One thing that draws a lot of entrepreneurs to search is the low multiples, the compelling economics. But while enticing, those low prices are low for a reason, as searchers quickly learn. It's very hard to find a small business you'd actually want to own. Today's guest had this realization about a month into his search, but he didn't stop at search; he and his partner kept following their noses, kept networking, having conversations, kept their minds open. And where they arrived was: Doing a franchise seemed like a better use of their time & resources than doing self-funded search. Jacob Lee and his partner ultimately signed up to build out 10 locations of the young dog-grooming franchise Scenthound over 4 years. So far, so good: their first location, opened in February, is exceeding all expectations. Jacob Lee (left) and Scenthound team in BirminghamSo today's interview is about the journey of an entrepreneur and his partner who were very drawn to doing a self-funded search, but later decided that there was a more optimal path to get to $1m in EBITDA over the next few years. And even if you disagree or don't like the idea of a franchise, this conversation will help you stress test your own approach to search. I so love learning about the many different ways entrepreneurs build fulfilling and financially rewarding lives for themselves. Today's guest Jacob Lee is the latest example:

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