What It Really Takes to Buy (and Run) a Small Business
Tue Sep 23 2025
What happens when you buy a business instead of starting one from scratch? In this episode of Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz talks with Connor Pera, owner of The Print Authority, about his leap into acquisition entrepreneurship and what it really takes to grow a business after the deal is done.
Connor opens up about the challenges of managing cash flow, navigating vendor relationships, and balancing personal guarantees with the responsibility of leading a team. He also shares his proudest moments as a business owner, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and how he’s positioning The Print Authority for future growth.
🔥 What You’ll Learn: ✅ Why Connor chose acquisition over starting a business from scratch
✅ The hardest (and most rewarding) parts of managing cash flow
✅ How simplifying vendor relationships creates real value for customers
✅ The importance of hiring and building a strong, empowered team
✅ Why entrepreneurship is a constant balance of trade-offs and rewards
🔗 Connect with Connor Pera: LinkedIn (Connor): https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-pera/
Substack: https://connorpera.substack.com/
Company: https://theprintauthority.com
📞 Need capital or support growing your distribution business?
👉 Book a strategy call with Irv Cruz:
https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt
🎧 Listen to the Small Business Spotlight Podcast
🌐 Website: https://thesmallbusinessspotlight.libsyn.com
📬 Newsletter: https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Credit_Banc
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What happens when you buy a business instead of starting one from scratch? In this episode of Small Business Spotlight, host Irv Cruz talks with Connor Pera, owner of The Print Authority, about his leap into acquisition entrepreneurship and what it really takes to grow a business after the deal is done. Connor opens up about the challenges of managing cash flow, navigating vendor relationships, and balancing personal guarantees with the responsibility of leading a team. He also shares his proudest moments as a business owner, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and how he’s positioning The Print Authority for future growth. 🔥 What You’ll Learn: ✅ Why Connor chose acquisition over starting a business from scratch ✅ The hardest (and most rewarding) parts of managing cash flow ✅ How simplifying vendor relationships creates real value for customers ✅ The importance of hiring and building a strong, empowered team ✅ Why entrepreneurship is a constant balance of trade-offs and rewards 🔗 Connect with Connor Pera: LinkedIn (Connor): https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-pera/ Substack: https://connorpera.substack.com/ Company: https://theprintauthority.com 📞 Need capital or support growing your distribution business? 👉 Book a strategy call with Irv Cruz: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/contact-irv-cruze-yt 🎧 Listen to the Small Business Spotlight Podcast 🌐 Website: https://thesmallbusinessspotlight.libsyn.com 📬 Newsletter: https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Credit_Banc