Second Time's the Charm as Owner of a $4m Business - Acquiring Minds Recap

Podcast: Acquiring Minds

Published: 2026-03-02

Duration: 1 hr 21 min

Summary

In this episode, Joe Springsteen shares his journey from a challenging first venture in a biohazard business to successfully acquiring and running Mallard Systems, a $4 million outdoor cleaning and maintenance company. His story highlights resilience and the importance of finding the right business fit.

What Happened

Joe Springsteen's journey into business ownership wasn't a smooth ride. After a grueling three years in the biohazard cleaning industry, where he dealt with some of the most distressing scenarios imaginable, he made the tough decision to shut that business down. Despite this setback, Joe's desire for agency and ownership persisted, leading him to join Sam Rosati's boot camp shortly after hearing him on the podcast. Here, he met Jackie Hirsch, a business broker who played a crucial role in his next venture.

Jackie helped Joe find Mallard Systems, a $3 million provider of outdoor cleaning and maintenance for commercial buildings. With his background in commercial property management, Joe felt right at home with this new acquisition. Fast forward to the end of 2025, and he is celebrating a remarkable turnaround, closing the year with $4 million in revenue, a significant increase from the $3.2 million in 2023. Joe's story is a testament to the idea that sometimes the second chance can lead to greater success.

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