How Buying a Business Works

From “I think I want to buy a business” to closing day, here’s how we turn your goals into an actual acquisition.

Define Your Buyer Box

We start with more than your budget. We'll define your preferred geography, industries, income goals, available capital, financing strategy, desired owner involvement, management requirements, experience, lifestyle goals and deal-breakers. You don't have to know exactly what you want yet. That's part of the process.

Build Your Match Profile

Your criteria becomes our filter. Instead of chasing every business that looks interesting, we focus on opportunities that have the potential to actually fit.

Search & Source

Now we start looking. That can include businesses already being marketed, broker relationships, our buyer and seller network, and—when appropriate—direct outreach to owners of businesses that aren't currently listed for sale.

Screen the Opportunity

Before you spend weeks chasing a deal, we look at the fundamentals. Revenue. SDE or EBITDA. Asking price. Owner responsibilities. Employees. Customer concentration. Lease or real estate. Licensing. Financing. Transition. Growth potential. And, of course, the red flags.

Confidentiality + Information

Business sales are confidential. Before receiving sensitive financial information or learning the identity of many businesses, you'll typically sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Then we can start digging deeper.

The Offer / LOI

Found something that looks like a Match? Now we start talking terms. That may lead to an offer or Letter of Intent outlining the major economics and structure of the proposed transaction.

Due Diligence + Financing

This is where you and your professional advisors verify what you've been told. Financials. Taxes. Contracts. Employees. Assets. Legal issues. Operations. Financing. The goal is simple: Make sure the business you thought you were buying is the business you're actually buying.

Closing + Transition

Once contingencies are satisfied, financing is complete and the final agreements are executed, it's time to close. Then the seller's agreed transition period begins—and the business becomes yours.

You Don't Need to Know Exactly What to Buy Before We Talk

You just need to know you’re ready to explore business ownership.