For decades, countless Americans have quietly operationalized their entrepreneurial ambitions by purchasing established, profitable small businesses to control their destinies and create millions of dollars in personal wealth. The pride of ownership and the personal and professional fulfillment of owning a successful business are undeniable, and the lure of charting one's course has tremendous appeal. But, making the decision - even entertaining the idea - of buying a business can quickly turn into an overwhelming activity. Success is even more elusive for the acquisition entrepreneur who fails to use an appropriate acquisition process. In his new book, Small Fortunes, The Acquisition Entrepreneur's Guide to Buying a Profitable Small Business, long-time acquisition entrepreneur Dr. Mark Hagar shares with readers lessons learned from more than two decades of buying and operating small businesses and offers a structured, common-sense approach to valuing and acquiring a profitable small business.

Dr. Mark Hagar has acquired and operated more than twenty individual small businesses since his first acquisition in 1997. His diverse portfolio has included manufacturing and distribution firms engaged in commercial printing, direct mail marketing, education supplies, military, aerospace, and orthopedics industries. Hagar received his Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) from the School of Management at Cranfield University, where he conducted research related to small business ownership and the psychology of business owners in situations of financial distress. This research reflects his private consulting experience with more than 50 engagements with financially distressed businesses and not-for-profits, identifying the causes and offering solutions to financial distress. In addition to his business acquisition and consulting activities, Mark hosted Your Business Matters, a small business-themed radio talk show and podcast, offering far-ranging advice and encouragement to entrepreneurs, small business owners, investors, and those who support them, and he has appeared in regional and national media interviews including, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Washington Post, CFO Magazine and, Fiscal Times Magazine. Dr. Hagar has served as a member of faculty at numerous colleges and universities in the U.S., U.K, and Taiwan, teaching courses in Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing, Management, Project Management, and Global Business Negotiations. Mark and his wife Nancy, a special education teacher, have two adult children and split their time between Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Want to talk more to Mark? LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/dr-mark-hagar-a6810b7/) Email: Mark@YourBusinessMatters.biz.