Free ETA Circle Houston meetup (business buyer-only). Mon August 24. Register at redacted Every searcher models the upside. ^redacted‌ bought two landscaping businesses with SBA loans and ended up in bankruptcy court. He's telling the whole story: what broke, what it cost, and what he'd do differently with the same deal in front of him again. Key Topics: • When a deal goes wrong. Litigation, SBA debt, business bankruptcy, and what a personal guarantee actually means when the note is called. • Diligence past the P&L. Talking to key employees, finding undisclosed compensation obligations, and pressure-testing work-in-progress. • Structure sets your floor. Personal guarantees, cross-collateralization, thin escrow, and ambiguous purchase terms that turned one bad acquisition into a much bigger problem. • Why deal #2 came too fast. The scarcity mindset doesn't end at close. Letting the first business stabilize may be worth more than the immediate roll-up. • Change management after close. New tech, new leadership, new process, all at once. Why retaining key employees beats professionalizing on day one. Definitely listen to his interview with ^redacted‌ on Acquiring Minds here: redacted Key Topics: • The importance of maintaining urgency during the search process • The grit required to operate a business and why ownership is not passive • What to expect during the business sale process • What he would do differently if he were starting again on Day 1 5pm start. Monday September 21, 2026. Register: redacted. Event location to be emailed. Please contact redacted if you do not receive the location. *** Please no service providers at this event. This event is only for business buyers. Please register so we can have an accurate food count. Everyone who has not attended before must register in advance. Walk-ups not allowed. *** Special thanks to our event sponsor: ^redacted‌ leads First Internet Bank’s Small Business Administration team. They have quite a success story in itself: since 2018, they have grown to rank among the top SBA lenders nationally in both loan volume and amount financed. As a Preferred Lender, they can deliver a faster, more flexible and robust lending experience for their small business clients. About the Founder: ^redacted‌ is business buyer at Gulf Bright Partners who acquired a company in 2024 which he continues to operate. He founded ETA Circle (redacted in 2023 to support the acquisition entrepreneur community.