Podcast Summary: The Money Mondays – "$2M to $2B in 36 Months?! Here's How Brandon Dawson Did It 💸 E121"

Release Date: May 12, 2025

Hosts:

• Dan Fleyshman (Host)
• Brandon Dawson (Guest)

Introduction

In this compelling episode of The Money Mondays, host Dan Fleyshman sits down with Brandon Dawson, a serial entrepreneur and business partner of Grant Cardone. Together, they delve deep into Brandon's impressive journey of scaling businesses, strategic investments, and his commitment to charity. This conversation offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone interested in the mechanics of building and exiting successful businesses.

Brandon Dawson’s Entrepreneurial Journey

Brandon Dawson opens the discussion by sharing his remarkable trajectory in the business world. From building a $35 million business with $2 million in EBITDA to integrating it in a way that adds $2 billion in value within 36 to 48 months, Brandon exemplifies strategic growth and savvy acquisitions.

[00:00] Brandon Dawson: "Literally. My opening presentation was, hi, I'm Brandon Dawson. I have a $35 million business doing $2 million of EBITDA. If you acquired me and integrated me into your business, I would add $2 billion worth of value within 36 to 48 months. And I want 10%."

Brandon highlights his partnership with Grant Cardone and the formation of Cardone Ventures, which has grown to a $120 million company, 10X Health. His collaboration with his wife, Natalie Dawson, has been pivotal in scaling multiple companies over the past six years.

[01:22] Brandon Dawson: "We have multiple companies. We're rolling out on our way to a billion and loving every minute of being part of the 10x family under the Grant Cardone brand."

Strategies for Scaling Businesses

The conversation delves into how Brandon scaled an existing healthcare business from $1.8 million to $120 million. Key strategies included:

• Reviving and Rebranding: Brandon revisited Gary Bracko’s allergy business, reinvigorating it under the 10X Health brand.

• Leveraging Personalities: Gary's strong personality and communication skills were amplified through Grant Cardone's platforms, significantly increasing brand visibility and market reach.

[04:51] Brandon Dawson: "We launched that business. We went from 1.8 to 25 million, 75 million, 120 million."

• Global Expansion: Expansion into 46 countries, including the UK and UAE, and acquiring businesses in precision nutrition and supplementation, positioning 10X Health as a global leader in longevity and human optimization.

[05:39] Brandon Dawson: "I want to have a global healthcare company that's centered on longevity, health, wellness and human optimization that can touch 8 billion people."

Exiting a Business: When and How

Brandon shares his unique approach to exiting businesses at exceptionally high multiples. Unlike the typical exits at 2x to 14x EBITDA, Brandon achieved a 77x EBITDA exit by:

• Creating a Platform Company: Developing a centralized brand with robust systems, technology, and leadership that attracts strategic buyers.

• Demonstrating Synergy: Proving to potential buyers how acquiring his business would generate substantial synergistic value.

[07:12] Brandon Dawson: "Most of the time people exit for 2 times EBITDA, 6 times EBITDA. Or maybe in the tech space they'll get 8 to 12x EBITDA and some sometimes 14x. How the heck did you get 77 times EBITDA?"

• Strategic Pitching: Presenting a compelling pitch that emphasizes long-term value creation, resulting in high-value bids from major companies.

[10:00] Brandon Dawson: "I literally my opening presentation was... I want 10%. And when I pitched eight companies, I had eight bidders. We reported 151. When it was done, I got 189 million."

Investment Philosophy: Real Estate and Private Equity

Brandon discusses his diverse investment portfolio, emphasizing the importance of diversification:

• Real Estate Investments: Through Cardone Capital, Brandon invests in multifamily real estate, complementing his active business investments with passive income streams.

[24:50] Brandon Dawson: "I own warehouses in Texas, Midland, Texas, for oil and gas. So I have a real estate portfolio that I want to have passive income."

• Private Equity Group: Launching Cardone Equity Group to focus on investing in businesses, aiming for high returns of 8-20% by leveraging strategic partnerships and operational expertise.

[25:57] Brandon Dawson: "I like to have a diversified portfolio. I'm happy with 5 or 6% coming in on things I don't have to touch."

Micro Investments and Syndicates

Brandon touches on micro-investing strategies, comparing his approach to Dan's Elevator Syndicate:

• High-Trust Partnerships: Investing alongside trusted business owners and using his private equity group to mitigate risks.

• Selective Investments: Focusing on businesses with proven track records and high growth potential, rather than spreading investments too thinly.

[31:11] Brandon Dawson: "Putting my money in our private equity group that we launched having our friend business owners... they love business. They want us to invest that money in businesses."

The Importance of Business Conferences and Networking

Dan and Brandon discuss the pivotal role of business conferences in fostering growth and partnerships:

• Strategic Networking: Attending events like the 10X Growth Conference to evaluate potential partnerships and learn from industry leaders.

[16:35] Brandon Dawson: "Anybody that could do this has to be able to do anything they want to do. And I want to be on that wagon."

• Intentional Learning: Emphasizing the need to attend conferences with clear objectives to maximize value and actionable insights.

[16:44] Brandon Dawson: "You have to have discussions about accounting, legal, taxes... we got to be able to talk about money because it's part of our real life."

Giving Back: Charity and Community Involvement

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on Brandon's philanthropic efforts:

• Foundations and Donations: Establishing the Dawson Foundation and supporting the Grant Cardone Foundation to aid children, law enforcement, and various community initiatives.

[38:57] Brandon Dawson: "We give 130,000 in toys away to kids in homes and displaced shelters so that they can enjoy the holidays as well."

• Active Participation: Engaging in hands-on charity work, such as preparing food for food banks and supporting law enforcement programs.

[41:29] Brandon Dawson: "The biggest joy I have is when a business owner's life transforms because we helped them... drive impact through human beings."

Wealth and Legacy: Planning for Future Generations

Brandon discusses his approach to wealth distribution and legacy planning:

• Balanced Inheritance: Ensuring his children have enough income to live comfortably without burdening them with massive inheritances.

[48:10] Brandon Dawson: "I'll leave enough that my kids will never have to worry about money if they maintain a reasonable lifestyle."

• Supporting Beliefs: Allocating a significant portion of his wealth to support his and his wife's philanthropic beliefs, particularly in empowering women and minority-driven businesses.

[48:10] Brandon Dawson: "I believe in my wife... she's helping me create the net worth. She has things that she loves supporting, and the things she loves are women driven businesses, minority driven businesses owned by females."

Conclusion

This episode of The Money Mondays offers a treasure trove of insights from Brandon Dawson’s expansive experience in scaling businesses, strategic investments, and impactful philanthropy. Listeners gain invaluable lessons on building high-value companies, making informed investment decisions, and the importance of giving back to the community. Brandon’s strategic mindset and commitment to excellence serve as an inspiring blueprint for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business owners alike.

Key Takeaways:

• Strategic Scaling: Focus on building platform companies with strong systems and leadership to attract high-value acquisitions.
• Investment Diversification: Balance active investments in businesses with passive income streams like real estate.
• Value-Driven Exits: Aim for high multiples by demonstrating synergistic value to strategic buyers.
• Philanthropy: Integrate charitable efforts into business practices to create lasting community impact.
• Legacy Planning: Provide for future generations without fostering dependency, ensuring wealth is used to support beliefs and causes.

For more insights and actionable strategies, be sure to listen to the full episode on TheMoneyMondays.com and follow Brandon Dawson’s journey across social media platforms.