Jared W. Johnson

Jared W. Johnson Jared Johnson is the top-producing SBA Business Development Officer in the country.

With over $825 million in funded loans, he is recognized for his expertise in business acquisition financing.

09/03/2026

A seller says there are no liens on the business. Ten days before closing, the title company discovers roughly $250,000 in unpaid IRS payroll taxes.

Dennis Hayes shared this story from a real transaction, and it’s a pretty good example of why buyers have to verify what they’re being told during due diligence.

You can ask all the right questions, but that doesn’t mean every answer should be taken at face value. Financial issues, liens and other liabilities have a way of surfacing before a deal closes, and finding them late can completely change the transaction.

Hear more on the Before You Buy or Sell a Business Podcast.

08/31/2026

Good businesses aren’t sitting on the market waiting for buyers.

Dennis Hayes is seeing buyers call his office asking what’s coming next because some of the best listings are attracting interest almost immediately. In some cases, an LOI can come together over a weekend, before the buyer has even gotten into due diligence.

Dennis and I talked about what this kind of competition looks like from the broker’s side and what buyers should understand when a strong opportunity hits the market.

Listen to our full conversation on the Before You Buy or Sell a Business Podcast.

08/28/2026

What does a well-qualified buyer actually look like?

Layne Kasper explains why there's more to that question than credit score and cash on hand. The bank will dig into the financial qualifications, but sellers and their advisors also want to understand who's behind the buyer and whether they have the support and experience to get the deal done.

Hear the full conversation with Layne and Jared on the Before You Buy or Sell a Business Podcast.

08/24/2026

Buying a business is a two-way interview.

Layne Kasper explains why buyers need to be prepared to show a seller more than their financial qualifications. Your experience, your ideas for growing the company, and the confidence a seller has in you can all influence the negotiation.

Learn more on the Before You Buy or Sell a Business Podcast!

08/21/2026

The number of buyers looking for good businesses right now continues to stand out, and Layne Kasper shared a great example of just how competitive the market has become.

On several recent transactions, Layne’s team has sent a business profile out on a Friday afternoon and had 15 people sign confidentiality agreements and start reviewing the opportunity by Monday at lunchtime.

That’s a good position for a seller to be in, but it also gives buyers some perspective on the competition they may be facing when a strong business becomes available. Finding the opportunity is only part of the process. You also need to be prepared to evaluate it and make decisions knowing you’re probably not the only interested buyer.

Layne and Jared talk more about what buyers and sellers are seeing in today’s market on the Before You Buy or Sell a Business Podcast.

Listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.

Thank you to everyone who came out to Acquire Fort Worth last night! It’s been great to see so many of the same faces co...
08/20/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to Acquire Fort Worth last night! It’s been great to see so many of the same faces coming back each month, while continuing to welcome new people into the room.

What we’re building here in Fort Worth is becoming a strong community of searchers and those who are actively involved in buying and operating businesses. I really appreciate everyone who continues to show up, contribute to the conversation and help make these events valuable.

We’ll be back on September 30 for our next Acquire Fort Worth. If you’ve been joining us each month, I hope to see you again, and if you haven’t made it out yet, we’d love to have you!

Registration for September 30 is now open.

08/10/2026

For a founder who has spent decades building a company, separating the emotional value of the business from its market value isn't always easy.

Guy Bartlett shared an example of a business he tried to acquire where the founder had been running the company for decades and ultimately wasn't ready to let go. There was a reasonable deal available, but the sale never happened and the business eventually became insolvent.

It's an important reminder for owners to start thinking about succession and their eventual exit well before they're ready to sell. Having those conversations early gives you more options and a better chance of preserving what you've spent years building.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation with Guy Bartlett on the Before You Buy or Sell a Business Podcast.

08/07/2026

One of my favorite takeaways from this conversation with Guy Bartlett was his perspective on red flags.

Don't ignore them, but don't panic either.

Many issues can be worked through when both sides are honest and committed to getting the deal done. What gets buyers into trouble is assuming a problem will disappear after closing.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation on the Before You Buy or Sell a Business Podcast.

08/06/2026

One of the concepts Guy Bartlett shared on the podcast that has stayed with me is what he calls "deal fever."

It's easy to understand how it happens. You spend weeks or months pursuing one business, you've invested time in diligence, built a relationship with the seller, and naturally want the deal to come together. That's when it becomes tempting to overlook issues or convince yourself that concerns aren't as significant as they really are.

Guy's advice was simple: build a stronger pipeline.

When you're evaluating multiple opportunities, you're in a much better position to stay objective. You're able to ask tougher questions, walk away when something doesn't feel right, and make decisions based on the facts instead of the emotion of finally getting a deal across the finish line.

Not every business is meant to be acquired, and not every deal will make it to closing. Sometimes the best move you can make is passing on an opportunity so you're available when the right one comes along.

If you're thinking about buying or selling a business, I think you'll get a lot out of my conversation with Guy Bartlett on the Before You Buy or Sell a Business Podcast.

08/03/2026

I've always had a lot of respect for veteran business owners.

Over the years, I've noticed that many of the qualities developed through military service translate remarkably well to entrepreneurship. Business ownership requires resilience, the ability to make decisions under pressure, and the discipline to keep moving forward even when the outcome isn't certain.

Every entrepreneur experiences stress. It doesn't matter whether you're buying your first business or leading a company that's been operating successfully for years. There's always another challenge to solve and another decision to make.

In this clip, I share why I believe that ability to stay focused through uncertainty is one of the biggest advantages veterans bring to business ownership.

I'd be interested to hear from other veteran entrepreneurs. What skills from your military experience have had the biggest impact on the way you lead your business?

Address

Fort Worth, TX
76008, 76028, 76036, 76101-76124, 76126-76127, 76130-76137, 76140, 76147-76148,

Telephone

+19095340460

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Jared W. Johnson posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Jared W. Johnson:

Shortcuts

Share

Category