Do you struggle in generating revenue with your online business? You’re not alone. Most online business owners have tried different income-generating strategies but ended up with unsatisfying results. 

I had a rare shot to sit down in this podcast with Dan Ray. He is an SEO & Pro Backlink Builder, an expert in his space, and has helped multiple clients scale their online business through his effective backlink building services. 

We have discussed his health story and how it ended helping him build a better business, why it’s against Google's terms to ask for a backlink (even without paying for it), what is a good backlink vs a bad backlink and what you need to do to get white hat backlinks. 

Lastly, we also talked about  why link building can be easy if you know how to use Dan’s system and what tool to use for backlink outreach. 

This is your chance to be trained by a SEO Guru to build premium backlinks that can add revenue to your content website. 

If you think creating premium backlinks is a complicated process, then you should check out this video and learn Dan’s system!



Episode Highlights


00:00 What you’ll learn in this episode

01:41 Niche Website Builder

02:28 Dan has a story for us

07:55 Team is important 

11:44 You should be YOU!

13:28 10 x 10 link build strategy

15:46 What does a good backlink look like? 

20:12 Backlinks are easy to do!

23:23 Good VS Bad backlinks

25:27 Focus on relevance

26:49 End of part 1



About The Guest

Dan Ray is an SEO & Pro Backlink Builder, he has helped clients add thousands of dollars per month to their business with bespoke backlink building services. Dan is completely sold out, so it’s almost impossible to become a client of his, but we were lucky enough to get him on the podcast to train us how we can build premium backlinks for ourselves using his methods. 




Resource Links

➥ Buying Online Businesses Website (https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com) 

➥ Download the Due Diligence Framework (https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/freeresources/)

➥ Visit Niche Website Builders and get EXCLUSIVE OFFERS as a BOB listener (https://www.nichewebsite.builders/bob/)





Connect with Dan Ray:

➥ https://twitter.com/amazingdanray

➥ https://linktr.ee/danray



🔥🔥 Buy & Sell Online Businesses Here (Top Website Brokers We Use) 🔥🔥

➥ Empire Flippers - https://bit.ly/3RtyMkE 

➥ Flippa - https://bit.ly/3WYX0Ve

➥ Motion Invest - https://bit.ly/3YmJAmO

➥ Investors Club - https://bit.ly/3ZpgioR

Do you struggle in generating revenue with your online business? You’re not alone. Most online business owners have tried different income-generating strategies but ended up with unsatisfying results. 
I had a rare shot to sit down in this podcast with Dan Ray. He is an SEO &amp; Pro Backlink Builder, an expert in his space, and has helped multiple clients scale their online business through his effective backlink building services. 
We have discussed his health story and how it ended helping him build a better business, why it’s against Google's terms to ask for a backlink (even without paying for it), what is a good backlink vs a bad backlink and what you need to do to get white hat backlinks. 
Lastly, we also talked about  why link building can be easy if you know how to use Dan’s system and what tool to use for backlink outreach. 
This is your chance to be trained by a SEO Guru to build premium backlinks that can add revenue to your content website. 
If you think creating premium backlinks is a complicated process, then you should check out this video and learn Dan’s system!
 
Episode Highlights 
00:00 What you’ll learn in this episode
01:41 Niche Website Builder
02:28 Dan has a story for us
07:55 Team is important 
11:44 You should be YOU!
13:28 10 x 10 link build strategy
15:46 What does a good backlink look like? 
20:12 Backlinks are easy to do!
23:23 Good VS Bad backlinks
25:27 Focus on relevance
26:49 End of part 1 
About The Guest Dan Ray is an SEO &amp; Pro Backlink Builder, he has helped clients add thousands of dollars per month to their business with bespoke backlink building services. Dan is completely sold out, so it’s almost impossible to become a client of his, but we were lucky enough to get him on the podcast to train us how we can build premium backlinks for ourselves using his methods. 
Resource Links
➥ Buying Online Businesses Website (<a href="https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com">https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com</a>) 
➥ Download the Due Diligence Framework (<a href="https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/freeresources/">https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/freeresources/</a>)
➥ Visit Niche Website Builders and get EXCLUSIVE OFFERS as a BOB listener (<a href="https://www.nichewebsite.builders/bob/">https://www.nichewebsite.builders/bob/</a>)
 
