Acquisition Search & Strategy
How a search actually runs
Most searches take longer than people expect
A typical search runs well past a year, and most of that time goes to looking at businesses you will never buy. That is normal. The goal is not to avoid the dead ends but to get through them faster and spend real hours only on companies that could work for you.
We start with you, not the market. What have you run, what can you learn quickly, how far from home are you willing to operate, and how much debt can you live with? The answers narrow the field more than any industry report.
Three phases
What we do with you, in order
Phase 1
Narrowing the field
We write down a buy box you can actually use: revenue and earnings range, geography, owner situation, customer concentration you will accept, and the things that end a conversation. If a broker sends you something outside it, you can say no in five minutes.
Phase 2
Building deal flow
Brokers are one channel. We help you add direct outreach to owners, industry contacts, and the lenders, CPAs and attorneys who hear about sales early. You get a target list, a tracking sheet and an outreach rhythm you can keep up for months.
Phase 3
Screening and first calls
Every lead gets the same first pass: does it fit, what is the real reason the owner is selling, and is there a number in the CIM that does not add up. We sit in on early owner calls when that helps, and we tell you plainly when a deal is not worth an LOI.
Where searches go wrong
Patterns we see often
A buy box that fits everything
If every listing looks possible, none gets the attention it needs.
Relying on one broker list
The businesses that fit you best often never get listed.
Falling for the first good deal
Without comparisons, an average business can feel like a great one.
Questions
Before you start
Do you work with self-funded searchers?
Yes. Most of our search work is with self-funded buyers and small acquisition groups. Traditional search funds use us too.
Will you find the deal for me?
We build and help run the search with you. You make the calls on which businesses to pursue, and you should, because you will be the one running it.
What happens once I have a target?
Usually financial modeling and valuation, so you know what the business is worth to you before you write an LOI.
Ready for your next acquisition?
Whether you are starting a search, evaluating a target or preparing to run a business you just bought, let’s define your next steps.