Experience hiring an operator?

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September 19, 2023

by a searcher from Liberty University in Austin, TX, USA

I'm curious if anyone has experience hiring an operator to install in a business from the beginning. This feels risky to me, but I suppose it's done fairly regularly given the growth of independent sponsors. Wondering what the community's experience has been here.

Some context: My plan has been to find a local Austin business because we're rooted here and can't up and move (wife works, we have a kid, and grandparents live down the street). A very interesting business near my hometown on the east coast just came across my desk and I'm considering making an offer. The business can support an additional ~$100-200k in payroll if there are no major setbacks.

I hired a fantastic CEO to run the business I founded and that's going well, but the idea of hiring someone to take over a business I haven't spent the past few years running feels like a totally different proposition. Any guidance, warnings, Etc from the group?

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commentor profile
Reply by a searcher
from The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX, USA
Hi Taft, your post caught my eye. I hope you find someone near your hometown. I am currently interested in a fractional operating role in the Austin SMB space (also invest alongside). Feel free to ping me at redacted if you have a requirement for an Austin based opportunity. Looking to cut my teeth in this space.
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Reply by a professional
from Northwestern University in Breckenridge, CO 80424, USA
Hi ^redacted‌, happy to chat with you about this. I have stepped into 3 different PE backed portcos, including one on Day 1 of acquisition as CEO. redacted
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