In this raw and eye-opening episode, Jaryd Krause chats with Matthew Tse—a former Big Tech software engineer who ditched the corporate grind to buy his way into freedom through online business. Today, he runs ImprovMX.com, a SaaS business he acquired after sifting through countless deals, failed startup attempts, and plenty of trial and error.

Matthew doesn’t sugarcoat it. He shares the highs, the mistakes, and the exact process that helped him land the right acquisition to replace his income and build a life on his own terms.

In this no-BS conversation, you’ll discover:

✔️ How many businesses do you really need to analyze before finding “the one”
✔️ The critical mindset shifts that help you push through failed deals and land a winner
✔️ Why chasing small, cheap businesses can actually cost you more in the long run
✔️ The price range Matthew now recommends for friends looking to buy online
✔️ His top growth levers for scaling SaaS—starting with retention before expansion

If you’ve ever wondered how long it actually takes to buy an online business—or what it feels like to transition from employee to owner—this episode pulls back the curtain on the entire journey.

🎧 Tune in now and learn what it really takes to replace your income with a SaaS acquisition.

Episode Highlights

09:21 – Learning from others’ success can inspire acquiring an existing business instead of starting from scratch.

14:16 – Defining an ideal business model and price range narrows the search effectively.

17:11 – Focusing on businesses aligned with personal strengths leads to better outcomes than chasing every opportunity.

20:35 – Studying case studies and industry insights accelerates learning and reduces mistakes.

26:37 – Audience trust and built-in channels are more valuable than the product itself.

43:20 – Avoiding small deals and aligning acquisitions with lifestyle and skills improves success.

47:38 – Buying the right SaaS can replace traditional income while leveraging personal strengths effectively.

Key Takeaways

➥ Acquisitions can accelerate entrepreneurship—buying an existing business allows leveraging capital and skills to bypass the hardest startup challenges.

➥ Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is essential to narrowing search criteria and finding the right business model and price range.

➥ True value lies in the audience, reputation, and established distribution channels—not just the product or code.

➥ Preparation and research, including learning from others’ experiences and industry content, reduce risk and improve outcomes.

➥ Mindset, persistence, and patience are critical when evaluating hundreds of businesses to find the right fit.

➥ Post-acquisition growth is most effective when leveraging existing channels, retention strategies, and organic traffic.

➥ Being selective and strategic—rather than opportunistic—ensures acquisitions provide both ROI and lifestyle freedom.

About Matthew Tse

Matthew Tse was a career software engineer in big tech & quant finance. He decided he wanted a more free & fulfilling life, and eventually stumbled his way into acquiring improvmx.com, which he's now running and growing.

Connect with Matthew Tse

➥https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-t-15565736/

➥matthewtse.com

➥https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/ep-212-how-to-start-buying-flipping-small-saas-businesses-with-andrew-pierno/

Resource Links

➥ Connect with Jaryd here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarydkrause

➥ Buying Online Businesses Website - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com

➥ Sell your business to us here - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/sell-your-business/

➥ Download the Due Diligence Framework - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/freeresources/

➥ Google Ads Service - https://buyingonlinebusinesses.com/ads-services/

➥ GoDaddy (Website Hosting) - https://bit.ly/3YiRkWV

➥ Rank Math (WordPress SEO Plugin) - https://bit.ly/3Acyjf4

➥ Active Campaign (Email Software Provider) - https://bit.ly/3DCwYQH

🔥Buy & Sell Online Businesses Here (Top Website Brokers We Use) 🔥

➥ Empire Flippers - https://bit.ly/3RtyMkE

➥ Flippa - https://bit.ly/3wGa8r5

➥ Motion Invest - https://bit.ly/3YmJAmO

➥ Investors Club - https://bit.ly/3ZpgioR

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