What It Is Like to Sell Your Business to a Search Fund in 2026
Selling your business to a search fund in 2026 has become one of the most predictable and seller-friendly buyer archetypes at LMM scale. Search fund entrepreneurs (typically HBS/GSB/Wharton MBAs backed by 15-20 fund investors) target $2M-$10M EBITDA businesses for full acquisition where they take over as CEO. Timelines: 6-8 months from first contact to close, […]
Management Rollover Equity for Insurer: Management Rollover Equity:
Should you do a management rollover? Inside: 10-25% norms, drag/tag terms, exit ratchets, founder traps. 76+ buyers, no fees, free calculator, no contract.
New York Founder Liquidity Events in 2026: What They Actually Pay and the 5 Deal Types
Real liquidity event examples from NYC founders: full sales, partial recaps, secondary tender offers. What they paid, structures used, and the 5 deal types most common in 2026.
How Search Funds Finance Acquisitions (and What Sellers Should Know)
How Search Funds Finance Acquisitions (and What Sellers Should Know) Quick Answer Search funds are investment vehicles where entrepreneurs raise capital from investors to search for and acquire an existing business, typically a founder-owned company generating 500k to 5 million in EBITDA. The model operates in two phases: a search phase where the entrepreneur identifies […]
What Is a Search Fund Buyer in 2026? What Sellers Need to Know Before the First Meeting
A search fund buyer is an entrepreneur (or team of two) who has raised committed capital from investors specifically to acquire and operate a single business, typically in the $1M-$5M EBITDA range. Their mission is to become CEO of what they acquire, hold for 5-7 years, and generate a return for their investors on exit. […]
Should You Sell to a Search Fund? Pros, Cons, and Reality
Should You Sell to a Search Fund? Pros, Cons, and Reality Quick Answer Selling to a search fund can offer advantages like a smoother transaction process and a buyer with operational expertise, but trade-offs include lower valuations than strategic buyers, less control over post-acquisition direction, and dilution of ownership through earnouts. Search funds typically acquire […]
Seller Financing in Business Sales: Risks, Rewards, and Real Examples
Seller Financing in Business Sales: Risks, Rewards, and Real Examples TLDR: When Seller Financing Makes Sense Seller financing fits lower middle market deals between $500K and $10M, where SBA or bank debt covers the senior portion and a seller note bridges the equity gap. Typical seller notes sit at 10 to 30 percent of total […]
Search Fund Deal Origination: Winning in Competitive Markets
Master search fund deal origination strategies with our comprehensive Ultimate Guide. Curated insights for private equity professionals and independent sponsors.