operator to owner, operate to own, succession planning, ETA, employment agreement equity, path to ownership
Operate First, Own Later: How to Think About Compensation
Stepping into a company as its future owner? The salary matters least. How to structure the three layers of operate-to-own compensation, and what to get in writing.
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aspiration & prep
The First 90 Days of a Search: What to Actually Do Before You Look at a Single Deal
A 90-day plan to go from "someday" to a prepared buyer. What to actually do before you evaluate a single deal: your thesis, your financing path, and a real search system.
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buy box, acquisition criteria
Your Buy Box: How to Decide What Business to Buy, and What to Say No To
A buy box turns "I want to buy a business" into a clear filter. Learn how to set your acquisition criteria by industry, size, and fit, so you can say no fast.
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how to learn to buy a business, entrepreneurship through acquisition, ETA programs, search fund education, buying a business courses, small business acquisition resources
How to Learn to Buy a Business: The Programs and Resources Worth Knowing
A practical guide to the best programs, courses, books, and communities for learning how to buy a business, and how to choose the right one for you.
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AI-proof business, buying a blue-collar business, SBA acquisition loans, HVAC business valuation, recession-resistant business, entrepreneurship through acquisition
Buying a Blue-Collar Business to AI-Proof Your Future
A record wave of buyers is acquiring plumbing, HVAC, and electrical companies to hedge against AI. The data behind the trend, what a good deal looks like, and the risk most buyers underestimate.
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search fund vs self-funded, independent sponsor vs search fund, self-funded search vs traditional, ETA paths compared, how to buy a business, entrepreneurship through acquisition models, ways to buy a business, acquisition entrepreneurship paths
Search Fund vs Self-Funded vs Independent Sponsor: Which Acquisition Path Fits You
The three paths to buying a business, compared honestly: ownership, risk, deal size & who each model fits. Four questions that decide your path in ETA.
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