From College to Four International Offices with Thomas Smale

Jeff interviews Thomas Smale of FE International, a M&A firm (M&A stands for Mergers and Acquisitions). Thomas took a college side hustle and turned it into an international business.

Thomas and Jeff discuss:

1. Graduated college in 2010. Tried multiple different strategies. Learned how to buy websites in 2008. When he graduated in 2010 he wrote a book about how to buy websites.
2. He was able to make about $5000 per month selling his books.
3. People who read his book reached out to him for help selling their businesses.
4. Today he owns an M&A firm that helps tech and e-commerce companies sell their businesses.
5. He has 130 people that work for him with four offices internationally.
6. The start of their process is to see if the company is a good fit for their business. The first step in the process is a free business valuation. They have a set process that they have developed over the time.
7. They consider themselves very direct.
8. One of the most important things is to get your financials correct before going to market.
9. Establish what you want to achieve.
10. In the future they are developing a process for working with people that want to buy businesses.

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “Start another service business. I would present it as a business instead of a freelancer.”
2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Early on it was a lack of focus. The business has grown immensely since we focused.”
3. What is a book that you would recommend? “Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell”
4. What is a tool that you use everyday that you would recommend? “Outlook calendar. If I have my diary open a week in advance, I can block out time and I am much more disciplined.”
5. What is the best way to contact you? “www.FEInternational.com,  I am very active on Twitter & LinkedIn so send me a message there.”

Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively working in his community and supporting the growth of small businesses. He is a board member of the Incubator.Edu program at Vista Ridge High School and is on the board of directors of the Leander Educational Excellence Foundation

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