Connect with Dan Ray:
➥ <a href="https://twitter.com/amazingdanray">https://twitter.com/amazingdanray</a> 
➥ <a href="https://linktr.ee/danray">https://linktr.ee/danray</a> 
 
🔥🔥 Buy &amp; Sell Online Businesses Here (Top Website Brokers We Use) 🔥🔥 ➥ Empire Flippers - <a href="https://bit.ly/3RtyMkE">https://bit.ly/3RtyMkE </a> ➥ Flippa - <a href="https://bit.ly/3WYX0Ve">https://bit.ly/3WYX0Ve</a> ➥ Motion Invest - <a href="https://bit.ly/3YmJAmO">https://bit.ly/3YmJAmO</a> ➥ Investors Club - <a href="https://bit.ly/3ZpgioR">https://bit.ly/3ZpgioR</a>

Jaryd Krause quit his plumbing job in 2015 by acquiring online businesses and never looked back. Now one of the world's leading Online Business M&A advisors, he's helped thousands of people acquire profitable businesses, made his clients millions, and scaled companies from 6 to 8 figures.

The Buying Online Businesses Podcast cuts through the noise on acquisitions, M&A strategy, and building real wealth through buying already profitable online businesses. Whether you're looking to replace your income or build a portfolio that funds the life you actually want, this is your show!

Jaryd Krause quit his plumbing job in 2015 by acquiring online businesses and never looked back. Now one of the world's leading Online Business M&amp;A advisors, he's helped thousands of people acquire profitable businesses, made his clients millions, and scaled companies from 6 to 8 figures.
The Buying Online Businesses Podcast cuts through the noise on acquisitions, M&amp;A strategy, and building real wealth through buying already profitable online businesses. Whether you're looking to replace your income or build a portfolio that funds the life you actually want, this is your show!

Buying Online Businesses Podcast

Hosted by Jaryd Krause who went from plumber to creating an online business empire through buying websites for passive income. 

This podcast will unfold his secrets as you explore the highs, lows and light bulb moments of his personal journey in each episode. He will show you that no matter where you are in life an alternate lifestyle is more than possible. You will gain the knowledge you need to start buying online businesses yourself and live a fulfilling lifestyle.

How To Build Premium Backlinks Using Your Own Team with Dan Ray

Most people think buying a business is just about finding a “good deal.”

Kevin Peterson has done over 50 acquisitions - and he’ll tell you that’s exactly how people lose money.

Because what brokers don’t tell you… 

is that the real risk isn’t the numbers?

It’s what’s missing behind them.

Like the SaaS deal that looked perfect on paper…

until the entire team walked out right after closing.

Or the “growth opportunity” that was actually just an audience no one had ever monetized.

Or the biggest trap of all - buying a business without a clear thesis… and hoping it works out later.

In this episode, Jaryd sits down with Kevin - founder of Webfolio Management - who’s spent the last 12+ years acquiring, operating, and scaling digital businesses across SaaS, content, and eCommerce.

And this one goes deep.

Into the real due diligence signals most buyers miss. Into how AI is quietly changing what businesses are worth buying - and which ones are becoming obsolete. Into the hidden risks inside “easy wins” like audience monetization and roll-ups.

But more importantly…

Kevin breaks down the exact thinking behind building a portfolio that doesn’t just grow - but actually survives.

No hype. No shortcuts. No theory.

Just hard-earned lessons from someone who’s done the deals, made the mistakes… and kept going anyway.

🎧 Hit play - this is what buying businesses really looks like.

 

Episode Highlights

02:27 The Career Pivot That Changed Everything – From 20 Years in Consulting to Buying Online Businesses

03:36 From $50K Deals to 7-Figure Acquisitions – How Kevin Built a 50+ Deal Track Record

06:08 The Hidden Value Most Buyers Miss – Untapped Audiences That Can Instantly Increase Revenue

09:22 The Deal That Looked Perfect… Until the Entire Team Walked Out After Closing

11:36 SaaS Due Diligence Simplified – The 4 Metrics That Actually Matter

17:01 The KPI That Signals It’s Time to Sell (Before the Business Declines)

22:14 What NOT to Buy in the Age of AI – And Where the Real Moats Still Exist

 

Key Takeaways

➥ The best deals aren’t found - they’re filtered. Without a clear acquisition thesis, you’ll chase instead of build.

➥ If the business can’t run without the founder, you didn’t buy an asset - you bought a job.

➥ The real cost isn’t the purchase price. It’s the capital required to grow the business after you own it.

