How to Survive Going from Hedge Funds to SMB Owner

October 19, 2023
Listen in Apple Podcasts appListen in SpotifyListen in Apple Podcasts appListen in SpotifyRSS address of the Acquiring Minds podcast feed

Key Points From the Interview

Come meet
(virtually)
Live Q&A on
Register
S

ix months ago, Neil Finneran bought a Mosquito Joe franchise resale.

And he bought small, less than $700k in revenue, which means some days he is out in the truck & spraying customer lawns.

It's a big change from his days at a hedge fund or as a CFO.

He's embraced it, and he actually thinks his years of finance experience give him an edge in running an SMB.

But of course, there is still a steep learning curve going from the relative comfort & routine of corporate life to being the operator of a blue-collar business.

Neil is still figuring that out — and with a smile.

Fortunately he mostly likes his new role, and he and I try to tease out what it is that makes some formerly-corporate people like SMB life while others can't stand it.

This is a salient question for so many of you.

We also talk about the pest control business, which is one you hear a lot about in the world of buying small businesses.

Entrepreneurs are attracted to it for the same reason Neil was: it's easy to understand, and it has recurring revenue.

I actually have an interview that will air around the same time as this one with another acquisition entrepreneur who bought a pest control business, and in actually the very same franchise system as Neil.

Jesse Sunquist also bought a Mosquito Joe resale, so listen for that episode soon.

OK, please enjoy this conversation with Neil Finneran, owner of a Mosquito Joe territory in Massachusetts.

Read MoreStories