The SMB Deal Hunter Podcast

From LinkedIn Employee to Business Owner (No SBA Loan)

August 21, 2026·59 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Want help buying a business? https://smbdealhunter.link/pro-ytIn this episode, Kyle breaks down why he left a stable corporate career to buy his own company, how he funded the deal without an SBA loan or a bank, and what it took to close a deal that fell apart three times before it finally happened.◼️ How he found the company at a basketball game, from an owner who wasn't even looking to sell◼️ How he bought a business far bigger than he could afford, without an SBA loan or a bank, after pitching around 60 investors◼️ The $40,000 he paid out of his own pocket that exposed a problem big enough to change the entire price◼️ The night the deal collapsed at the signing table, and why he refused to walk away after it fell apart three times◼️ How the competitor he set out to beat ended up funding the deal and merging into his companySubscribe to the SMB Deal Hunter newsletter (200,000+ subscribers): https://join.smbdealhunter.xyz/Follow Helen:Twitter: https://x.com/HelenGuo_LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-guo-06674523/

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