Tons of founders want to skip the startup phase and buy an existing operation. It sounds appealing, but going in blind guarantees failure. Today, we are diving into the Catholic way to buy a business with Zach Scardino.

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In This Episode

Zach is an expert in buy-side consulting and business acquisitions at Scardino Strategic Partners. He breaks down exactly how to build an acquisition thesis, run a coherence test on yourself, and source the best off-market deals. We discuss why you should avoid business listing sites, how to recast financials properly, and why structuring the deal matters significantly more than the purchase price.

Core Takeaway: Merge Into Their Lane

Eighty percent of acquired businesses fail within five years because buyers skip the post-acquisition transition steps. When you acquire a company, take the first 90 days to learn, observe, and secure the key relationships that made the business valuable in the first place. You must maintain the continuity of service, respect the previous owner's legacy, and integrate yourself into the culture with charity.

Key Moments

(00:00) - Learning the Catholic way to buy a business

(00:27) - The Acquisition Thesis: Doing a SWOT analysis on yourself

(09:59) - Owner vs. Owner-Operator: Identifying your management capacity

(14:55) - The Coherence Test: Matching business size, financing, and income needs

(18:10) - Finding the Deal: Why off-market direct outreach beats public listings

(26:50) - Recasting Financials: Finding true business value

(38:53) - Structuring the Deal: Using seller notes, earnouts, and dividends

(45:00) - Merging Into Their Lane: Planning the transition before closing

(53:15) - The 90-Day Rule: Why you shouldn't make sweeping changes immediately

Episode ResourcesJoin the Catholic Founders Guild: join.catholicfounders.comConnect with Zach Scardino: Scardino Strategic Partners