➥ Conversion rate and churn will tell you the truth before revenue ever does - watch them closely.

➥ AI is lowering the barrier to entry. If your business can be easily copied, it’s already at risk.

➥ The biggest hidden upside in acquisitions is often an under-monetized audience.

➥ Most founders sell too late. The right time to exit is before growth starts getting harder.

 

About Kevin Peterson

Kevin Petersen is a serial entrepreneur and founder of WebFolio Management, a portfolio vehicle that acquires and operates small SaaS companies on behalf of investors and himself. 

Since getting started in the web-business market he has acquired dozens of internet businesses (including Picreel) and refined a deliberate, metrics-driven approach to sourcing, cleaning financials, and scaling recurring-revenue products. 

Kevin focuses on building investor-grade units with clean books and repeatable growth processes, then deciding whether to hold, scale, or exit. 

He frequently coaches other buyers and investors on building SaaS portfolios, and his playbook centers on deliberate deal selection, clean financial segmentation, and operational systems that allow multiple assets to be managed without chaos. 

 

Connect with Kevin Peterson

➥ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinpetersen1/


➥saastermind.net





Resource Links

➥ Connect with Jaryd here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarydkrause

➥ Buying Online Businesses Website - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com

➥ Download the Due Diligence Framework - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/freeresources/

➥ Sell your business to us here - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/sell-your-business/

➥ Google Ads Service - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/ads-services/

 

Buy & Sell Online Businesses Here (Top Website Brokers We Use) 🔥

➥ Empire Flippers - https://bit.ly/3RtyMkE

➥ Flippa - https://bit.ly/3wGa8r5

➥ Motion Invest - https://bit.ly/3YmJAmO

➥ Investors Club - https://bit.ly/3ZpgioR

 

*This post may contain affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site/posts at no additional cost to you.

Most people think buying a business is just about finding a &ldquo;good deal.&rdquo;
Kevin Peterson has done over 50 acquisitions - and he&rsquo;ll tell you that&rsquo;s exactly how people lose money.
Because what brokers don&rsquo;t tell you&hellip;&nbsp;
is that the real risk isn&rsquo;t the numbers?
It&rsquo;s what&rsquo;s missing behind them.
Like the SaaS deal that looked perfect on paper&hellip;
until the entire team walked out right after closing.
Or the &ldquo;growth opportunity&rdquo; that was actually just an audience no one had ever monetized.
Or the biggest trap of all - buying a business without a clear thesis&hellip; and hoping it works out later.
In this episode, Jaryd sits down with Kevin - founder of Webfolio Management - who&rsquo;s spent the last 12+ years acquiring, operating, and scaling digital businesses across SaaS, content, and eCommerce.
And this one goes deep.
Into the real due diligence signals most buyers miss. Into how AI is quietly changing what businesses are worth buying - and which ones are becoming obsolete. Into the hidden risks inside &ldquo;easy wins&rdquo; like audience monetization and roll-ups.
But more importantly&hellip;
Kevin breaks down the exact thinking behind building a portfolio that doesn&rsquo;t just grow - but actually survives.
No hype. No shortcuts. No theory.
Just hard-earned lessons from someone who&rsquo;s done the deals, made the mistakes&hellip; and kept going anyway.
🎧 Hit play - this is what buying businesses&nbsp;really looks like.
&nbsp;
Episode Highlights
02:27 The Career Pivot That Changed Everything &ndash; From 20 Years in Consulting to Buying Online Businesses
03:36 From $50K Deals to 7-Figure Acquisitions &ndash; How Kevin Built a 50+ Deal Track Record
06:08 The Hidden Value Most Buyers Miss &ndash; Untapped Audiences That Can Instantly Increase Revenue
09:22 The Deal That Looked Perfect&hellip; Until the Entire Team Walked Out After Closing
11:36 SaaS Due Diligence Simplified &ndash; The 4 Metrics That Actually Matter
17:01 The KPI That Signals It&rsquo;s Time to Sell (Before the Business Declines)
22:14 What NOT to Buy in the Age of AI &ndash; And Where the Real Moats Still Exist
&nbsp;
Key Takeaways
➥ The best deals aren&rsquo;t found - they&rsquo;re filtered. Without a clear acquisition thesis, you&rsquo;ll chase instead of build.
➥ If the business can&rsquo;t run without the founder, you didn&rsquo;t buy an asset - you bought a job.
➥ The real cost isn&rsquo;t the purchase price. It&rsquo;s the capital required to grow the business after you own it.
➥ Conversion rate and churn will tell you the truth before revenue ever does - watch them closely.
➥ AI is lowering the barrier to entry. If your business can be easily copied, it&rsquo;s already at risk.
➥ The biggest hidden upside in acquisitions is often an under-monetized audience.
➥ Most founders sell too late. The right time to exit is before growth starts getting harder.
&nbsp;
About Kevin Peterson
Kevin Petersen is a serial entrepreneur and founder of WebFolio Management, a portfolio vehicle that acquires and operates small SaaS companies on behalf of investors and himself.&nbsp;
Since getting started in the web-business market he has acquired dozens of internet businesses (including Picreel) and refined a deliberate, metrics-driven approach to sourcing, cleaning financials, and scaling recurring-revenue products.&nbsp;
Kevin focuses on building investor-grade units with clean books and repeatable growth processes, then deciding whether to hold, scale, or exit.&nbsp;
He frequently coaches other buyers and investors on building SaaS portfolios, and his playbook centers on deliberate deal selection, clean financial segmentation, and operational systems that allow multiple assets to be managed without chaos.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Connect with Kevin Peterson
➥ <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinpetersen1/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinpetersen1/</a> 
➥<a href="http://saastermind.net">saastermind.net</a>
 
