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Small Business Acquisition Resources

Guides for first-time buyers navigating SBA-financed acquisitions

Valuation

How to Normalize SDE: A First-Time Buyer's Guide

What seller's discretionary earnings are, why brokers inflate them, and how to calculate adjusted SDE yourself before paying for due diligence.

Read guide →SBA Financing

What SBA Lenders Look For (And What Kills Deals at the Closing Table)

The DSCR threshold, down payment requirements, and the five most common reasons SBA deals fall apart.

Read guide →Due Diligence

10 Red Flags in Small Business Acquisitions

From unusual add-backs to lease assignment risk, the warning signs experienced buyers check before submitting a LOI.

Read guide →Due Diligence

How to Read a Business Broker's Listing (And What They're Not Telling You)

What CIM documents reveal, what they hide, and how to ask the right questions before wasting weeks on the wrong deal.

Read guide →Negotiation

The LOI Negotiation Playbook for First-Time Buyers

How to anchor your offer, structure contingencies, and use due diligence period length as a negotiating tool.

Read guide →SBA Financing

DSCR Explained: The Number That Determines If Your Deal Gets Financed

A plain-English explanation of debt service coverage ratio, how to calculate it yourself, and what to do when it fails.

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