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.

Growth
November 12, 2025

Why Every Buyer Needs an SBA Loan Broker in Their Corner

Working with an SBA loan broker gives buyers a major edge in securing financing for business acquisitions. Brokers simplify the complex SBA process by matching you with the right lenders, managing documentation, and negotiating competitive terms. Platforms like Clearly Acquired take it further by combining expert guidance with technology — offering automated prequalification, deal sourcing, and AI-driven valuation tools that help buyers move faster, smarter, and with higher approval odds.

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Growth
November 11, 2025

SBA Loan Broker vs. Direct Bank: Which Gets You Funded Faster?

Choosing between an SBA loan broker and a direct bank comes down to speed and complexity. Brokers typically get you funded faster because they package your file correctly, submit to multiple lenders at once, and navigate underwriting on your behalf—often closing in 45–75 days. Direct banks can be slower, especially if they’re not SBA Preferred Lenders, but may make sense for simple deals when cost savings matter more than timeline.

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Growth
November 11, 2025

How a Franchise Loan Broker Can Help You Launch Faster with Less Risk

A franchise loan broker helps you launch faster and with far less risk by matching you to the right lenders, structuring your loan, and streamlining the entire financing process. Instead of navigating banks alone, a broker brings lender relationships, SBA expertise, and application management to accelerate approvals and reduce costly mistakes. Their guidance ensures you secure favorable terms so you can focus on opening your franchise with confidence—not fighting through paperwork.

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Growth
November 10, 2025

Financing a Franchise: The Complete Guide to SBA and Conventional Options

SBA loans are the go-to for first-time franchisees: smaller down payments (often 10–20%), longer terms (up to 25 years for real estate), and more flexible credit—so long as the brand appears on the SBA Franchise Directory. Conventional bank loans can move faster and sometimes price sharper, but they demand stronger credit, bigger equity, and proven profitability (best for resales or multi-unit operators). Pick based on your liquidity, timeline, and whether your franchise is SBA-eligible.

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Growth
November 10, 2025

How SBA Loan Brokers Help You Navigate Complex Deals

SBA loan brokers cut through the red tape by matching your deal with the right lender, structuring terms that satisfy SBA rules (7(a) or 504), and assembling a lender-ready package that clears underwriting. They troubleshoot sticking points—DSCR shortfalls, valuation gaps, seller-note standby, franchise/lease issues—and keep timelines moving with organized docs and proactive communication. Result: faster approvals, fewer surprises, and better odds of closing on favorable terms.

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Growth
November 10, 2025

The Anatomy of a Perfect Business Acquisition Loan Package

A “lender-ready” acquisition package tells one tight story: what you’re buying, how it cash-flows the debt, and why you’re qualified to run it. Include a sharp executive summary, 3–5 year projections with DSCR ≥1.25, three years of business financials and tax returns, QofE/valuation support, LOI or Purchase Agreement, sources-and-uses and capital stack, proof of equity injection, collateral schedules, and your resume/ops plan. Clean, consistent numbers in an organized data room dramatically speed underwriting and improve terms.

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Growth
November 10, 2025

How Lenders Underwrite Business Acquisition Loans (and What They Look For)

Lenders underwrite acquisition loans by testing the business’s ability to service debt (DSCR/global cash flow) and the buyer’s strength—credit history, liquidity/net worth, relevant experience, and post-close reserves. They favor tight deal structures: realistic price backed by a valuation/QofE, 10–25% equity injection, seller notes on full standby (for SBA), adequate collateral, and a clear working-capital plan. Clean, consistent financials and a credible 3-year plan materially speed approval.

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Growth
November 10, 2025

Debt vs. Equity: How to Structure Your Business Acquisition Loan the Right Way

Choosing between debt and equity shapes control, risk, and long-term returns in an acquisition. Debt keeps ownership intact and offers tax-deductible interest, but demands fixed payments and strong, predictable cash flow; equity eases cash strain and brings investor expertise, at the cost of dilution and shared decision-making. Many buyers blend both (e.g., SBA debt + a modest equity slice) to balance control, flexibility, and overall cost of capital.

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Growth
November 10, 2025

Acquisition Loans Explained: The Smartest Way to Finance Buying a Business

Acquisition loans are one of the smartest ways to buy a business because they let you leverage the company’s own cash flow and assets to fund the purchase—dramatically reducing how much you need to bring to the table. With tools like SBA 7(a), SBA 504, conventional bank loans, seller financing, and even ROBS, buyers can structure deals with low down payments, long repayment terms, and competitive rates. By combining multiple financing sources, buyers often unlock better terms, preserve their capital, and close deals that would otherwise be out of reach.

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Growth
November 7, 2025

What Is a Business Acquisition Loan - and How to Qualify for One

A business acquisition loan provides the capital needed to buy an existing business, covering assets, inventory, equipment, and goodwill—often making it a lower-risk path to ownership than starting from scratch. To qualify, lenders look for strong personal credit, financial stability, and a profitable target business with reliable cash flow. Buyers can improve their chances by preparing clean financials, crafting a strong business plan, and working with platforms like Clearly Acquired to connect with lenders and streamline documentation.

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Growth
November 7, 2025

Apollo and 8VC Partner to Accelerate the Next Wave of American Industrial Innovation

Apollo and 8VC have formed a strategic partnership to close the funding gap that often prevents industrial technologies from scaling, combining Apollo’s $840B in AUM with 8VC’s deep expertise in advanced industries. Their goal is to deploy billions into sectors like manufacturing, aerospace, energy, logistics, and life sciences using non-dilutive, asset-backed financing that supports large-scale infrastructure without requiring companies to give up equity. This collaboration represents a major shift in how America funds industrial innovation, connecting breakthrough technologies with private credit markets to accelerate national economic competitiveness.

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Growth
November 6, 2025

Corpay completes $2.4 billion acquisition of Alpha Group International

Corpay has finalized its $2.4 billion acquisition of Alpha Group International, expanding its global footprint in cross-border payments and strengthening its presence among European investment managers. The deal is backed by expanded credit facilities—including a $2.775B revolver and a new $900M Term Loan B—and is expected to generate meaningful accretion in 2026. By integrating Alpha’s FX and global account capabilities, Corpay aims to accelerate growth across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

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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