Resource Links
➥ Connect with Jaryd here -<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarydkrause"> https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarydkrause </a>➥ Buying Online Businesses Website -<a href="https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/"> https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com</a>
➥ Download the Due Diligence Framework -<a href="https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/freeresources/"> https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/freeresources/ </a>➥ Sell your business to us here -<a href="https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/sell-your-business/"> https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/sell-your-business/</a>
➥ Google Ads Service -<a href="https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/ads-services/"> https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/ads-services/</a>
&nbsp;
Buy &amp; Sell Online Businesses Here (Top Website Brokers We Use) 🔥
➥ Empire Flippers -<a href="https://bit.ly/3RtyMkE"> https://bit.ly/3RtyMkE</a>
➥ Flippa -<a href="https://bit.ly/3wGa8r5"> https://bit.ly/3wGa8r5</a>
➥ Motion Invest -<a href="https://bit.ly/3YmJAmO"> https://bit.ly/3YmJAmO </a>➥ Investors Club -<a href="https://bit.ly/3ZpgioR"> https://bit.ly/3ZpgioR</a>
&nbsp;
*This post may contain affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site/posts at no additional cost to you.

He Acquired 50 Saas Businesses & Warns You Of What Brokers Won’t Tell You with Kevin Peterson

Most founders think selling a business is about getting the highest offer.

Nathan Gwilliam spent 30 years learning why that belief is exactly what destroys exits.

Three businesses built. Three exits are closed. And a front-row seat to some of the most painful – and profitable – lessons the entrepreneurial world rarely talks about out loud.

Like the time Disney came knocking... and his partner wouldn't even let them see the financials.

Or the earn-out that looked like a windfall on paper - until someone else was making all the decisions.

Or the phone call on a Sunday morning, right before church, that changed everything about why he sold Adoption.com.

In this episode, Jaryd sits down with Nathan – the founder behind the most visited adoption platform in the world – for one of the most honest, human, and genuinely surprising conversations we've had on this show. Because yes, you'll get the tactics. The roll-up acquisition strategy that turned his biggest competitor into his biggest asset. The 50/50 partnership trap that quietly kills deals before they ever start. The exact moment a founder should seriously consider selling – even if the timing feels wrong.

But this one goes somewhere most business podcasts are too scared to go.

Into the Sunday morning phone calls. Into making decisions from love instead of fear. Into what it actually costs – emotionally, financially, spiritually – to build something real and then let it go.

Nathan doesn't dress it up. He doesn't hide the mistakes. And he doesn't pretend the journey was clean.

And that's exactly what makes this one unmissable.

🎧 Hit play. This is the exit conversation nobody else is having.

BONUS: Get a free 30-day trial of Nathan's all-in-one podcasting platform at PodUp, or head to podallies.com to book a free 45-minute podcast strategy session – directly with Nathan himself.

