Owner’s Equity is a weekly newsletter for people deciding what to do next: buy a business, start one, stay in the job, or own a piece of someone else’s deal. Five minutes, every Tuesday, from Michael Crow, author of Own Your Life.
Who it’s for
You’re a manager or a salaried professional, 30 or older. You did what you were told: the degree, the job, the 401(k). Now you’re doing the arithmetic on the next thirty years and the numbers don’t work, and the ground under the corporate job is moving. You’ve thought about starting something or buying something. You haven’t decided.
Most advice is for people who already own a business and want to grow it. This is for the decision before that.
The four doors
Buy it. Take over a business that already works: customers, staff and cash flow on day one.
Start it. Build from scratch, often as a startup of one. When you buy, you buy the answer; when you start, you buy the question.
Stay. Keep the paycheck and still own something. It’s how most readers walk through the other doors.
Own a piece. Back someone else’s deal: a search fund, a small-business acquisition, or operators you trust. You own a piece; they run it.
Making the right decision from the start is 80% of success. The rest is hard work and discipline.
What’s in every issue
What’s hot in ownership this week, in one paragraph.
Buying, starting and owning pieces: one practical idea for each door.
Finance news in plain English, with one number that matters.
A real case study: the setup, what they did, the result, the lesson.
How I can help: the book, the free tools, and a 30-minute call.
Michael Crow started as a CPA at Price Waterhouse, then served as SVP and CFO of the international division of Security Pacific. Over 40 years he has acquired and financed more than $2 billion in deals, and bought and sold more than 25 companies.
Founded National Investment Managers and grew it from 4 to 800+ employees and $200M to $13B in assets, through 25+ tuck-in acquisitions in four years.
Built and exited a 5,000-unit apartment portfolio from off-market deals with private equity partners.
Today he runs a family-owned, permanent-capital holding company and advises owners and buyers through Dunross Capital Partners.
“I’ve bought businesses. I’ve built wealth. I’ve also lost money and had deals fall apart even when I did everything by the book.”
CPA · Harvard Business School OPM · licensed real estate broker · 25 years as a pilot. He lives in East Hampton, New York, with his wife Christina.
The book
Own Your Life: The Second-Act Guide to Owning a Business and Building Real Wealth launches on Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Newsletter readers get the early chapters, the pre-order link and the launch-day bonus first. About the book →
How I can help
Book a free 30-minute call — bring the business you’re looking at, or the decision you’re stuck on.
Reply to any issue. I read every one.
Follow along on LinkedIn and YouTube, or email [email protected].
Owner’s Equity is for education only. It is not investment, legal or tax advice, and it is not affiliated with or endorsed by Harvard Business School.
