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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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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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Board Reporting That Investors Actually Want (and the CEO It Protects)
The monthly investor update format that builds board trust: numbers vs plan, honest risks & one ask. Two hours a month, the cheapest insurance you own.
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Search Fund CEO Compensation: The 2026 Benchmarks
Search fund CEO pay by tenure: $256K median in year one to $325K at 5+ years, plus the equity outcomes data. How to run the comp talk with your board.
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The First 100 Days as Owner: What the Data Says About Not Breaking the Thing You Bought
The five rules for your first 100 days as a new owner: protect cash flow, transfer seller goodwill, learn before changing & stabilize key employees.
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Anatomy of a Search Fund Acquisition: Deal Benchmarks from Stanford's 2026 Study
What do search funds pay? 2026 benchmarks: $16M median price, 6.2x EBITDA, deal structures linked to returns & a pre-LOI checklist from failure data.
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