 

 

Episode Highlights

07:08 The $100 Million Yahoo Offer That Got Turned Down – And the Company That Was Dead 12 Months Later

10:31 The Sunday Morning Phone Call That Changed Everything About Why He Sold Adoption.com

15:00 How Nathan Bought His Biggest Competitor Without a Single Dollar Down

18:21 Built From Scratch in 24 Months – Then Disney Tried to Buy It

23:06 The Earn-Out Trap: Why Nathan Would Walk Away From Millions Before He'd Ever Sign One Again

27:17 The 18x EBITDA Offer a Partner Killed Before Negotiations Even Started

27:52 Why a 50/50 Partnership Is Quietly the Most Dangerous Deal Structure in Business

34:00 Love-Based vs Fear-Based Decisions – The Framework That Changed How Nathan Runs Everything

37:02 How Nathan Turned His Biggest Competitor Into His Biggest Asset (Without Paying Upfront)





Key Takeaways

➥ When your business is worth more to someone else than it is to you - that's your signal to sell.

➥ Never sign an earn-out where the buyer makes all the decisions. You're handing them your money and your future in the same handshake.

➥ A 50/50 partnership sounds fair until you need to make a decision that actually matters.

➥ Your biggest competitor might be your best acquisition – buy them, absorb their traffic, and stop splitting the market.

➥ The best acquisitions don't require a big upfront payment – structure it right and the asset pays for itself.

➥ Businesses don't always go up. The founders who wait for the perfect moment often end up selling at the worst one.

➥ Brokers create competition. Competition creates leverage. Never negotiate a major exit one-on-one if you can avoid it.

➥ Lead with genuine value and build revenue around it – the freemium model is still one of the most powerful plays in digital business.

➥ The best business decisions aren't made from fear. They're made from love – for your partners, your customers, and the impact you're trying to create.

 

 

About Nathan Gwilliam



Nathan Gwilliam is a serial entrepreneur who has created and sold three digital ventures, including Adoption.com, the world’s most visited adoption platform. He grew major online communities and digital properties, and later sold Adoption.com to the Gladney Center for Adoption. Today he leads PodUp, an all-in-one podcasting platform that recently raised significant funding. Nathan’s unique journey – building, scaling, selling and reinventing digital businesses – gives him deep insight into acquisitions, growth strategy, and what it REALLY takes to exit for maximum value.

 

Connect with Nathan Gwilliam

➥ https://podup.com/ 

➥ https://podallies.com/   

➥ https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/ 

 

Resource Links

➥ Connect with Jaryd here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarydkrause

➥ Buying Online Businesses Website - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com

➥ Download the Due Diligence Framework - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/freeresources/

➥ Sell your business to us here - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/sell-your-business/

➥ Google Ads Service - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/ads-services/

 

Buy & Sell Online Businesses Here (Top Website Brokers We Use) 🔥

➥ Empire Flippers - https://bit.ly/3RtyMkE

➥ Flippa - https://bit.ly/3wGa8r5

➥ Motion Invest - https://bit.ly/3YmJAmO

➥ Investors Club - https://bit.ly/3ZpgioR

 

*This post may contain affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site/posts at no additional cost to you.

Most founders think selling a business is about getting the highest offer.
Nathan Gwilliam spent 30 years learning why that belief is exactly what destroys exits.
Three businesses built. Three exits are closed. And a front-row seat to some of the most painful &ndash; and profitable &ndash; lessons the entrepreneurial world rarely talks about out loud.
Like the time Disney came knocking... and his partner wouldn't even let them see the financials.
Or the earn-out that looked like a windfall on paper - until someone else was making all the decisions.
Or the phone call on a Sunday morning, right before church, that changed everything about why he sold Adoption.com.
In this episode, Jaryd sits down with Nathan &ndash; the founder behind the most visited adoption platform in the world &ndash; for one of the most honest, human, and genuinely surprising conversations we've had on this show. Because yes, you'll get the tactics. The roll-up acquisition strategy that turned his biggest competitor into his biggest asset. The 50/50 partnership trap that quietly kills deals before they ever start. The exact moment a founder should seriously consider selling &ndash; even if the timing feels wrong.
But this one goes somewhere most business podcasts are too scared to go.
Into the Sunday morning phone calls. Into making decisions from love instead of fear. Into what it actually costs &ndash; emotionally, financially, spiritually &ndash; to build something real and then let it go.
Nathan doesn't dress it up. He doesn't hide the mistakes. And he doesn't pretend the journey was clean.
And that's exactly what makes this one unmissable.
🎧 Hit play. This is the exit conversation nobody else is having.
BONUS: Get a free 30-day trial of Nathan's all-in-one podcasting platform at PodUp, or head to podallies.com to book a free 45-minute podcast strategy session &ndash; directly with Nathan himself.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Episode Highlights
07:08 The $100 Million Yahoo Offer That Got Turned Down &ndash; And the Company That Was Dead 12 Months Later
10:31 The Sunday Morning Phone Call That Changed Everything About Why He Sold Adoption.com
15:00 How Nathan Bought His Biggest Competitor Without a Single Dollar Down
18:21 Built From Scratch in 24 Months &ndash; Then Disney Tried to Buy It
23:06 The Earn-Out Trap: Why Nathan Would Walk Away From Millions Before He'd Ever Sign One Again
27:17 The 18x EBITDA Offer a Partner Killed Before Negotiations Even Started
27:52 Why a 50/50 Partnership Is Quietly the Most Dangerous Deal Structure in Business
34:00 Love-Based vs Fear-Based Decisions &ndash; The Framework That Changed How Nathan Runs Everything
37:02 How Nathan Turned His Biggest Competitor Into His Biggest Asset (Without Paying Upfront)
 
