Monday Tip – Don’t Look for Deals, Look for Owners One mistake beginners make in business acquisition is spending all their time searching listing websites. BizBuySell, BizQuest, LoopNet — those are fine, but remember something important: The best deals are rarely listed. Why? Because great businesses usually sell before they ever hit the public market. Owners often sell to: competitors employees people who reach out directly So instead of only browsing listings this week, try this simple exercise. Pick one industry you like and reach out to 5 owners directly. Example industries: • Machine shops • HVAC companies • Small manufacturers • Laundromats • Service businesses Your message can be simple: > “Hi, my name is _____. I'm looking to acquire a small business in this industry over the next year. If you ever consider selling, I’d love to connect.” You might hear nothing from four people. But the one conversation you start could be where a real opportunity begins. Remember: Deal flow isn’t found. Deal flow is built. If anyone here tries this today, comment below and let us know how it goes.

One of the biggest mistakes us beginners make in business acquisition is looking at everything. Instead, spend time refining your Buy Box. When you know exactly what you’re looking for, three things happen: • You spot opportunities faster • Brokers take you more seriously • Sellers see you as a real buyer This week’s simple exercise: 1. Re-read your Buy Box. 2. Remove one thing that is too broad. 3. Add one thing that makes it more specific. Example: ❌ “Manufacturing” ✅ “Small machine shops with 3–15 employees doing repeat B2B work.” The clearer your Buy Box gets, the easier it becomes to find deals that actually fit your life. Small clarity today = better deals tomorrow. — Rueben | BAC

Welcome to the most important step in your acquisition journey. Before we evaluate businesses… Before we talk financing… Before we analyze numbers… You must define what you are actually looking for. No shiny objects. No scrolling random listings. No “this looks interesting.” Post your Buy Box below using this format: • Industry: • Revenue Range: • Minimum SDE: • Location: • Will I Relocate? (Yes/No): • Max Employees: • Owner Involvement Preference: • Financing Preference: • Risk Tolerance (Low / Medium / High): "Then finish with this sentence: I commit to analyzing only businesses that fit this Buy Box for the next 30 days." Why this matters? Clarity creates leverage. Undefined buyers chase noise. Defined buyers find deals. I’ll review and give feedback where needed. Lock it in. 👇

For those who are new here, I want to take a moment to introduce myself and explain what this club is all about. My name is Rueben Johnson, and I’m the founder of BAC. I’ve spent over a decade working in manufacturing and machining, currently serving as a lead machinist at a multi Inc.5000 medical device manufacturing company. Over the years I’ve developed a strong interest in business ownership, acquisitions, and building real-world assets that produce cash flow. Like many people here, I didn’t start with a big fund, investors, or a roadmap. Most of what I’ve learned has come from studying deals, talking to business owners, experimenting with small ventures, and constantly trying to understand how businesses are bought, sold, and operated. I created the Business Acquisition Club for one main reason: To build a place where people who are serious about buying businesses can learn, share ideas, and improve together. There are plenty of places online that talk about entrepreneurship in theory. My goal with BAC is different. I want this to be a community where we focus on the practical side of acquisitions, including: • Identifying strong businesses to buy • Understanding financials and valuations • Learning how deals are structured • Finding opportunities and sourcing deals • Sharing strategies that actually work in the real world The classroom will provide structured lessons so members can build a solid foundation. The community side of BAC is where we discuss deals, ask questions, and help each other get better at the process. This is a club of people learning the craft of business acquisition, and everyone here is at a different stage of the journey. --- Now I’d like to hear from you. If you’re new here, please introduce yourself and share a little about your goals: • Your name • Where you’re located • Your background or industry • What types of businesses interest you • Your long-term goals with acquisitions Looking forward to getting to know everyone and seeing what we can build together.

Hi everyone — quick question for those who’ve been in the trenches. Has anyone here worked with a “done-for-you” buy-side advisory firm? Or joined a course + community that walks you through the acquisition process? I’d love to hear honest pros and cons. Was it worth the fees? Did it meaningfully improve your deal quality or negotiating leverage? Where I’m getting stuck is narrowing down what actually qualifies as a good deal before submitting an LOI — and then structuring terms with as little money down as possible. I’m focused on smaller acquisitions ($1M and under), so creative structure really matters. Would appreciate any real-world experiences or lessons learned.