Acquiring Minds Podcast Summary

Episode: Buying a $1.6m Business for the Inventory Value

Host: Will Smith
Guest: Danielle Nyes, Owner of Decoris Home Staging
Release Date: October 16, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Acquiring Minds follows Danielle Nyes' journey from growing up in a family-owned asphalt business to buying her own company—a luxury home staging business in the Seattle area called Decoris Home Staging. Danielle shares how she leveraged her small business background, overcame self-doubt, structured her acquisition largely at the value of the business’s inventory, and set Decoris on a rapid growth trajectory.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Danielle’s Background and Path to Acquisition

• Danielle grew up in a family-run asphalt paving business, learning entrepreneurship and grit from an early age. (03:38)

• Left the family business after realizing she’d hit her growth ceiling and desired greater autonomy. (04:38)

• Struggled with identity and direction post-exit, briefly took a W2 job before attending a business buying seminar, where she discovered acquisition entrepreneurship. (06:02)

• Felt drawn to buy a business rather than start one: recognized her management strengths versus technical skills. (07:57)

  “This was like the light bulb went off for me...I can do this.”
  — Danielle Nyes (09:32)

Working with a Coach

• Received “guardian angel” coaching and guidance from Kyle Boyden, who provided hands-on help during the search, deal analysis, and owner outreach. (14:19)
• Danielle handled deal sourcing herself, mainly through BizBuySell and broker relationships, rather than relying on direct outreach lists provided by coaches. (16:18)

Search Process & Buy Box

• Targeted businesses in the $1–2M price range, looking for $400–500K net profit and service-based industries (contractor, trades, etc.), steering clear of direct competition with her family’s business. (18:29)
• Evaluated and passed on several deals, notably resisting a “passion project” winery due to financial impracticality. (24:39)

Deep Dive: Family Asphalt Business

• Danielle outlined the intensity, labor issues, capital requirements, and profitability of the asphalt industry, highlighting both its opportunities and its challenges. (20:11)
• Developed comfort in high-pressure, problem-solving environments characteristic of small business. (22:57)

The Winning Acquisition: Decoris Home Staging

Business Model and Numbers

• Decoris Home Staging offers luxury home staging, serving builders and realtors in the high-end Seattle market. (28:31)

• Business was acquired at $1.6M annual revenue (2024), with roughly $400K net profit. 8 employees at purchase, now scaled to 12. Warehouse is approximately 14,000 sq. ft. (31:03)

• Danielle’s first year: tracking towards $2M revenue (a 25% increase), $480K net profit—a 20% increase. (32:00)

• The business was acquired for $780K, with $650K in tangible inventory assets, making the price “almost just for the inventory value.” (57:12)

  “It was almost like, just sell the inventory and get the business for free, [that’s] what it felt like.”
  — Will Smith (58:25)

Why the Deal Was Attractive

• The previous owner was fully remote (in Florida), demonstrating the business's operational independence and making Danielle’s transition easier. (35:02)
• Strong, turnkey team and established clientele with no active marketing required. (44:48)
• High client concentration (“one big whale” builder), but otherwise a diversified relationship base. (48:34)

Deal Structure

• SBA loan: ~10% down; down payment provided by Danielle’s mother via an inheritance loan (59:10)
• Additional $160K in working capital, total deal value roughly $880–$940K after including working capital. (58:41)
• No seller note required; seller ultimately did not have to carry any note after lender review. (62:04)

Acquisition Challenges

• Navigated a landlord reluctant to approve Danielle as a commercial tenant, eventually resolved by finding a more “acquisition-friendly” warehouse space. (39:44)
• Transition process included retooling payroll, utilities, systems, and quickly onboarding to keep operations smooth. (65:51)