Key Takeaways
➥ When your business is worth more to someone else than it is to you - that's your signal to sell.
➥ Never sign an earn-out where the buyer makes all the decisions. You're handing them your money and your future in the same handshake.
➥ A 50/50 partnership sounds fair until you need to make a decision that actually matters.
➥ Your biggest competitor might be your best acquisition &ndash; buy them, absorb their traffic, and stop splitting the market.
➥ The best acquisitions don't require a big upfront payment &ndash; structure it right and the asset pays for itself.
➥ Businesses don't always go up. The founders who wait for the perfect moment often end up selling at the worst one.
➥ Brokers create competition. Competition creates leverage. Never negotiate a major exit one-on-one if you can avoid it.
➥ Lead with genuine value and build revenue around it &ndash; the freemium model is still one of the most powerful plays in digital business.
➥ The best business decisions aren't made from fear. They're made from love &ndash; for your partners, your customers, and the impact you're trying to create.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
About Nathan Gwilliam 
Nathan Gwilliam is a serial entrepreneur who has created and sold three digital ventures, including Adoption.com, the world&rsquo;s most visited adoption platform. He grew major online communities and digital properties, and later sold Adoption.com to the Gladney Center for Adoption. Today he leads PodUp, an all-in-one podcasting platform that recently raised significant funding. Nathan&rsquo;s unique journey &ndash; building, scaling, selling and reinventing digital businesses &ndash; gives him deep insight into acquisitions, growth strategy, and what it REALLY takes to exit for maximum value.
&nbsp;
Connect with Nathan Gwilliam
➥ <a href="https://podup.com/">https://podup.com/</a>&nbsp;
➥ <a href="https://podallies.com/">https://podallies.com/</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;
➥ <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam/</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Resource Links
➥ Connect with Jaryd here -<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarydkrause"> https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarydkrause </a>➥ Buying Online Businesses Website -<a href="https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/"> https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com</a>
➥ Download the Due Diligence Framework -<a href="https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/freeresources/"> https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/freeresources/ </a>➥ Sell your business to us here -<a href="https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/sell-your-business/"> https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/sell-your-business/</a>
➥ Google Ads Service -<a href="https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/ads-services/"> https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/ads-services/</a>
&nbsp;
Buy &amp; Sell Online Businesses Here (Top Website Brokers We Use) 🔥
➥ Empire Flippers -<a href="https://bit.ly/3RtyMkE"> https://bit.ly/3RtyMkE</a>
➥ Flippa -<a href="https://bit.ly/3wGa8r5"> https://bit.ly/3wGa8r5</a>
➥ Motion Invest -<a href="https://bit.ly/3YmJAmO"> https://bit.ly/3YmJAmO </a>➥ Investors Club -<a href="https://bit.ly/3ZpgioR"> https://bit.ly/3ZpgioR</a>
&nbsp;
*This post may contain affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site/posts at no additional cost to you.

He Sold the World’s Most-Visited Site - The Hidden Exit Mistakes You Can’t Afford with Nathan Gwilliam

What does it actually look like to buy a business with zero margin for error?

No safety net. No backup plan. A full-time military career, seven kids at home, and a lender who pulled out mid-deal.

