Main Street To Mid-Street Acquisition & Financing News

Expert insights, funding strategies, and practical guidance for securing capital, financing growth, and navigating business acquisitions. Whether you're raising capital for expansion, restructuring debt, or exploring your first acquisition, our blog provides the knowledge and resources to help you succeed.

Clearly Acquired is reshaping small business M&A by giving sellers accurate valuations and massive buyer reach, buyers a single-pane search with CLARA’s underwriting intelligence, and lenders fully prepared, credit-box-aligned deals. It eliminates friction, guesswork, and inefficiency from the acquisition process. This is the future of buying and selling businesses

Growth
February 5, 2026

Marico plans acquisition of Cosmix in major strategic move

Marico plans to acquire a 60% stake in Cosmix for INR 225.67 crore, valuing the bootstrapped, digital-first wellness brand at roughly INR 375 crore in a secondary buyout. The deal keeps founders in control of day-to-day operations and gives Marico a future call option on the remaining stake post-FY2029, reinforcing its strategy of partnering with founder-led brands to scale high-growth nutrition and wellness platforms over the long term.

Read More

Growth
February 4, 2026

E-commerce Valuation: Current EBITDA Multiples for Online Brands

Today, e-commerce businesses are primarily valued on normalized EBITDA, with current market multiples generally ranging from 2.5× to 10×, depending on size, profitability, and revenue model. Smaller or owner-dependent brands typically trade at the lower end, while scalable, diversified, and recurring-revenue businesses command premium multiples. Normalizing EBITDA is critical, as buyers focus on sustainable, transferable earnings rather than raw revenue or one-time performance spikes.

Read More

Growth
February 4, 2026

Business Acquisition Financing Options for Healthcare in Texas

This guide breaks down the most common business acquisition financing options available to healthcare professionals in Texas, including SBA loans, bank financing, and alternative capital. It covers lender expectations, state-specific incentives, and common pitfalls, while outlining a clear step-by-step process to improve approval odds. Designed for physicians, operators, and investors, the article helps buyers confidently structure and close healthcare acquisitions.

Read More

Growth
February 3, 2026

Regulation D Compliance: Penalties You Must Know

Failing to comply with Regulation D when raising capital can trigger serious fallout—civil penalties, investor rescission rights (forcing you to return money, sometimes with interest), and reputational damage that makes future fundraising dramatically harder. The biggest avoidable mistakes are missing the Form D filing deadline (within 15 days of the first sale), violating solicitation rules (506(b) vs 506(c)), and failing to properly verify accredited investors in a 506(c) raise. In severe or intentional misconduct cases, enforcement can escalate into “bad actor” disqualification or even criminal exposure.

Read More

Growth
February 3, 2026

Checklist: Personal Asset Documents for SBA Loans

When applying for an SBA loan, borrowers who own 20% or more of a business must submit detailed personal asset documentation so lenders can evaluate net worth, credit strength, and guarantor risk. The cornerstone document is SBA Form 413, supported by bank and retirement statements, real estate records, vehicle valuations, life insurance cash values, and recent tax returns. Preparing these materials accurately and consistently helps prevent delays and strengthens overall loan approval odds.

Read More

Growth
February 2, 2026

NDA Breach Remedies in M&A Deals

When an NDA is breached in an M&A deal, remedies are designed to move fast and stop damage before it kills the transaction. Courts often prioritize injunctive relief to immediately halt further disclosure, alongside monetary damages for lost value or profits. Because M&A NDAs involve high-stakes, time-sensitive information, they are typically drafted with irreparable harm, standstill, and expedited enforcement provisions that go well beyond standard business NDAs.

Read More

Growth
February 2, 2026

Business Acquisition Financing Options for Construction in Colorado

This guide lays out the full financing landscape for buying a construction business in Colorado—traditional (SBA 7(a)/504, banks, CRE, equipment) plus bridge and alternative capital—while flagging the state-specific realities that matter (mechanics’ liens, bonding, draw-based construction funding). The structure is strong because it pairs quick-hit facts with a practical roadmap (options → eligibility → process → pitfalls), making it easy for buyers to choose the right capital stack and avoid underwriting-killers before they apply.

Read More

Growth
February 2, 2026

EBITDA vs. SDE: Which Method Should Home Service Owners Use for Valuation?

When valuing a home service business, SDE is best for smaller, owner-operated companies because it shows the total cash flow available to a working owner, including salary and discretionary expenses. EBITDA is more appropriate for larger, professionally managed businesses, as it measures true operating performance independent of the owner. The right method depends on how involved you are in day-to-day operations and the type of buyer you want to attract.

Read More

Growth
February 1, 2026

How Asset-Heavy Businesses are Valued: Multiples in Manufacturing

Asset-heavy manufacturing businesses are typically valued using earnings-based multiples, with SDE multiples (≈2.7x–3.5x) applied to smaller, owner-operated firms and EBITDA multiples (≈3.5x–4.5x+, higher for strong subsectors) used for larger, professionally managed companies. Physical assets like machinery and facilities help set a valuation floor and influence risk, but true value is driven by normalized cash flow, asset condition, customer concentration, and operational efficiency. In cases of uneven profitability, revenue multiples (≈0.5x–0.8x) may be used as a secondary benchmark, though they are less precise than cash-flow-based methods.

