EOS or nah?? What are the right things to do when first acquiring?

September 07, 2025

by a searcher from Saginaw Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI, USA

I was listening to a podcast on an acquisition this week and the new owner immediately implemented a million new processes. My question for my fellow Searchfunders....when first setting up your business, what processes do you immediately implement, EOS or no EOS. Sit, wait and observe or make immediate changes? Curious minds want to know.

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Reply by an investor
from Illinois Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA, USA

I believe your priorities should be: • Take any and all measures to retain customers • Ditto for key employees…they are your greatest asset and some you cannot afford to walk • Learn the business from the ground up, establish KPIs and then.. • Embark on basic blocking and tackling: control costs, bid alternatives for materials and services, visit customers regularly, attract new customers, know your competition • Communicate regularly to your lender and investors….no one likes surprises • Review, understand financial reporting, ocntrols and above all (your) cash management • When you have extra time, evaluate your IT and plan for improvements if necessary • When you better understand the business, establish budgets and do an annual 3-year forecast with defensible, well-though out assumptions….know your CAPEX requirements • Understand your regulatory and legal requirements, especially if you’re in a robust regulatory environment, like California

Reply by a searcher
from University of New Hampshire in Phoenix, AZ, USA

Thanks for the mention, Luke. First thing is to make sure you have full control of bank accounts and understand the ins and outs of cash flow. In terms of business operating systems, I used EOS and Pinnacle when running my business and now am a Certified Pinnacle Business Guide and work with several post-acquisition searchers. I think there is benefit to starting early, but how early depends a bit on the team. I think it’s wise to spend a few months learning the business and building trust with the team before implementing an operating system. If done right, getting the team aligned, bought into the vision, and executing together will help immensely. In case you want to learn more, I’ve included a link below. Happy to chat and be a resource in any way! https://www.higherpeak.co/pinnacle-for-searchfunds-and-eta

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