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“I did this in 6 months and 15 days”

Watch how Lindsay went from tech employee to business owner

Ben Kelly Ben KellyJanuary 23, 2026 · 2 min read
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“This came faster than I thought. I did this in six months and 15 days since I joined the group, exactly.”

That’s what Lindsay told me after closing on a $1M commercial carpet cleaning business while keeping her full-time tech job.

Earlier this week, I shared Lindsay’s full deal breakdown.

Today, I’m sharing the complete video interview where she walks through her entire journey from considering Airbnb investments to owning a cash-flowing business.

(Lindsay got support from the Acquisition Ace community throughout her entire process, from learning how to evaluate deals to structuring her financing. If you’d like similar guidance on acquiring your first business, book a call with our team here.)


3 Key Takeaways From Our Conversation:

1. You don’t need a business background

Lindsay has a Bachelor of Arts and never took a single business class.

Her customer success skills were enough to close a million-dollar deal!

2. Shop around for lenders

Lindsay talked to three banks and negotiated her rate down from 11.25% to 8.5%, saving tens of thousands in interest payments.

3. Build rapport with sellers

Lindsay won against multiple competing offers by selling herself as the best fit and building strong credibility with the seller throughout the process.


This week's action item:

Contact three different SBA lenders this week.

Ask about their rates, terms, and requirements, and use their competing offers to negotiate the best deal.

For the full breakdown on Lindsay’s deal…

Watch the full interview here.

Onward,

— Ben Kelly

P.S. Lindsay closed this deal without an MBA, without industry experience, and while working full-time…

And credits the Acquisition Ace community for giving her the accountability and support she needed to get it done.

If you want that same support for your first acquisition…

👉 Book a call with our team here to see how Acquisition Ace could help you close your first deal.


Ben Kelly, founder of Acquisition Ace
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