Growth Strategy and Post-Acquisition Operations

Growth Initiatives

• Aggressive calendar booking: said yes to more contracts to optimize labor and warehouse capacity. (67:07)
• Investment in inventory and hiring: invested nearly all business profits after loan payments into replenishing and upgrading furniture, increasing service quality and capacity.
• Price increases and higher quality: raised prices in line with better-designed and furnished staging packages. (67:07)
• Digital Marketing: Recently relaunched website and began focused Google Ads targeting $5M+ builders. Social media and branding seen as future levers for growth. (76:15)
• Team development: Gave substantial raises and new responsibilities to key staff; delegated design and logistics for scalability. (71:49, 72:42)

Cash Flow Management

• Highly attentive to cash flow management with mom as bookkeeper. Paid themselves minimal salaries initially to prioritize reinvestment and reserves. (69:09)
• Built cash reserves of ~$225,000 within first year post-acquisition. (69:58)

Risks and Market Realities

• Cyclicality & client concentration: Staging business is somewhat pegged to real estate cycles and to a major “whale” customer, but luxury markets tend to be more resilient. (47:21, 48:34, 51:17)
• Seasonality: Fewer worries due to builder-oriented contracts that even out “slower” residential months. (49:52)
• Key-man risk: Main design manager is critical but not a single point of failure thanks to robust team structure. (72:42)

Looking Ahead

• Danielle envisions expanding to a larger warehouse, offering interior design services, and potentially developing a proprietary furniture line, following the lead of industry innovators like Vesta. (77:24)
• Maintaining focus on serving the luxury segment and growing the client base beyond current “whale” accounts.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Overcoming Self-Doubt:
  “I kind of live by, like Layla Hermozi says, a lot: ‘F your mood, follow the plan.’ ...I just dive head in and figure it out.” — Danielle (12:53, 78:57)
• Realization of Readiness:
  “None of this seems hard to me ...I already understood all of this based on being in the family business.” — Danielle (07:57)
• Deal Pricing:
  “It was like a home goods on steroids…” — Danielle, on seeing the warehouse for the first time (35:02) “It was almost like, just sell the inventory and get the business for free...” — Will Smith (58:25)
• Growth Mentality:
  “I thrive in [intensity]. I don’t know why, but there’s something about pressure that makes me act. And when there’s no pressure, I don’t act.” — Danielle (23:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Topic | Timestamp (MM:SS) | |------------------------------------------------|-----------------------| | Danielle’s background in family business | 03:38 | | The mindset shift & search for a business | 06:02 | | Discovery of business buying via seminar | 07:57 | | Working with a coach and sourcing deals | 14:19 | | Buy box and target industries | 18:29 | | Asphalt business realities | 20:11 | | Passing on a “passion project” winery | 24:39 | | Deep dive: Decoris Home Staging—acquisition | 28:31 - 31:03 | | Team and warehouse dynamics | 32:39 - 35:02 | | Buying almost “just for inventory” | 57:12 - 58:25 | | Deal structure: SBA loan and down payment | 58:41 - 61:43 | | Transition and culture-building | 65:51 - 72:19 | | Growth strategies, future plans | 67:07 - 77:24 | | Discussion of self-confidence and following the plan | 78:57 - 79:33 |

Tone & Language

Danielle is candid, humble, and determined, frequently referencing imposter syndrome and her strategies to push through fear (notably the “F Your Mood, Follow the Plan” mantra from Layla Hermozi). The episode is practical, supportive, and empowering for aspiring acquisition entrepreneurs, with Will Smith's hosting maintaining an encouraging and insight-seeking tone.

Resources

• Decoris Home Staging: decorishomestaging.com
• Acquiring Minds Newsletter: acquiringminds.co
• YouTube Channel: Acquiring Minds

In Summary

Danielle Nyes’ acquisition of Decoris Home Staging is a masterclass in identifying undervalued businesses, leveraging transferable entrepreneurial skills, and making bold, data-driven decisions—even while wrestling with imposter syndrome. Her approach—buying a business at asset value, investing in people and inventory, and cultivating growth—offers a replicable and inspiring blueprint for aspiring small business buyers.