Broke my own record again in 2025! 50 deals for $133,583,000 in SBA 7a adjustable rate loans closed! At First Internet Bank we also like to help make sure our clients are well equipped with working capital and so I provided another $5,782,000 is SBA 7a Lines of Credit.

Before you buy a business, ask the seller why they are selling. Then ask again in a different way. If the story changes, or the details do not add up, pay attention. Understanding why the owner wants out is part of understanding the deal.

Great joining Matt Dolsky (@bylinebank) and @JaredJohnsonSBA (First Internet Bank) at @SMB_ash to discuss SBA financing in 2026 📸 credit: @LisaGForrest

Some of the greatest minds in ETA holding court! cc @JaredJohnsonSBA @AdamMarkleySMB

Buying a business is a lot like dating. At the beginning, everything sounds great. The seller is telling you what you want to hear. But the real version of the business shows up after you take over. That gap is where buyers get burned.

SBA debt is one of the most powerful (and misunderstood) tools in ETA. So we brought in the people who actually structure these deals every day. SMBash 2026: SBA Debt Panel. Presented by @firstib , Pioneer Capital Advisory LLC, & @bylinebank Featuring: @JaredJohnsonSBA @SBA_Matthias Matt Dolsky Expect real conversations around: • What lenders are actually looking for right now • How deals are getting structured in today’s market • Where searchers get stuck (and how to avoid it) No fluff. No generic advice. Just how it actually works. If you’re serious about buying a business, you need this room.

With our event less than one month away, I sure hope you have your tickets! It's time to book your flights and hotel! The fun begins Wednesday, April 22 at 3pm. Pre-conference corn hole, yard games, networking, etc. @ The Texican Court Hotel (presented by Ampleo) SMBash content continues through Friday, April 24 at 2:30pm. We can't wait to see you in Dallas, TX at The Rayleigh Underground. Our founder @Sam_Rosati will be there with his buddy @SMB_Attorney and of course our hosts @TwoTeesSMB and @KHendersonCo . Don't miss out on learning from the best!

Buying something just for the tax write-off? That’s usually the wrong reason.

Day one raises to win the team over? Sometimes smart. Sometimes expensive. Christine and I talk about it on the podcast.

A masterclass isn’t operating experience. Buying and rolling up businesses in an industry you’ve never worked in is not as simple as watching a few videos.

Every panel and speaker is carefully chosen before stepping onto the SMBash stage. We want to give our attendees the best and most up-to-date information when it comes to the ins and outs of entrepreneurship through acquisition and small business ownership. The speakers at SMBash are honest about the ETA deals they've been on or seen. They come to help your journey be as successful as possible. Here's a clip from last year with Heather Endresen and @JaredJohnsonSBA , two incredibly experienced business folks from the lending side of the deal. Get your tickets on our website today!

“Bought four businesses. Barely any money down. Now I just go fishing.” That’s not how ownership works.

Not every acquisition works. I had Christine on after she shared a failed deal. We talk about why more people should be open about that side of the process.

I’m looking forward to speaking on SBA lending for business acquisition deals at @SMB_ash in April alongside @JaredJohnsonSBA from First Internet Bank and Matt Dolsky from @bylinebank If you’re looking to buy a business in 2026 and are heading to the conference, I’d love to meet in person

Skip due diligence and you are gambling, not investing. If the margins are fake, you will find out right after you take over. Better to catch it before you close. #BeforeYouBuyOrSellABusiness #BusinessAcquisition #DueDiligence #ETA #Entrepreneurship

Having a ton of listings does not mean you are doing well. If they are not selling, they are just expensive business cards. Closings are what count. #BeforeYouBuyOrSellABusiness #BusinessBrokers #BusinessSales #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness

The online business M&A market used to be a “wire race.” List a business and buyers would send money within hours. Today the market is far more mature.

Capital got harder to access, and buyers got pickier. Five years ago, seven-figure e-commerce deals sparked bidding wars. That sellers market is gone.

Most sellers don’t truly know their numbers. Once inventory costs and timing are accounted for, the real profit shocks them. Getting ahead of the financials makes selling much easier.

Talking 2025 year in review for search fund M&A with the best of the best in the space on today's Search Fund Coalition panel. @AgeofHoffman, @patrickdichter, Lisa Forrest of Live Oak Bank, Jason Ehrlich of Fruition Capital and @JaredJohnsonSBA