That's exactly where Michael Simpson found himself.

In this episode, Jaryd Krause sits down with Michael Simpson - a National Guard serviceman who bought an 18-year-old e-commerce business using SBA financing, survived a near-collapse due diligence process, and came out the other side with a real, running business.

But he's not here to tell you it was amazing. He's here to tell you the truth.

Here's what's covered:

🏦 How he lost his SBA lender mid-transaction - and saved the deal in 48 hours

💀 The post-closing liquidity trap that blindsides almost every first-time buyer

😬 Why buying slightly bigger might have changed everything

📈 The unglamorous growth playbook keeping a 20-year-old business moving forward

This isn't a success story wrapped in a bow. It's something far more valuable - an honest account of what buying a business really costs you. In money, stress, and lessons you can't learn anywhere else.

If you're thinking about buying your first business, this might be the most important episode you listen to all year.

🎧 Hit play. Real talk only.

 

Episode Highlights

13:32 The SBA Pre-Approval Myth That Almost Derailed the Deal

16:15 Lender Drops Out Mid-Deal - How Michael Scrambled and Saved It in 48 Hours

19:48 The $10,000 Non-Refundable Move That Kept the Seller at the Table

21:25 The 100-Hour Business Plan That Stunned Bankers on Million-Dollar Deals

27:58 The $30,000 Tech Migration Mistake That Still Haunts Him

33:45 The Post-Closing Liquidity Trap That Catches First-Time Buyers Off Guard

35:49 Why He Had to Stop Paying Himself -  And Go Back to Work Anyway

36:27 The Brutal Truth About Buying Too Small (And What He'd Do Differently)

 

Key Takeaways

➥ "SBA pre-approved" listings are a marketing tactic - the real approval depends on YOU as the buyer, not just the business.

➥ Losing a lender mid-deal isn't fatal - having two banks compete for your business can actually get you a better outcome.

➥ A non-refundable deposit signals serious intent and can keep a seller loyal to you when the deal gets rocky.

➥ Post-closing liquidity is the number most first-time buyers forget - 10% down is just the starting line, not the finish.

➥ Buying too small is a trap - if the business can't cover debt service, pay for growth, AND pay you, you'll end up working for free.

➥ A obsessively detailed business plan doesn't just impress lenders - it becomes your single biggest competitive advantage in a crowded deal.

➥ Technical debt is invisible until you own it - always pressure-test the tech stack before you sign, not after.

➥ Boring, stable, decades-old businesses with loyal customer bases consistently outperform shiny, high-growth ones for first-time buyers.

➥ The real cost of buying a business isn't the purchase price - it's everything that comes after the wire transfer hits.

 

About Michael Simpson

Michael Simpson is a business owner, acquisition entrepreneur, and National Guard serviceman who successfully bought a business using SBA financing while balancing a full-time military role and raising seven children. 

His acquisition journey included a near-deal-ending due diligence process and the challenge of replacing his SBA lender mid-transaction. Michael brings a rare, real-world perspective on resilience, risk management, and executing an acquisition under extreme personal and financial pressure.

 

Connect with Michael Simpson

➥ https://x.com/Michael_in_biz   

➥ https://www.discountcatholicproducts.com/ 

 

Resource Links

➥ Connect with Jaryd here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarydkrause

➥ Buying Online Businesses Website - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com

➥ Download the Due Diligence Framework - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/freeresources/

➥ Sell your business to us here - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/sell-your-business/

➥ Google Ads Service - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/ads-services/

 

Buy & Sell Online Businesses Here (Top Website Brokers We Use) 🔥

➥ Empire Flippers - https://bit.ly/3RtyMkE

➥ Flippa - https://bit.ly/3wGa8r5

➥ Motion Invest - https://bit.ly/3YmJAmO

➥ Investors Club - https://bit.ly/3ZpgioR

 

*This post may contain affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site/posts at no additional cost to you.

