The Scrappy Path of a One-Man Holdco

July 22, 2024
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oday's story captures one of my favorite themes about buying businesses.

That it is a path forward for the hungry entrepreneur who otherwise feels stuck.

Maybe you don't have an idea.

Or maybe, like today's guest, you already have a business, but it's reached its potential and you don't see it growing anymore.

But what you do have is the energy. The appetite to build.

Dustin Carreon had a small business that sourced & supplied hard-to-find electronics parts.

It could kick off nice profits, but sales swung from year to year from $1m to $3m, so quality of revenue wasn't great. And more importantly, he didn't see a path to growing it further.

So Dustin decided to take his profits from that business, and start buying others.

Using low-quality revenue to buy high-quality revenue.

7 years later, and he has acquired 4 businesses, and his holdco will hit $20m in revenue this year.

He owns 100% of it.

And just as important as the money is the fulfillment. Dustin's words:

"I am so excited, man... It's a dream... And I don't know what I did to deserve this, I'm just absolutely having fun. I love what I do and I love finding businesses and this is the best thing for a career that's ever happened to me."

Here is Dustin Carreon, owner and builder of COI Holdings.

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The Scrappy Path of a One-Man Holdco

When Dustin Carreon reached a ceiling in his first small business, he used the profits to start buying other businesses.

Key Takeaways

Introduction

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oday's story captures one of my favorite themes about buying businesses.

That it is a path forward for the hungry entrepreneur who otherwise feels stuck.

Maybe you don't have an idea.

Or maybe, like today's guest, you already have a business, but it's reached its potential and you don't see it growing anymore.

But what you do have is the energy. The appetite to build.

Dustin Carreon had a small business that sourced & supplied hard-to-find electronics parts.

It could kick off nice profits, but sales swung from year to year from $1m to $3m, so quality of revenue wasn't great. And more importantly, he didn't see a path to growing it further.

So Dustin decided to take his profits from that business, and start buying others.

Using low-quality revenue to buy high-quality revenue.

7 years later, and he has acquired 4 businesses, and his holdco will hit $20m in revenue this year.

He owns 100% of it.

And just as important as the money is the fulfillment. Dustin's words:

"I am so excited, man... It's a dream... And I don't know what I did to deserve this, I'm just absolutely having fun. I love what I do and I love finding businesses and this is the best thing for a career that's ever happened to me."

Here is Dustin Carreon, owner and builder of COI Holdings.

About

Dustin Carreon

Dustin Carreon
Olivia Rhye
Product Designer

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