Walker Deibel

Walker Deibel is an entrepreneur, investor, and author known for pioneering the concept of acquisition entrepreneurship. He has founded or acquired seven companies and is best recognized for writing the bestselling book "Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game." As a former business broker and certified M&A advisor, Deibel developed expertise in helping entrepreneurs acquire existing businesses rather than starting from scratch. His work focuses on teaching strategies for identifying, purchasing, and scaling established small to medium-sized companies. Through his online course platform Acquisition Lab, Deibel provides education and resources for aspiring acquisition entrepreneurs. He also serves as an advisor to multiple companies and investment firms, drawing from his experience of both successful acquisitions and failures in business ownership. Deibel's perspectives on entrepreneurship through acquisition have been featured in various media outlets including Forbes, Inc Magazine, and Entrepreneur.com. He holds an MBA from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis and regularly speaks at business schools and entrepreneurship events.

Readers appreciate Deibel's practical approach to acquisition entrepreneurship in "Buy Then Build." Business owners and entrepreneurs note his clear explanations of the search fund model and buying existing businesses. Readers highlight: - Step-by-step frameworks for evaluating companies - Real examples from his experience - Focus on risk mitigation - Concrete alternatives to startups Common criticisms: - Content could be condensed into fewer pages - Some concepts get repetitive - Limited coverage of post-acquisition integration - Needs more detail on financing strategies Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (400+ ratings) One reader on Goodreads noted: "Finally, a book that shows how to buy a business without being a millionaire." An Amazon reviewer pointed out: "Would have benefited from more case studies of deals that failed and why."

Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game (2018) A comprehensive guide explaining how to purchase and grow existing businesses as an alternative to starting new ventures, covering deal sourcing, valuation, due diligence, and post-acquisition growth strategies.

John Warrillow writes about building valuable companies and preparing them for sale, providing practical frameworks for increasing business value. His book "Built to Sell" follows similar themes to Deibel's work on business acquisition and operations.

Gino Wickman focuses on systems and tools for running established businesses through his Entrepreneurial Operating System. His work complements Deibel's acquisition approach by providing frameworks for managing and scaling existing companies.

William J. Stolze shares insights on buying and operating small companies based on his experience acquiring multiple businesses. His book "Start Up: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Launching and Managing a New Business" addresses both acquisition and operational aspects of entrepreneurship.

Richard Koch examines business acquisition and investment strategies through the lens of the 80/20 principle. His work on selecting and improving businesses aligns with Deibel's philosophy of buying existing operations rather than starting from zero.

David Braun provides detailed guidance on mergers and acquisitions for entrepreneurs and business owners. His expertise in deal structuring and post-acquisition integration connects directly to Deibel's teachings on business acquisition.