What if buying a business and buying the building it operates from could dramatically change your financing options, stability, and long-term wealth?

In this episode of Acquisitions Academy, host Mike Abramowitz sits down with third-generation entrepreneur and commercial real estate advisor Daniella Devine to explore why pairing a business acquisition with ownership of the underlying real estate can create a powerful competitive advantage.

Daniella explains how owning the building turns a business into a collateral-backed asset, giving buyers more financing flexibility while reducing the risks of leases and outside landlords. She also breaks down multiple exit strategies available to owners who control both the business and the property, including backfilling tenants, sale-leasebacks, and ground leases.

The conversation covers which types of businesses suit this strategy best. Service-based businesses such as self-storage, car washes, and laundromats can often support commercial real estate ownership because of their margins and recurring revenue opportunities. Daniella also explains why low-margin businesses, such as small sandwich shops, may struggle to carry the extra debt of owning the property.

Mike and Daniella then dive into off-market business acquisitions. Rather than relying solely on online marketplaces, Daniella emphasizes the importance of relationships, local networking, and becoming part of the business community. Chambers of Commerce, local events, and conversations with long-time business owners can uncover succession and retirement opportunities years before a business officially hits the market.

But finding the right acquisition isn't the only challenge. Daniella stresses that aspiring buyers need to determine whether they are genuinely ready for the demands of entrepreneurship. Life design, time freedom, financial runway, family priorities, and willingness to work hard all need to be considered before signing a purchase agreement.

You'll discover:
• Why buying the business and real estate together can expand financing options
• How owning the property can stabilize occupancy costs
• The importance of lease length, options, and assignability
• How sale-leasebacks and ground leases can create exit strategies

Featured Guest: Daniella Devine

Daniella Devine is a third-generation entrepreneur and commercial real estate advisor who helps business owners and aspiring acquirers think strategically about the relationship between business ownership and real estate.

Quotes from Daniella:

“When you purchase a business with real estate, your funding options become a kaleidoscope.”

“For me, it's not just about a foothold in the submarket. It's about rent. There is no rent destabilization.”

Episode Timeline:

00:00 Welcome & Daniella Devine’s Background
02:00 Why Owning Real Estate Supercharges Business Acquisitions
05:00 Evaluating Property Ownership vs. Leasing
07:00 Passive Single-Tenant Net Lease Opportunities
09:00 Signs an Owner Is Ready to Transition
11:00 Planning the Business Exit & Real Estate Strategy
13:00 Best & Worst Businesses to Pair With Real Estate
15:00 Finding Off-Market, Multi-Generational Businesses
20:00 Are You Ready to Acquire a Business?
23:00 Parenting, Time Freedom & Life Design
25:00 The Real Work Behind Business Acquisitions
27:00 Why Leases Can Become a Risk Trap
28:00 Where to Connect With Daniella
29:00 Lessons for the Next Generation

Connect with Daniella Devine:

🌐 Website: thedanielladevine.com
📧 Email: daniella@peacockfloors.com
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/danielladevine

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