Buy the business, not the listing.
Listings are written to sell. I review a deal the way a private equity investment committee would, then help you structure one an SBA lender will approve and you can live with after closing. I've been the buyer, the borrower and the operator who had to make the numbers work in year one, so the memo you get is the one I wish I'd had.
What buy-side work with me covers
- Earnings recast including the true cost to replace the owner, the line most listings leave out.
- Debt coverage under current SBA rules: 1.25x on historical earnings for acquisitions, no credit for projections.
- Offer and structure: price, seller note on full standby, working capital peg, consulting period and non-compete.
- Lender-ready package with sources and uses and a debt coverage model.
- Diligence coordinated with your CPA and attorney, including Florida-specific items like successor liability for the seller's state taxes.
- First 100 Days operator support after closing: cash, people, pricing and systems, from $2,500 a month.
The 2026 SBA rules that change your offer
For loans numbered on or after October 1, 2026 (SOP 50 10 8.1): debt coverage of at least 1.25x on historical earnings, an independent credentialed valuation on every change of ownership, total debt capped at that valuation, a lender-ordered Quality of Earnings report for purchases of $3M or more, and seller notes plus small minority investors limited to half of your 10% equity. Every owner and guarantor must be a U.S. citizen or national. I build offers around these rules from the first conversation, so you don't find out at underwriting.
Best fit
Buyers with proof of funds for at least 10% down, looking at $1M to $10M Florida businesses. Searchers, first-time buyers leaving corporate jobs, and owners buying a competitor all fit.
Start here
Deal Review
from $3,000One business · fixed scope · written memo and a call
- Earnings recast, including the cost to replace the owner
- Debt coverage under current SBA terms
- The top risks and the questions to ask the seller
- The price and structure I would offer
FAQ
Common questions
How much do I need down to buy a business with an SBA loan?
At least 10% of the project as equity for a first acquisition. Up to half of that can come from a seller note on full standby or small minority investors combined; the rest must be your own cash or a personal loan repaid from outside the business.
What debt coverage ratio does the SBA require for a business acquisition?
For loans numbered on or after October 1, 2026, 1.25x on historical earnings for initial acquisitions and owner buyouts, and 1.15x for a business expanding by buying a company in the same industry group. Projections no longer count.
When are buy-side fees paid?
The Deal Review is a fixed fee up front. Buy-side representation is paid mostly at closing and, on SBA loans, disclosed to the lender on SBA Form 159.
Can a green card holder get an SBA acquisition loan?
Not under the current rules. Since March 1, 2026, every direct and indirect owner of an SBA 7(a) borrower must be a U.S. citizen or national with a principal residence in the U.S.
One advisor. A straight answer in two business days.
Send revenue, earnings and what you want to do. I'll tell you plainly whether I can help and what the first step costs.