GREATER AUSTIN AREA, TEXAS
SCALE YOUR BUSINESS. BUILD YOUR WEALTH. CREATE FREEDOM.
As a business strategist, investor, and Sr. Partner at ActionCOACH Central Texas, Tanner O’Brien helps business owners scale profitably, step out of daily operations, and turn their business into a wealth-building asset.
MEET TANNER O'BRIEN
ENTREPRENEUR, INVESTOR, PODCAST HOST, AND BUSINESS COACH
Tanner O’Brien is a business growth strategist, investor, and entrepreneur dedicated to helping business owners turn their companies into true wealth-building assets. As the co-founder of a high-performing business coaching firm and the owner of a specialized marketing agency, Tanner has worked with countless entrepreneurs to scale their businesses, increase profitability, and build sustainable systems that free them from day-to-day operations.
With a background in finance, operations, and marketing, he brings a
data-driven, execution-focused approach to business growth—helping owners not only increase revenue but also position their companies for long-term scalability, exit opportunities, or strategic reinvestment.
Now, through his company, BeneficCapital, Tanner is actively acquiring and scaling businesses while building a portfolio of high-performing companies and real estate assets. His mission is to help business owners break free from the "high-income job" trap and start thinking like true owners —leveraging their businesses as wealth-generating engines that create long-term financial freedom for themselves and their families.
MEET TANNER O'BRIEN
ENTREPRENEUR | INVESTOR | BUSINESS STRATEGIST | PODCAST HOST
Tanner O’Brien is a business growth strategist, investor, and entrepreneur dedicated to helping business owners turn their companies into true wealth-building assets. As the co-founder of a high-performing business coaching firm and the owner of a specialized marketing agency, Tanner has worked with countless entrepreneurs to scale their businesses, increase profitability, and build sustainable systems that free them from day-to-day operations.
With a background in finance, operations, and marketing, he brings a
data-driven, execution-focused approach to business growth—helping owners not only increase revenue but also position their companies for long-term scalability, exit opportunities, or strategic reinvestment.
Now, through his company, BeneficCapital, Tanner is actively acquiring and scaling businesses while building a portfolio of high-performing companies and real estate assets. His mission is to help business owners break free from the "high-income job" trap and start thinking like true owners —leveraging their businesses as wealth-generating engines that create long-term financial freedom for themselves and their families.
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Avoid These Acquisition Mistakes
There’s a lot of glamor around starting from scratch.
The zero-to-one stories. The bootstrap hustle. The tech unicorns.
But what if the real growth opportunity—especially for those of us focused on time, freedom, and cash flow—was buying a business that already works?
That’s exactly what Robert Dicks did.
Former Air Force officer. Tech startup veteran. Now owner of Unicorn Moving in Austin, Texas.
He didn’t build from scratch—he bought an existing business, stabilized it, and scaled it. And the lessons he shared on The Ownership Advantage are a masterclass in modern-day business ownership.
Here are the takeaways every operator and investor should hear:
1. Walk Into Cash Flow, Not Chaos
Startups are sexy. But they’re often slow, expensive, and risky.
Buying right lets you shortcut straight into momentum.
“There’s no better learning than by doing,” Robert shared. “If you can walk into a successful business, then you walk into cash flow.”
His sweet spot? Businesses with real revenue, solid reputations, and untapped potential—especially when paired with a buyer who brings a specific “superpower” to the table (like marketing, ops, or tech).
2. Stability First. Strategy Second.
When you buy a business, your first job isn’t to innovate.
It’s to build trust.
Robert resisted the urge to change everything in the first 90 days. Instead, he focused on psychological safety:
One-on-one team meetings
Retention bonuses
Symbolic raises
And a clear message: “We’re here to build, not break.”
“You don’t know enough in the first year to change anything,” he said.
That humility is rare—and powerful.
3. Dirty Boots > Flashy Startups
There’s massive opportunity in the trades right now.
Moving. Plumbing. HVAC. Landscaping.
What Robert calls “dirty boots businesses.”
They’re:
✅ Always in demand
✅ Often run by retiring boomers
✅ Undervalued because they’re unsexy
If you bring modern tools, marketing, and systems to a legacy business with a strong team? You’re not just buying a job. You’re unlocking equity.
4. Old School Service Meets New School Tech
Robert didn’t just keep the old systems—he upgraded them.
From AI-powered customer service to automated bookkeeping, he’s bringing 2025 thinking into an industry still stuck in 2010.
And Thats the Advantage: Most operators aren’t tech-forward.
“It’s never been easier to create efficiencies,” he told me.
Most just don’t know where to start.
5. Culture Is the Moat
There’s a reason his team sticks around. Some of them have been at Unicorn for 10+ years in an industry known for high turnover.
His secret?
Hire for heart
Reward loyalty
Say thank you daily
And don’t tolerate high-performers who poison the culture
No spreadsheet can replace that.
Final Word: Buy Smart. Lead with Humility. Build Something That Lasts.
Robert didn’t just buy a moving company.
He bought a legacy—and upgraded it with modern systems, tech, and leadership.
If you’re a business owner tired of the grind…
Or an investor looking for real-world cash flow instead of paper valuations…
Robert’s story is proof:
Buying a good business and leading it well can change your life.
▶️ Watch the full episode here:
🎧 Prefer audio? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ownership-advantage-w-tanner-obrien/id1742349209?i=1000717182233
🧠 Want help finding or growing a business like this? DM me “OWNERSHIP”
Community Comments
Amanda Keeter, Director of Philanthropy at Concordia University
"I am so grateful for Tanner and his ability to share his gifting as a coach. I taught a class at a local university and invited Tanner as a guest speaker. His ability to connect the content with the students was incredible. Upon completing the semester, many of the students referenced his visit and the things he taught as key take aways in the final survey. Great work!"
Nafisa Nazeer, Former Intern at ActionCOACH Central Texas
"Tanner is inarguably one of the very best supervisors I have ever had the opportunity and utmost pleasure to work with.He is exceptionally well-organized, thoughtful, and resolute with company objectives. He is excellent at communicating expectations, and is a very pleasant and kind personality. One can tell that Tanner leads with care, for both the business goals and for the people inside and outside the company. Patient, flexible, and driven, Tanner strives towards realistic and actionable solutions that yield enormous successes. In conclusion, I strongly recommend Tanner for any company or position, as he is a fantastic supervisor, coworker, and person overall."
Blake Sieck, President at ST Insurance Group
"The team at Action Coach WilCo has been exceptional along the way. Relationships are important to me in business and with Tanner specifically, that part has been easy. He’s energetic, intelligent, and a great business partner. I truly find value in our relationship and would highly recommend him to my best clients, friends, or family."
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