Bad Apple: lessons from a business acquisition gone wrong - And what you can do right
What happens when the business you just acquired suddenly loses 60% of its revenue overnight? When cultural issues you never spotted during due diligence threaten to sink your investment? And that $3M bank loan you personally guaranteed? It's still there, waiting to be paid.
Follow my journey from successful engineer and operations expert to a first-time business acquirer facing catastrophic failure. I made every mistake in the acquisition playbook—overpaying based on outdated financials, missing red flags in company culture, and underestimating the capital needed to turn things around.
This isn't just a survival story. It's a blueprint for avoiding the devastating pitfalls that trap most new business owners. Learn the exact due diligence steps I should have taken, the financing structures that would have protected my personal assets, and the leadership approaches that eventually saved the business when everything seemed lost.
Don't risk your financial future on an acquisition mistake that could have been prevented.
Arriving ~2025
$14.99 Paperback.
Autographed.
you're going to want to sit down and read this
Why This Book Matters
REAL ACQUISITION HORROR STORIES (NOT THEORY)
While other acquisition books give you sanitized theory, this memoir takes you into the trenches with millions in personally guaranteed debt at stake. You'll feel the gut-wrenching reality of what happens when due diligence misses critical red flags.
HOW TO STRUCTURE DEALS THAT PROTECT YOU
Learn the financing structures I should have used to shield my personal assets, the contingencies that could have saved me, and how I eventually restructured to survive when everything seemed lost.
THE DUE DILIGENCE CHECKLIST I WISH I'D HAD
Discover the specific warning signs I missed, the questions I failed to ask, and the exact documents I should have scrutinized more carefully. This practical guidance could save you from making a multi-million dollar mistake.
TURNING AROUND A FAILING ACQUISITION
From inheriting a toxic culture to rebuilding customer trust and stabilizing cash flow during crisis—this book provides a roadmap for recovery when your acquisition doesn't go as planned. The company survived, and yours can too.
Pre-Order Bonus:
Deal Command online Course
What You'll Get
✓ Instant access to 300+ slides across 24 modules
✓ Deal evaluation frameworks to spot opportunities and red flags
✓ Proven templates that save thousands in professional fees
Course Structure
✓ Identity Blueprint: Find your perfect business match
✓ Deal Machine: Master acquisition evaluation
✓ CEO Toolkit: Transform your business post-acquisition
It’s worth far more than the price you’re paying, but I’m passionate about giving you the resources you need—completely free. Read more https://dealcommand.com/.
calling all rebels
Dear Rebel,
I’m excited to announce the release of my new book, Bad Apple. It’s a raw and honest business memoir about my journey from corporate leadership to facing the harsh realities of acquiring and turning around a struggling business.
When 60% of revenue vanished overnight and cultural challenges threatened everything, I had to dig deep to rebuild and redefine success. This book shares the lessons, setbacks, and strategies that shaped that journey.
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a business owner, or curious about the realities of business acquisition and exit, I hope Bad Apple resonates with you.
The book will be available in 2025.
Thank you for your support.
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
stay rebellious,
kinza
join the thousands of rebels reading our nesletter, using deal command, or AWAITING the book
Testimonials
"I’ve watched firsthand the passion and hard work that went into this book, and I couldn’t be prouder. It’s packed with the wisdom and heart needed to help others succeed in business turnarounds."
"Kinza is a thinker. Given the depth of her experiences and the diverse perspective she’s cultivated throughout her career, her book will be an incredible read. I’m excited to dive in and learn from her insights—it’s sure to be phenomenal!"
"Kinza put immense effort into creating this gripping and insightful cautionary tale about perseverance, leadership, and the challenges of business ownership."
"She doesn’t sugar coat and make the business ownership look rosy and all fine and dandy. I am so happy that in this book and through her courses she is sharing real life business acquisition nuances and insights that others can learn from and decide on their own if entrepreneurship is for them or not. I honor Kinza's honesty in this book."
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