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  • Buy Then Build

  • How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game
  • Written by: Walker Deibel
  • Narrated by: Roger Wayne
  • Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (37 ratings)

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Buy Then Build cover art

Buy Then Build

Written by: Walker Deibel
Narrated by: Roger Wayne
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Publisher's Summary

Entrepreneurs have a problem: startups. Almost all startups either fail or never truly reach a sustainable size. Despite the popularity of entrepreneurship, we haven't engineered a better way to start...until now. What if you could skip the startup phase and generate profitable revenue on day one? In Buy Then Build, acquisition entrepreneur Walker Deibel shows you how to begin with a sustainable, profitable company and grow from there.

You'll learn how to: buy an existing company rather than starting from scratch; use ownership as a path to financial independence; spend a fraction of the time raising capital; find great brokers, generate your own "deal flow", and see new listings early; uncover the best opportunities and biggest risks of any company; navigate the acquisition process; become a successful acquisition entrepreneur; and more.

Buy Then Build is your guide to outsmart the startup game, live the entrepreneurial lifestyle, and reap the financial rewards of ownership now.

©2018 Walker Deibel (P)2019 Tantor

What listeners say about Buy Then Build

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Can’t wait

So detailed. I’m ready to start. Thanks for this book! Best read of the year!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing book full of information

Will be buying a physical copy just to have it. If you are thinking about it, just do it. You won’t regret it.

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Great book for any entrepreneur

Full of useful and insightful information around purchasing an already established business rather than starting one from scratch.

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Good initial book into this topic

The book is a great starting point to the broad topic of acquisition entrepreneurship. The author doesn't spend too much time on any one subject but he raises good points and provides exercises/ recommends further readings. Parts of it, especially the financial/accounting topics are very simplified.

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A must read if looking to buy a small business!

This book is the perfect step by step playbook for purchasing a small or medium size business! If you're like me, you have no desire to start something from scratch but love the thrill and excitement of running a company...here's how to make that a reality without making all the mistakes.

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Sound stopped half way through... very frustrating

how can I get money or credits back?
the book itself is great. the sound stopped half way through. whereas other books are ok.

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  • Serenity Software
  • 2020-03-07

Don’t Pass on Reading This Book

I never review anything. I listen to or read a new book every couple day’s as knowledge is the fuel for the future but only useful when put into action. This book is - by an order of magnitude - one of the most valuable books I’ve consumed. There’s is more information in this book that can be used as actionable insights than the past hundred or so I’ve read. If your an empire builder as I am - here’s the path growth you’ve been searching for!

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  • ParkerJPaulin
  • 2020-09-03

Fantastic! Frameworks, Reference, Overviews, Insight.

Walker has created a fantastic reference book that does an amazing job of presenting a reader with a high level overview of this industry and then equips the reader with necessary frameworks, perspective, and tips to be able to adeptly navigate the entire process of acquiring businesses. Having already navigated a top MBA program and the CFA curriculum I still found an amazing degree of value in this book. For those looking to begin their entrepreneurial journey, refine their best practices, or sell their current company, I highly recommend adding this book to the top of your reading list.

Personally, I crushed the audible over the course of a few early AM walks set to 2.5x speed, ordered a couple paperback copies (one for my own desk reference / checklist and a second to hand off in time to someone as I need to get them up to speed on an element in the book), sent audible links to a couple of potential future investors (to help give them perspective on what working together in the future might entail), and sent an audible link to a business owner friend who has not yet gone through the process of prepping his business for sale.

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7 people found this helpful

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  • David
  • 2021-10-25

Great Book

Very insightful book worth a positive motivational tone. In my opinion, this book is even better than the HBR guide to buying a small business.

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5 people found this helpful

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  • chris
  • 2020-06-11

Fantastic book

I am looking to purchase a large asset business this year 2020 and with this insight I feel like
My Journey is possible.

Highly recommend and the narrator is extremely well spoken.

Thanks,

Chris@myyachtsales.com

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4 people found this helpful

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  • Sam
  • 2021-08-30

Great guide

I’ve been using this book as a guide as I work towards the purchase of my first business. Its insights and information has been invaluable as a guide to schedule my goals. I’ve read the book several times since my purchase s couple months ago. I would highly recommend the book to anyone trying to acquire a business.

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3 people found this helpful

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  • Kyle
  • 2021-08-25

Absolutely amazing! A must read!

This book as great for any level of entrepreneur. Digs straight into the foundations of great business building.

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  • J
  • 2021-07-13

very detailed

lots of information, very detailed, at least no stone I'm turned. I would recommend it

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  • Joshua G.
  • 2021-06-23

highly recommend

loved this book, full of great insight. time to go out and buy a business!!

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  • Josh
  • 2021-06-14

It’s worth the read

I am extremely picky and thorough with every book I listen to because i hate wasting time on sub-par books.

Loved this. Great insight into valuation and positioning a company for a sale.

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  • Gregory A Ritchie
  • 2021-03-29

Insightful

Solid and motivating. I plan to utilize what I learned from this book in the next 6-9 months.

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2 people found this helpful