WILLW: Smarter Due Diligence & Stronger Talent Pipelines

Today's issue of What I Learned Last Week dives into two powerful levers for ETA: how to run lean, effective due diligence—and how to future-proof your workforce by building high school talent pipelines. Here are the key insights: - Low-Cost, High-Impact Due Diligence: First-time buyer Kin Meng Sio shares his tactical playbook—using platforms like DueDilio for vetted vendors, keeping sellers engaged with shared trackers, and opting for flat-fee or focused diligence services tailored for SBA deals. - Hiring at the Source: Vocational high schools are becoming prime recruiting grounds for trade businesses. Partnering early means access to motivated, debt-free workers—many landing $70k jobs straight out of school. - Avoiding Seller Cold Feet: A DueDilio trend worth watching—more deals are collapsing due to sellers backing out. Rapport, momentum, and early commitment checks are key to avoiding wasted time. Full newsletter here: https://thebusinessinquirer.substack.com/p/what-i-learned-last-week###-###-#### Questions for the community: - How have you structured your diligence process to control costs without sacrificing quality? - Has anyone here had success hiring directly from high school vocational programs? Looking forward to hearing what’s worked for others in the community.