Beware the $1M "Bargain": You Aren't Buying a Business, You're Buying a Job

Most searchers think a $1M revenue company is the perfect "starter" acquisition. They’re wrong. Based on 17 years in operations and $150M+ in value creation, I’ve seen the reality: at $1M, you aren't an owner. You are the first of every department. Here is how the operator’s journey actually scales: The $1M Trap: The Heavy Lifter You are hiring the "first" of everything. You wear every hat. You manage, you decide, you execute. Most entrepreneurs burn out here because they are the bottleneck. Have a 10X plan before you sign. If you don't use AI and automation to delegate early, you’ve just bought yourself a 100-hour work week. The $10M Ceiling: The Leadership Test Cash flow finally allows for key roles, but the "founder's magic" starts to fail. What got you to $10M will not get you to $30M. This is where most owners stall. Stop "doing" and start "architecting." Succession planning and Work Instructions are now your primary products. The $30M+ Milestone: The Executive Engine You can finally afford C-suite talent full time who have walked the path. Growth becomes more organic, but your role shifts entirely to strategy and culture. Clarity of intent is your highest ROI. When you are in the weeds, emotions cloud your logic. No matter how smart you are, you need a sounding board, advisors, peers, or a board to help you see the sunlight.