Season 9,

9.04 – Ken Mack – Acquire.fi

March 29, 2025

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:35 — 34.8MB)

Ken Mack doesn’t follow the traditional path of entrepreneurship—he skips the startup phase entirely. Instead of building from scratch, he focuses on acquiring and scaling existing businesses, often using little to none of his own capital.

In this episode of the Rising Tide Startups podcast, we chat with Ken Mack, an investor, also known as “The Eccentric Entrepreneur” due to his unconventional approach to building wealth. Ken shares his strategy of acquiring established companies, from his beginnings in Glasgow to managing a diverse portfolio of businesses worldwide.

Ken dives into the tactics that have helped him scale rapidly, focusing on the power of leveraged buyouts (LBOs) and seller financing to minimize personal financial risk. He emphasizes the importance of tracking key metrics like Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and Lifetime Value (LTV) to ensure sustainable growth. 

Beyond financial strategies, Ken discusses the mindset shifts required for success—embracing discomfort, thinking long-term, and continuously learning. He also highlights the importance of strategic networking for finding new opportunities. Ken’s journey is a powerful reminder that wealth is built by seizing opportunities where others see obstacles and that the right mindset can turn even the most unconventional paths into success stories.

Here are the key takeaways from the conversation:

  1. Established businesses are safer bets. Proven cash flow and systems reduce the risk compared to starting from scratch.
  2. Leverage other people’s money (OPM). Using LBOs (leveraging buyouts) and seller financing allows for business acquisitions without tying up personal capital.
  3. Target retiring business owners. Baby boomers represent a goldmine of acquisition opportunities.
  4. Cash flow is king. Focus on cash flow over profit margins for sustainable growth and debt management.
  5. Efficiency and remote management. Building reliable teams and systems enables managing multiple businesses from afar.
  6. Mindset is everything. Getting comfortable with risk and embracing the unknown is essential for success.
  7. Entrepreneurship is a ‘lifestyle,’ not just a career choice. Success comes from discomfort and pushing limits.
  8. Buy businesses at 1x free cash flow, and sell at 2–3x EBITDA. This increases valuation before exiting.
  9. Start small, gain experience, and build networks. 

Listen to the full conversation here:


Connect with Ken:

 

Closing thought: “You don’t need to reinvent the wheel—buy an existing business and scale it.”

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