Show Notes

Real estate will always be the foundation—but what if you could scale your wealth faster by buying existing businesses?

In this episode, I sit down with Jay Bourgana, a turnaround expert and operator who’s done $350M in real estate and now focuses on acquiring profitable small businesses. We unpack how syndicators and experienced operators can apply what they already know—team-building, systems, scale—to the world of business acquisitions. This isn’t about buying a laundromat. It’s about building a portfolio of cash-flowing companies the same way we build multifamily portfolios.

If you're curious about what's next after apartments—or how to supercharge your equity returns—this episode is a must-listen.

Key Takeaways

 

Why Operators Are Pivoting into Business Acquisition

  • You can buy small businesses for 2–4X EBITDA, and sell them later for 8–10X+.

  • Strong operators are using syndication models to scale businesses—just like multifamily.

  • Ideal fit for folks with an ops background or those already running real estate companies.

How Business Buying Compares to Real Estate Investing

  • Buying at a 26%+ cap rate compared to 5–6% in multifamily.

  • Same ability to use leverage—but more flexibility with seller financing and SBA loans.

  • Big difference? Real businesses need talent acquisition more than property managers.

What to Look for in a Business Acquisition

  • $3–10M in revenue with $1–2M EBITDA is the sweet spot.

  • Look for companies with good brands, recurring revenue, and retiring owners.

  • Red flags include messy books, no second-in-command, or an owner doing everything.

How to Avoid Getting Trapped in the Business

  • Step in as operator for 3–6 months—then hire or promote the GM.

  • Build systems for recruiting, customer retention, and financial controls.

  • Success depends on culture + people, just like in multifamily.

Why This Is Still a Team Sport

  • Use private equity-style rollups to scale—buy a platform company, then bolt on others.

  • Build teams in the holding company or lean on operators in the acquired businesses.

  • You can be remote if the systems and team are strong—but local helps early on.

 

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Resources

Free Mini Course How to Earn Truly Passive Income Through Real Estate

Join the Nighthawk Equity Investor Club

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