80. 4x Your Money with Machine Shops with Mike Payne

What if you could double—or even quadruple—the value of a machine shop within just 12 months of buying it? For Mike Payne, this isn’t a hypothetical. It’s a repeatable system he’s refined across five acquisitions (and counting). 

In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Mike returns to the mic to break down exactly how he transforms tired shops into thriving, high-value operations—without starting from scratch.

Mike walks us through his bolt-on acquisition strategy, sharing how he targets shops with legacy customers, retiring owners, and underutilized assets. But the real magic happens post-purchase. By layering in his tech stack, systems, and leadership team, he’s able to drastically improve efficiency, customer value, and ultimately, the valuation multiple—often turning a 2.5x shop into a 5x performer.

You’ll hear how Mike evaluates potential deals, builds financial models based on his operating costs, and uses simple frameworks to identify untapped value others miss. He also shares practical insights for both buyers and sellers—from structuring seller-financed deals to boosting your multiple with minimal upfront investment.

Whether you’re considering your first acquisition or preparing to sell your shop, this episode is packed with tactical advice and inspiring proof that serious wealth-building in manufacturing is not only possible—it’s within reach. 

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• (0:13) Grow your top and bottom-line with CLA
• (1:30) Welcoming Mike Payne back to Machine Shop Mastery 
• (7:30) The difference between a 2x and 5x multiple—and how to shift it
• (12:40) The magic of applying ProShop, systems, and talent immediately
• (14:00) How new capabilities drive revenue increases with legacy customers
• (15:07) A real-world example: buying a shop for the price of one machine
• (17:06) How better purchasing power and equipment cataloging create ROI
• (20:12) The market opportunity: thousands of underperforming shops for sale
• (22:24) Advice for sellers: how to move from a 2.5x to a 4x+ valuation
• (25:50) The math of wealth-building via acquisition vs. from-scratch startups
• (28:15) Get fired up for Modern Machine Shop’s Top Shops 2025
• (28:41) Scaling without adding overhead: people + process + systems
• (36:15) How your valuation multiple improves the moment you sign the deal
• (38:59) The importance of clean books and what buyers want to see
• (43:43) Standardizing CAD/CAM without stifling capability
• (45:47) A true story: Why there’s a shop culture fit for everyone 
• (53:30) The long game: building equity, opportunity, and value for your team
• (1:00:20) Why you need to listen to the Lights Out podcast 

Resources & People Mentioned

• Grow your top and bottom-line with CLA
• Demystifying the Buying and Selling of Machine Shops
• Funding Your Dream Machine Shop
• Machines Are Just the Start (How to Build a Shop That Lasts)
• Get fired up for Modern Machine Shop’s Top Shops 2025
• Listen to the Lights Out Podcast!

Connect with Mike Payne

• Connect on LinkedIn
• The Buy the Numbers podcast

Connect With Machine Shop Mastery

• The website
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Instagram

Subscribe to Machine Shop Mastery on

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