Most people think you need money, investors, or credit to buy a business. You don’t. You need positioning. And this is exactly where StoryBrand 2.0 becomes a weapon. One of the biggest lessons from Donald Miller is this: The person who communicates the clearest value becomes the obvious choice. When you’re acquiring a business with $0 out of pocket, the seller isn’t choosing your bank account. They’re choosing the story you represent in their life. And here’s the shift that turns conversations into deals: --- 1. The Seller is the Hero — You’re Not. Most buyers show up like heroes: “I want to buy your business.” “I can fix this.” “I did X, Y, Z before.” StoryBrand flips this. The seller is the hero of the story, not you. Your role? The Guide. A guide with competence, calmness, and a clear plan. When the seller feels like you understand their fears, frustrations, and hopes, they naturally follow you. Money becomes secondary. --- 2. Unique Problem-Solving Is Your Currency In $0-down deals, you’re not buying the business… You’re solving the problems the seller can’t or doesn’t want to solve anymore. Examples: • Removing their stress • Protecting their employees • Maintaining their legacy • Handling transitions they’re tired of • Bringing systems they never had time to build • Helping them retire without chaos Your unique problem-solving abilities are the down payment. The clearer you communicate them, the more the seller sees you as the guide who can safely get them to the outcome they want. That’s StoryBrand 2.0 in its purest form. --- 3. Control the Narrative, Control the Deal StoryBrand teaches that people don’t buy the best product… They buy the message they understand the fastest. Sellers are the same. If they understand your positioning clearly, they trust you. If they trust you, they collaborate. If they collaborate, you can structure creative terms: ✓ Seller financing ✓ Earnouts ✓ Deferred payments ✓ Management transitions ✓ Cash-flow-first structures

Most entrepreneurs obsess over finding the right opportunity. But the real leverage isn’t in finding, it’s in the framing. Here’s the truth I keep seeing in every acquisition, every conversation, every room full of operators and founders: You don’t get bigger deals because you’re smarter. You get bigger deals because you ask better questions! This week I started tracking one simple metric: “How many high-quality questions did I ask today?” Not DMs. Not views. Not revenue. Just the number of times I asked something that made someone think differently. If you understand a seller deeper than they understand themselves, you unlock deals other buyers never even see. So here’s what I’m testing right now: The 5 Questions That Reveal Hidden Opportunities 1. What’s the part of your business that drains you the most? 2. If you could wave a magic wand and fix one bottleneck, which one matters most? 3. What happens if nothing changes in the next 12 months? 4. Where do you feel undervalued or unseen in your own company? 5. If someone could take ONE thing off your plate tomorrow, what would give you the most relief? When you ask these questions, you stop being “a buyer.” You become a problem-solver, and that’s when sellers start opening doors.

Buying a business with 0$ out of pocket sounds sexy — until you realize the real price is paid in time, trust, and tension. Here’s what most people don’t say: 1️⃣ Time: You’ll spend hours digging through deals that go nowhere. That’s part of the filter. 2️⃣ Trust: The seller isn’t selling numbers. They’re selling belief that you can carry their legacy. 3️⃣ Tension: You’ll feel imposter syndrome every step of the way. That’s your edge sharpening. The “no money down” model isn’t about avoiding risk. It’s about trading cash for courage. If you’re in this game, you already know: Every conversation could be the start of your first deal — or your greatest lesson. So here’s the question I’d love to see answered: 👉 What’s been your biggest non-financial cost so far on this journey?

Most people still think “you need money to make money.” That belief is exactly what keeps them stuck. In today’s market, you don’t need capital. You only need creativity, credibility, and control. Let’s break this down: 1. Creativity – Find ways to solve seller problems that money can’t. Maybe it’s time, stress, or legacy. Structure the deal around their priorities, not yours! 2. Credibility – Your reputation is your currency. Build trust through knowledge, speed, and clarity. Sellers don’t care about your bank balance if you show you can keep their business alive! 3. Control – You don’t own a business until you control its cash flow. Focus on control first — ownership follows! The real shift isn’t financial. It’s mental. Once you stop seeing “no money down” as a trick and start seeing it as a framework for solving human problems, you’ll understand why acquisition entrepreneurs are replacing start-ups. Here’s the challenge for this week: Find one small business in your area that looks tired but consistent. Ask yourself: “What could I offer that would make their life easier — without using cash?” Then share your idea here. Let’s pressure-test it together. Remember: You’re not buying a business! You’re buying a set of problems you can solve.

Let's say $8,000 to $15,000 per month (~100-200k/year). Minimum 10 to 15 staff, maximum 50. So not quite a micro business and probably has a manager in place. But not a huge operation either. I'm interested in this target earnings range because I think the businesses will be more common in a tight radius (within 100 miles from us), Owners more open to high seller financing offers. May have a lower ego compared to business owners making $40,000 a month and more. There's still going to be a manager, but we can supervise a few times per month by buying local. At least that's the desired outcome. Has anyone bought in this range and what are your thoughts?