Paul Henderson is the CEO of Pure UT Processing, a business he acquired through self-funded search. Paul has navigated the full searcher journey — from identifying the right acquisition target and underwriting the deal to taking over operations and growing the business post-close. His path from searcher to operator gives him a uniquely honest perspective on what the transition actually looks like.

At SMBash 2026, Paul shares a candid operator's account of life after acquisition day. He covers what surprised him, what he'd do differently, and the operational challenges that no due diligence process fully prepares you for. If you're still in search mode, this session will help you prepare for what comes next.