Episode
15 Acquisitions After Leaving His Job in 2000 with Paul Lajoie
- Podcast
- Let's Buy a Business
- Published
- Jun 9, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2171
- Processing state
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Summary
Paul Lajoie started as a CPA, spent years in corporate finance, then left the W-2 world after buying his first flooring business with his brother. That first acquisition replaced both his and his wife's income, but he learned hard lessons around working capital, cash flow timing, and not overanalyzing every deal. Across 15 acquisitions, his biggest lessons were to remove emotion and ego, avoid buying what you don't fully understand, live frugally to fund the next deal, and seek help from people who have done it before. Podcast Nuggies: * Bought first business with $45K down * Working capital nearly crushed them * Don't buy based on HOPE * Buy existing before starting from scratch * Cast a wide acquisition net - WHY? Inzo Technologies: Get a complimentary IT audit for acquisition diligence or post-close transition. Visit inzotechnologies.com/eta. The Exit Plan Book - https://amzn.to/4d74WPw Free Audio Book - The Exit Plan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYgD_1pks_8 BizBuyPro Website : BizBuyPro.com LInkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-lajoie-51513711/