66. Buying your way in: The rise of entrepreneurship through acquisition, with Matthias Smith

For some entrepreneurs, the time and energy it takes to start a business from scratch is a welcome challenge.  And for others, it makes more sense to buy their way into business ownership — and it’s more accessible than ever thanks to game-changing, government-backed SBA 7(a) loans. So in this episode, we're speaking with Matthias Smith, founder and owner of Pioneer Capital Advisory LLC, a consulting firm that helps entrepreneurs secure SBA 7(a) financing to acquire a business. Since launching in May 2022, his firm has helped 115 business buyers close on more than $250 million of SBA 7(a) financing. And together, we'll discuss: What types of businesses do well in an entrepreneurship-through-acquisition (ETA) transaction How SBA 7(a) financing works What new business owners should consider when structuring an acquisition What due diligence mistakes small business buyers often make How small business buyers can prepare to apply for financing Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

"It's my life." "It's my identity." "It's my baby." Many entrepreneurs think of their businesses in one or more of these ways. But when it’s time to build an exit strategy, that kind of thinking can create complicated feelings, making decisions more difficult. When selling your business is on the horizon, it's important to define your priorities, plan well in advance, and ensure that you get top dollar for your asset. Enter Alex Vantarakis, founder of The Vant Group, a leading mergers and acquisitions firm. Alex has spent more than 25 years helping business owners with more than 700 business transactions. In this episode, you’ll learn: When a business owner should start planning their exit How to get the best price for your business How to protect your legacy when selling Why fewer businesses are transitioning to family members Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

If you’re a business owner, there’s one acronym you need to know: SBA. The Small Business Administration is your gateway to funding, growth, and opportunity. In this episode, we sit down with our very own Brett Howden, Director of Credit, SBA at Provide, a division of Fifth Third Bank. He's a pro at connecting entrepreneurs with the right financial products to level up their businesses. We’ll cover: How SBA loans stack up against conventional loans The SBA programs that could fuel growth Who qualifies — and what it takes to get approved How to decide if an SBA loan is the right move for your business Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

As a small business owner, you often experience exciting growth and success — and when your top employee decides to move on, it’s an opportunity to adapt and strengthen your team even further. With the right plans and procedures in place, you can navigate transitions smoothly and come out even more resilient. Paul Edwards has guided many businesses through these moments with confidence. As the founder and CEO of CEDR HR Solutions, he works with over 3,000 companies that employ more than 46,000 people. His expertise in human resources for small businesses helps entrepreneurs turn challenges into opportunities for growth and success. So in this episode, we're going to ask him: What should small business owners do when a top employee quits? How can small business owners use exit interviews to improve? How quickly should employers try to fill a vacancy? How to talk to your employees when someone quits or is fired? What are common reasons that employees quit? Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

The time to prepare for a crisis is before it strikes. Having a plan to protect both your reputation and your business is important. So why is it that a shocking number of small business owners don’t have a crisis communications plan in their public relations contingencies? In this episode, we're speaking with Lauren Parker, co-owner and CEO of Slide Nine Agency, to explore effective crisis communications for small businesses. With more than 15 years of experience in strategic communications and crisis management, Lauren has invaluable insights on how small businesses can prepare for and navigate unexpected reputational challenges. We'll discuss: Common misconceptions about public relations for small businesses Why small business owners should prioritize crisis preparedness Key elements to a successful PR strategy What small business owners should do about fake or malicious reviews online The role social media plays in navigating a reputational crisis Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠ getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

For many small business founders, their business is their life's work — and their livelihood. If the unexpected were to happen like a cyber attack or natural disaster, these companies would likely experience a significant financial setback and difficulty returning to normal operations quickly. Selecting the right small business insurance for your industry, location, and risk tolerance can set your business up for stability and security — no matter what surprises life throws your way.  That's why in this episode we're talking to Matt Martin, vice president at BSBD Insurance in Texas.  Together, we'll cover: The key components to include in a small business disaster preparedness plan How business interruption insurance works How business owners should assess their insurance needs Common coverage gaps that small businesses often overlook A real-world example of a small business that was saved by proper insurance coverage  Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit⁠⁠⁠ getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

A well-designed website needs to do more than just look good. It needs to be intuitive. It needs to be useful. It needs to anticipate your customers' needs, even their state of mind, and guide them along the path from prospect to customer. The solution to those challenges is different for every small business. There's no one-size-fits-all answer for user experience (UX). In this episode, we're speaking with two experts from ZoCo Design, a healthcare-focused UX product studio centered on understanding people and what to build for them. Lacey Picazo is the founder and CEO, and Shane Richardson is a senior designer. Together, they'll help us understand: Why is user experience important when designing a website? What are common UX mistakes that small business websites make? How should your website's audience contribute to its UX? How do visuals and graphics contribute to website UX? Why should small business websites be mobile friendly? Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit⁠⁠ getprovide.com⁠⁠. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

Paying for goods and services in today’s modern world is as easy as swiping your credit card, tapping your phone, or even waving your smart watch. It looks so simple! But, the merchant services infrastructure and technology that enable electronic payments require substantial setup, careful attention, and ongoing coordination. Keeping your customers' experience both convenient and secure can be a daunting task for small business owners without the right merchant services provider by their side.  In this episode, we're talking to Regional Sales Manager Cris Agenter from Worldpay, a global payments leader trusted by more than one million merchants and counting. Together, we'll explore questions like: What are merchant services and what do they entail? Why are merchant services important for small businesses? What is the process for setting up a merchant services account? What factors should business owners consider when selecting a merchant services provider? What does it cost to maintain a merchant services account? Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit⁠ getprovide.com⁠. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

The old saying is “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” So when the time comes to design your office and build your brand, it's important to consider more than just your color scheme and furniture. You need a deep understanding of your customers and employees, how they will use the space, and what story you're telling them. And that's where the practice of experiential design comes into play. In this episode, we're speaking with Alicia Orlando, the director of experiential design at MA Design. With a background spanning advertising, marketing, and environmental graphics, she has worked with clients like Bed Bath & Beyond, the University of Georgia, and White Castle. She focuses on creating designs that resonate on a human level by crafting thoughtful, purposeful environments that inspire and leave lasting emotional connections. Together, we'll discuss things like: How is experiential design different from regular office design? How can small business owners utilize experiential design to create a strong first impression on customers? Why is the atmosphere of an office space crucial for employee morale and productivity? How can small business owners enhance their office’s welcoming energy on a budget? What are some measurable impacts that small business owners can look for after implementing experiential design? Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit getprovide.com. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

They'd rather put money in savings than see a concert. They expect brands to share their worldviews. They will forgive mistakes, but NOT inauthenticity. These are just a few of the broad generalizations that Dr. Corey Seemiller has found in her studies of Gen Z. A professor and researcher at Wright State University, her insights have been featured in NPR, The New York Times, and Time Magazine, and she has published numerous works, including the acclaimed books Generation Z Goes to College and Generation Z Leads. In the global Gen Z study she led, Dr. Seemiller and her team engaged over 30,000 participants from 81 countries, making it one of the largest studies on this demographic.  Typically defined as those who were born between 1995-2010, these young people aged 15-30 constitute a growing percentage of consumer spending. And, as Gen Z comes of age, small businesses must tailor their marketing and branding to court this demographic. In this episode, we'll ask Dr. Seemiller: What are the core values and beliefs that define Gen Z? How does technology impact Gen Z’s interactions with brands? How can small businesses create memorable interactions that foster loyalty? How should brands approach issues that are important to Gen Z? How will Gen Z evolve as consumers in the years ahead? Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit getprovide.com. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.