Bad Apple: lessons from a business acquisition gone wrong
What Really Happens After the Deal Closes
Buyers: What do you do when the business you just acquired loses 60% of its revenue overnight? When culture issues you missed during diligence threaten the operation? That $3M loan you personally guaranteed doesn’t disappear. It still needs to be paid.
Sellers: What happens to your reputation when the buyer walks into a business that wasn’t actually ready to run without you? The fallout affects more than the new owner. It reflects back on you.
I’ve lived this firsthand.
I had the resume.
Engineer. Ops leader. PE consultant. Broker. Acquirer.
None of it prepared me for what I walked into.
I overpaid using outdated financials. I missed obvious signs of dysfunction. I underestimated the cash it would take to fix what was broken. And I came close to losing it all.
This story isn’t just about survival. It’s a playbook for doing it right.
You’ll learn:
- The diligence steps I skipped that cost me
- Financing structures that could have protected me
- The leadership shifts that turned the business around when it was on the edge
If you’re buying, this will change how you evaluate and structure your next deal. If you’re selling, it will change how you prepare your company to stand on its own.
Don’t gamble your future on what you think you see.
Learn from what I didn’t.
Arriving ~2025
$14.99 Paperback.
Autographed.
YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO SIT DOWN AND READ THIS
Why This Book Matters
What Happens When It All Goes Wrong
This isn’t theory. It’s a first-hand account of what happens when the business you buy (or try to sell) unravels. From red flags missed to financial wreckage, this is the reality behind most failed deals.
Deal Structures That Protect You Both
Discover how to structure deals that defend your downside, whether you're buying or selling. Asset protection, contingency planning, and real-world financing tactics included.
The Due Diligence Playbook You Actually Need
Skip the fluff. Learn the questions that expose risk, the documents that matter, and the signs sellers don’t always see (and buyers usually regret).
When the Business Breaks
What to do when the wheels fall off. Learn how to lead through crisis, rebuild broken trust, and recover fast when things go sideways. Whether you’re inheriting the problem or trying to offload it, this is your roadmap.
Pre-Order Bonus:
online resource library
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
calling all rebels
Dear Rebel,
I’m excited to share my upcoming book, Bad Apple. It's a raw business memoir about the deal that nearly broke me.
After I bought the company, 60 percent of revenue disappeared almost overnight. Culture collapsed. Cash flow dried up. And the $3 million loan I personally guaranteed was still waiting to be paid.
This book is not theory. It's the reality of what happens when a deal goes sideways and what it takes to recover. Bad Apple gives you a front-row seat to every mistake, every turnaround move, and every lesson I had to learn the hard way.
If you’re a founder thinking about selling or a buyer considering your first deal, this is the inside look you won’t get anywhere else.
Coming in 2025.
Thanks for being part of this. I can’t wait to hear what you think.
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."
PRE-ORDER BAD APPLE NOW
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