Buyer's Guide
DSCR, add-backs, deal mechanics
What Does a Business Broker Do? A Buyer's Guide
Business brokers represent sellers in small business transactions, earning 8-12% commission only when deals close. Learn how their economics shape your experience as a buyer and how to engage effectively.
Should You Add a Line of Credit to Your SBA Deal?
Most SBA acquisition buyers don't know they can add a revolving line of credit to their deal. Data from 38,972 loans shows what it costs, which lenders offer it, and how it affects outcomes.
Book Review: HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business
An honest review of Ruback and Yudkoff's HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business. Strong as a primer for the acquisition process, but written for traditional search funds - here's what SBA buyers should take from it and what they'll need elsewhere.
The SBA Lending Process: A Buyer's Guide
A stage-by-stage guide to the SBA 7(a) acquisition loan process. Realistic timelines, document requirements, and the questions to ask at each phase.
What Happens When an SBA Acquisition Loan Defaults
SBA acquisition loan defaults follow a predictable path. Here's what the process looks like, how personal guarantees are enforced, and what experienced buyers do differently.
Why Business Brokers Don't Respond to Buyers
Business brokers receive 150-300 buyer inquiries per quality listing. Learn the filtering criteria that determine which buyers get a response and how to stand out in a saturated market.
DSCR for SBA Acquisitions: What Every Buyer Needs to Know
Debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) determines whether your SBA acquisition gets funded. Learn how lenders calculate it, what kills deals, and how to back into your max loan amount.
How Seller Notes Work in SBA Acquisitions
Seller notes are present in the vast majority of small business acquisitions. Here's how they work under current SBA rules, why sellers agree, and how experienced buyers structure them.
Understanding Add-Backs: What SBA Lenders Will (and Won't) Accept
Sellers inflate SDE with generous add-backs. Lenders strip them to what tax returns verify. The gap between those numbers is where SBA deals live or die. Here's what actually gets accepted.
What SMBash 2026 Taught Us About Buying a Business in a Harder Market
Field notes from SMBash 2026: why the ETA playbook has changed, the buyer market is more crowded, and trust has become the scarcest asset.
What SBA Lenders Actually Look For in Your Application
Learn what SBA 7(a) lenders prioritize when evaluating acquisition loans. DSCR thresholds, red flags, add-backs, and a practical rule for deal sizing.
Setting the Foundation
Your tactical guide to starting your business search with the essential legal and operational foundations for ETA success.