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 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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Growth
November 6, 2025

SBA extends deadline for Wisconsin disaster physical damage loans

The SBA has extended the deadline for Wisconsin residents and businesses to apply for low-interest physical disaster loans to November 12, 2025, giving those affected by recent storms more time to secure recovery funds. Eligible counties include Milwaukee, Washington, and Waukesha—along with adjacent counties qualifying for EIDL support—covering homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofits. Borrowers can also request up to a 20% loan increase for mitigation upgrades to better protect their properties from future disasters.

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Growth
November 6, 2025

Rithm Capital announces $100 billion platform expansion with recent acquisitions

Rithm Capital says its platform will surpass ~$100B as it moves to acquire private-credit manager Crestline and office REIT Paramount; Crestline adds ~$17–20B AUM (and insurance capabilities), while the all-cash $1.6B Paramount deal brings a NYC/SF Class-A office portfolio. Management paired the M&A with disciplined funding—no equity raise—and reported Q3’25 pretax income of ~$295M (20% ROE) and EAD of $0.54/share, supporting the strategy.

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Growth
November 6, 2025

Top 10 Red Flags When Reviewing a Business for Sale

Spotting red flags early can save you from costly surprises when buying a business. Watch for patterns like declining revenue, messy books, concentration risk, legal or compliance issues, outdated assets, cash irregularities, refusal to sign a non-compete, high turnover, inflated asset values, and growing receivables—each can signal deeper operational or financial problems. The move: tighten diligence (financial, legal, and operational), price the risks into the deal with escrows/contingencies—or walk away.

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Growth
November 5, 2025

The Hidden Economy of Businesses for Sale: How Main Street Is Going Mainstream

Main Street is having a moment: a wave of Boomer retirements, better online marketplaces, and AI-driven tools are turning small-business buying into a mainstream path to ownership. With SBA and seller financing lowering barriers—and off-market outreach revealing less competitive deals—everyday operators can now find, value, and close solid businesses faster than ever. The result is a “hidden economy” coming into the open, where savvy buyers trade W-2 ceilings for cash-flowing equity.

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Growth
November 5, 2025

How to Evaluate a Business for Sale Like a Professional Investor

ChatGPT said: Evaluating a business like a professional investor means looking beyond surface-level numbers to understand the story behind the data. Focus on three pillars: financial performance, market position, and operational strength. Adjust financials to reflect true earnings (SDE or EBITDA), analyze competitive advantages and growth trends, and assess risks like owner dependency or customer concentration. Combining structured due diligence with expert tools ensures you buy a business with real, sustainable value.

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Growth
November 4, 2025

The Modern Business Broker: How AI and Data Are Changing Deal-Making

AI is reinventing business brokerage by automating the grunt work—sourcing targets, valuing companies with real-time data, and accelerating due diligence—so deals move faster with fewer surprises. Modern platforms (e.g., Clearly Acquired) match buyers and lenders, verify funds and identity, and maintain secure data rooms, freeing brokers to focus on strategy, negotiation, and confidentiality. The result is higher confidence, cleaner structures, and better outcomes for both sellers and buyers.

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Growth
November 4, 2025

10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Business Broker

Before hiring a business broker, it’s crucial to ask the right questions to ensure they’re qualified, experienced, and aligned with your goals. The right broker can help you secure the best price, maintain confidentiality, and guide you through a smooth transaction, while the wrong one can cost you time and money. Evaluate their industry expertise, deal history, certifications, marketing approach, and buyer screening process to ensure your business sale is handled with skill and integrity.

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Growth
November 3, 2025

Earnouts vs. Contingent Payments: Key Differences

Earnouts are deferred purchase price tied to post-close business performance (e.g., revenue, EBITDA) to bridge valuation gaps and align incentives; sellers bear more performance risk and payouts follow precise formulas over 1–3 years. Contingent payments release only if non-performance conditions are met (e.g., key-customer retention, litigation/regulatory resolution), shifting risk based on the specific trigger. Both can affect tax and accounting treatment, so tight definitions, measurement methods, and dispute-resolution language are essential to avoid fights later.

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Growth
November 3, 2025

Business Broker vs. M&A Advisor: Which One Do You Really Need?

Choosing between a business broker and an M&A advisor depends largely on the size, structure, and goals of your transaction. Smaller Main Street businesses often need streamlined, hands-on support, while lower middle-market companies benefit from advanced financial modeling, capital stack planning, and institutional buyer networks. Clearly Acquired bridges both worlds—offering AI-driven valuation, deal sourcing, buy- and sell-side representation, and integrated acquisition financing—so business owners and investors can manage the entire lifecycle of a transaction from one unified platform.

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Growth
November 3, 2025

SBA Announces Carter County Loan Outreach Center Launch

The U.S. Small Business Administration is opening a new Loan Outreach Center in Van Buren, Missouri, to assist Carter County residents, businesses, and nonprofits affected by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding earlier this year. Beginning November 3, the center—located at the Carter County Courthouse—will help applicants navigate disaster loan options for physical and economic losses. The SBA also reminds applicants that deadlines for property damage and economic injury loans are December 22, 2025, and July 22, 2026, respectively.

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Growth
November 3, 2025

What Does a Business Broker Actually Do? A Complete Guide for Buyers and Sellers

A business broker acts as a trusted intermediary between buyers and sellers of small to mid-sized businesses, managing everything from valuation and marketing to negotiation and closing. They ensure confidentiality, handle the complexities of deal structure and financing, and guide both parties through the legal and financial details of a sale. In short, they make the buying or selling process faster, smoother, and more successful by combining expertise, connections, and negotiation skill.

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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