What does it actually look like to buy a business with zero margin for error?
No safety net. No backup plan. A full-time military career, seven kids at home, and a lender who pulled out mid-deal.
That's exactly where Michael Simpson found himself.
In this episode, Jaryd Krause sits down with Michael Simpson - a National Guard serviceman who bought an 18-year-old e-commerce business using SBA financing, survived a near-collapse due diligence process, and came out the other side with a real, running business.
But he's not here to tell you it was amazing. He's here to tell you the truth.
Here's what's covered:
🏦 How he lost his SBA lender mid-transaction - and saved the deal in 48 hours
💀 The post-closing liquidity trap that blindsides almost every first-time buyer
😬 Why buying slightly bigger might have changed everything
📈 The unglamorous growth playbook keeping a 20-year-old business moving forward
This isn't a success story wrapped in a bow. It's something far more valuable - an honest account of what buying a business really costs you. In money, stress, and lessons you can't learn anywhere else.
If you're thinking about buying your first business, this might be the most important episode you listen to all year.
🎧 Hit play. Real talk only.
&nbsp;
Episode Highlights
13:32 The SBA Pre-Approval Myth That Almost Derailed the Deal
16:15 Lender Drops Out Mid-Deal - How Michael Scrambled and Saved It in 48 Hours
19:48 The $10,000 Non-Refundable Move That Kept the Seller at the Table
21:25 The 100-Hour Business Plan That Stunned Bankers on Million-Dollar Deals
27:58 The $30,000 Tech Migration Mistake That Still Haunts Him
33:45 The Post-Closing Liquidity Trap That Catches First-Time Buyers Off Guard
35:49 Why He Had to Stop Paying Himself -&nbsp; And Go Back to Work Anyway
36:27 The Brutal Truth About Buying Too Small (And What He'd Do Differently)
&nbsp;
Key Takeaways
➥ "SBA pre-approved" listings are a marketing tactic - the real approval depends on YOU as the buyer, not just the business.
➥ Losing a lender mid-deal isn't fatal - having two banks compete for your business can actually get you a better outcome.
➥ A non-refundable deposit signals serious intent and can keep a seller loyal to you when the deal gets rocky.
➥ Post-closing liquidity is the number most first-time buyers forget - 10% down is just the starting line, not the finish.
➥ Buying too small is a trap - if the business can't cover debt service, pay for growth, AND pay you, you'll end up working for free.
➥ A obsessively detailed business plan doesn't just impress lenders - it becomes your single biggest competitive advantage in a crowded deal.
➥ Technical debt is invisible until you own it - always pressure-test the tech stack before you sign, not after.
➥ Boring, stable, decades-old businesses with loyal customer bases consistently outperform shiny, high-growth ones for first-time buyers.
➥ The real cost of buying a business isn't the purchase price - it's everything that comes after the wire transfer hits.
&nbsp;
About Michael Simpson
Michael Simpson is a business owner, acquisition entrepreneur, and National Guard serviceman who successfully bought a business using SBA financing while balancing a full-time military role and raising seven children.&nbsp;
His acquisition journey included a near-deal-ending due diligence process and the challenge of replacing his SBA lender mid-transaction. Michael brings a rare, real-world perspective on resilience, risk management, and executing an acquisition under extreme personal and financial pressure.
&nbsp;
Connect with Michael Simpson
➥ <a href="https://x.com/Michael_in_biz">https://x.com/Michael_in_biz</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
➥ <a href="https://www.discountcatholicproducts.com/">https://www.discountcatholicproducts.com/</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Resource Links
➥ Connect with Jaryd here -<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarydkrause"> https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarydkrause </a>➥ Buying Online Businesses Website -<a href="https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/"> https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com</a>
➥ Download the Due Diligence Framework -<a href="https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/freeresources/"> https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/freeresources/ </a>➥ Sell your business to us here -<a href="https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/sell-your-business/"> https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/sell-your-business/</a>
➥ Google Ads Service -<a href="https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/ads-services/"> https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/ads-services/</a>
&nbsp;
Buy &amp; Sell Online Businesses Here (Top Website Brokers We Use) 🔥
➥ Empire Flippers -<a href="https://bit.ly/3RtyMkE"> https://bit.ly/3RtyMkE</a>
➥ Flippa -<a href="https://bit.ly/3wGa8r5"> https://bit.ly/3wGa8r5</a>
➥ Motion Invest -<a href="https://bit.ly/3YmJAmO"> https://bit.ly/3YmJAmO </a>➥ Investors Club -<a href="https://bit.ly/3ZpgioR"> https://bit.ly/3ZpgioR</a>
&nbsp;
*This post may contain affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site/posts at no additional cost to you.

How To Build Premium Backlinks Using Your Own Team with Dan Ray

In 1 playlist(s)

Buying Online Businesses Podcast

Follow podcast

Recent clips