search fund, searcher, deal flow, buying a small business, ETA community, founder notes
What I Hear When I Ask Searchers How the Search Is Going
Notes from a founder's weekly conversations with searchers: shared listings dressed up as deal flow, tool stacks that eat the calendar, and the owner who is not ready yet.
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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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search fund deal flow, proprietary search, buying a business, ETA search, acquisition entrepreneurship, business acquisition pipeline, owner outreach, off-market acquisition, search fund strategy, buy a small business
Search Is a Sales Motion. The ETA Ecosystem Hasn't Treated It Like One.
Most searches stall on deal flow, not analysis. How to run a business search like a sales pipeline: ICP, target universe, owner outreach, and conversion metrics.
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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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off-market business deals, how to find businesses for sale, direct to owner outreach, proprietary deal flow, sourcing business acquisitions
How to Find Off-Market Businesses for Sale (Direct-to-Owner Sourcing)
The best acquisition deals never get listed. Here is how buyers find off-market businesses for sale and reach owners directly, before the competition.
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women buying businesses, acquisition entrepreneurship for women, women in ETA, buying a business instead of starting one, self-funded search, women searchers
Why More Women Are Buying Businesses Instead of Climbing the Ladder
Women are leaving corporate careers to buy established businesses through acquisition. Here is why the model fits, the real barriers, and what makes the leap work.
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