W2 pay stubs.
4) Prepare a statement that lists your assets & liabilities.

If you can do these things...

You'll be ahead of 99% of borrowers.

--

You'll want to get the tax returns & P&Ls from the last 3 years.

Profit should be increasing steadily and P&Ls should be relatively consistent with no crazy fluctuations.

Pro Tip:

Hire an accountant to audit the numbers.

–

They can review these KPIs too:

• SDE (Seller discretionary earnings)
• EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization)
• FF&E (Furniture, fixtures & equipment)

Essentially, this means...

→ Total profit
→ Cash flow
→ Movable assets

--

For making an offer...

Take the average SDE from the last 3 years (ex: $450k)

Multiply it by 2.5x = $1,125,000 and round down to $1,000,000 (that's your starting offer).

–

We can purchase this for close to $0 down by talking to our SBA lender & asking for the business to be qualified on the 7a program.

This allows us to get a private investor to cover the down payment, so we're $0 out of pocket.

Let me explain...

--

You give a private investor 10-15% equity & in return, they pay the 10% down payment.

In effect, they’re getting an extra 5% equity for taking a risk on you.

On a $450k/yr business...

Your investor makes $5,250/mo passively, which is a 57% CoC return annually.

–

But you still cash flow $29k/mo...

→ Hire a General Manager ($5k/mo)
→ Your salary ($10k/mo)
→ $14k/mo for the business to grow

Congratulations!

You now own a small business.

–

If you want to learn more about how you can acquire a boring business for yourself...

📲 DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

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