Adam Phillips

Buying a business is a major milestone — but the real work begins the day after closing, and the first months will set the tone for everything that follows. The goal is to build trust and momentum while keeping all the indicators pointed in the right direction. Here are a few tips on how to succeed early: 1. Listen First. Remember that you just joined a team that has already been in-place. Spend your first weeks listening, learning, and NOT changing. Ask questions, sit in on customer calls,...

Small businesses employ nearly half of Americans, generate a comparable share of GDP, and anchor local economies. Against that backdrop, entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) is more than a career path; it is an engine of stability, growth, and renewal for communities and the country. When a capable new owner takes the reins of a well-run business, jobs are preserved that might otherwise vanish. Communities retain employers who sponsor youth teams, hire locally, and buy from nearby...