Read More

Growth
January 30, 2026

Revenue Multiples vs. EBITDA: How SaaS and MSP Companies are Really Valued

SaaS and MSP companies are valued differently because buyers underwrite different “engines” of value: SaaS is typically priced on ARR/revenue multiples when growth and retention are the main story, while MSPs are usually priced on Adjusted EBITDA multiples because predictable cash flow and service delivery margins drive returns. As SaaS matures (slower growth, stronger profitability), it often shifts toward EBITDA-based valuation, but MSPs rarely command true SaaS-style revenue multiples unless they’ve built highly recurring, productized revenue with exceptional margins and low concentration.

Read More

Growth
January 30, 2026

5 Signs Your Agency or IT Firm is Ready for a Strategic Acquisition

If your agency or IT firm has clean, profitable financials, scalable operations that don’t rely on the owner, a clear niche with low client concentration, a stable leadership team, and a credible post-sale growth roadmap, you’re signaling strong readiness for a strategic acquisition. Buyers pay premiums for businesses that reduce risk today and clearly show how they can grow tomorrow, especially when that preparation starts 12–24 months before going to market.

Read More

Growth
January 30, 2026

South Carolina Guide to Selling a SaaS Software

This South Carolina Guide to Selling a SaaS Software Business provides a state-specific roadmap for founders preparing to sell their SaaS company, with a focus on valuation, tax compliance, legal requirements, and buyer expectations. It explains how SaaS is taxed in South Carolina, outlines common deal structures and ARR multiples, and walks sellers through preparation, marketing, due diligence, and closing. The guide is designed to help SaaS owners maximize value while avoiding regulatory, financial, and transaction pitfalls unique to South Carolina.

Read More

Acquire Quality. Fund Growth. Close with Confidence.

As an AI-driven Business Acquisition Marketplace and Financing Platform, we are on a mission to simplify and accelerate the MainStreet to MidStreet lending and acquisition ecosystem.

We specialize in technology that supports price discovery, identity verification and financial qualification, and buy-side tools to help searchers source and manage deal flow, make offers, secure lending/financing solutions, and close with confidence.

illustration of team with digital platform

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions by users that are looking to buy businesses on Clearly Acquired:

How can I show business owners I'm a legitimate buyer and that I'm interested?

With a Clearly Verified account, you can instill confidence in other users, brokers and sellers that you are, who you say you are, when you "verify" your identify.  This is the key to instilling confidence in the users on the platform,  gaining traction and getting instant access to financials, supporting data and insight to quickly move to making an offer or moving on.   This will save you months of wasted time and expedite the closing of a sale.

How are my finances verified?

Using financial technology the Clearly Acquired Platform safely and securely verifies your finances, to help sellers understand your closing capability and help lenders expedite your financing. Additionally, the buy-side deal room will help you get your documentation in order, to prepare you for the debt and equity financing you will need to close your acquisition.

Can I get in touch with advisors to help support me in this process?

The Clearly Acquired team is here to support you on your business acquisition or business sale journey. That said, the platform is designed to connect you with a community of users, who are identify verified, which include: investors, lenders, advisors, brokers, consultants, and other buyers who are looking for partners.  

What is a Deal Hub?

The Deal Hub is the central repository for all transaction-related activities on our business acquisition platform. It serves as a secure and organized space where buyers and sellers can access critical information and manage the entire acquisition process efficiently. The Deal Hub is divided into two main components: the Data Room and the Deal Rooms.

Data Room: The Data Room is a secure, virtual storage space where sellers can upload and share essential documents related to their business. This includes financial statements, legal contracts, operational reports, and other due diligence materials. Buyers can access these documents to conduct thorough evaluations and make informed decisions. The Data Room ensures that all sensitive information is protected and only accessible to authorized parties.

Deal Rooms: The Deal Rooms are dedicated spaces for each business listing where buyers and sellers can collaborate and negotiate terms. Each Deal Room is equipped with tools for real-time communication, document sharing, and tracking the progress of the deal. This streamlined environment facilitates transparent and efficient interactions, helping to expedite the acquisition process and ensuring that both parties are aligned at every stage.

The Deal Hub's comprehensive and secure infrastructure simplifies the complexities of business acquisitions, providing a seamless experience for all users involved.

What is Plaid?

Plaid is a financial technology company that provides a secure and seamless way to connect and interact with financial institutions. It enables applications to access users' financial data with their consent, facilitating a wide range of services such as identity verification, account authentication, and transaction history retrieval. Plaid's robust API infrastructure ensures high security, reliability, and compliance with regulatory standards.

By integrating Plaid, Clearly Acquired can offer a secure, efficient, and reliable method for identity verification, building trust among users and ensuring the integrity of the acquisition process.

I am new to the idea of business acquisition, where can I get more information on how to get started?

Make sure to check out our Educational Course on Business Acquisition that is offered in our paid plans for buyers: From Purchase to Profit: Mastering the Art of Business Acquisition.

This Membership Course for buyers is designed to empower individuals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to navigate the business acquisition process successfully. Whether you're a first-time buyer or an experienced entrepreneur, our course equips you with the tools and insights needed to make informed decisions and achieve your acquisition goals. Join us and embark on your journey to buying a business with Clearly Acquired.

Easy as 1, 2, 3

Create Your Account. Get Verified. Start Searching.

1

Create an account

Every day, lenders, investors, brokers, and sellers come to Clearly Acquired looking for qualified operators like you. Creating an account and getting verified helps you stand out and build trust.

2

Build your profile

Build your profile to get matched with capital and opportunities. Showcase your expertise and resume, to connect with the right capital and acquisition partners—making every opportunity count.

3

Search & Connect

Browse Verified listings, source off-market deals, & manage deal flow with powerful tools to underwrite opportunities, and connect with capital to streamline the entire acquisition and funding process

Join the Clearly Acquired Search Community

Create Your Profile & Get Verified for Free