Clearly Acquired Blog

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
July 2, 2025

How to Handle Unrealistic Seller Valuations

Unrealistic seller valuations are one of the top reasons deals fall apart. Sellers often overprice their business due to emotional attachment, hearsay, or personal financial goals—creating a major disconnect with what the market will actually pay. To bridge this gap, buyers must lead with data, communicate with empathy, and consider flexible deal structures like earnouts or seller financing to get to a win-win outcome.

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Growth
July 1, 2025

How to Analyze Audience Data for SMB Growth

Analyzing audience data is essential for SMB growth because it reveals who your customers are, how they behave, and what drives their decisions. With clear goals, the right metrics, and tools like AI-powered platforms, small businesses can identify trends, tailor strategies, and turn insights into actionable steps. This data-driven approach leads to more innovative marketing, better customer experiences, and sustainable revenue growth.

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Growth
June 30, 2025

Labor Law Due Diligence Checklist

Labor law due diligence is a critical part of any business acquisition, helping buyers identify legal and financial risks tied to employment practices. It involves reviewing wage and hour compliance, employee classification, benefits, workplace safety, and litigation history. A structured review—supported by secure documentation and tools like Clearly Acquired—can reveal hidden liabilities, guide deal terms, and ensure a smooth post-close transition.

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Growth
June 29, 2025

Reddit Q&A: “For those buying a business—how’s your search and deal process going? What challenges are you running into in this market?”

This article answers a Reddit user's question about what challenges business buyers are facing in today's market. Clearly Acquired CEO Samson Jagoras outlines the top issues buyers encounter—from deal competition and seller expectations to financing and fatigue—and shares practical strategies to overcome them. It’s a field guide for navigating the modern acquisition landscape with confidence.

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Growth
June 29, 2025

Reddit Q&A: “How do I approach a business owner to buy their company—letter, email, or just call them?”

This article answers a Reddit user’s question about the best way to approach a business owner for a potential acquisition. Clearly Acquired CEO Samson Jagoras shares a proven multi-channel outreach strategy—starting with a personalized letter, followed by email and (if needed) a phone call. The advice focuses on tone, respect, and timing to maximize response and build early trust with sellers.

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Growth
June 29, 2025

Reddit Q&A: “Buying a small business—what questions should I ask during due diligence?”

This article answers a Reddit user’s question about what to ask during due diligence when buying a small business. Clearly Acquired CEO Samson Jagoras outlines the most important questions across financials, operations, customers, assets, legal, and growth. It serves as a practical checklist for buyers to uncover risks, validate value, and make informed acquisition decisions.

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Growth
June 29, 2025

Reddit Q&A: “When is it appropriate for a potential buyer to meet my employees—during due diligence or after the sale?”

In this Q&A-style article, a Reddit user asks when it’s appropriate for a buyer to meet the seller’s employees. Clearly Acquired CEO Samson Jagoras walks through the risks and best practices of employee introductions during M&A, comparing scenarios where meetings should happen before or after closing. The article provides tactical guidance for both buyers and sellers navigating this sensitive part of the deal.

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Growth
June 29, 2025

Reddit Q&A: “If I’m buying a business but not the company itself, is that an asset purchase or a share purchase?”

In this Q&A-style article, Clearly Acquired’s deal team answers a Reddit user’s question about whether acquiring a business without taking over the legal entity constitutes an asset purchase. The article breaks down the difference between asset and share purchases, comparing risk, tax treatment, legal simplicity, and SBA financing. It’s a must-read for buyers and sellers navigating their first small business acquisition.

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Growth
June 29, 2025

Understanding Indemnification Caps in M&A Contracts: What Every Buyer and Seller Should Know

This article explains how indemnification caps work in M&A contracts and why they matter to both buyers and sellers. It breaks down key concepts like carve-outs, market standards, survival periods, and how caps interact with other deal terms. Whether you're acquiring a business or selling one, this guide helps you negotiate smarter and manage post-closing risk.

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Growth
June 29, 2025

How Risk Impacts Business Valuation

Risk has a direct and measurable impact on business valuation. The higher the perceived risk—whether market, operational, or financial—the lower the valuation multiple, reducing what buyers and lenders are willing to pay or finance. Actively managing and mitigating risk through diversification, operational improvements, and financial transparency can significantly increase a business’s market value and deal success.

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Growth
June 28, 2025

The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Financing Growth: Tools Beyond SBA Loans

While SBA loans are popular, many entrepreneurs turn to alternative financing tools like equipment financing, lines of credit, merchant cash advances, and private lending to fund business growth. Each option offers unique trade-offs in speed, cost, and flexibility—making it crucial to match the right tool to your business stage and goals. By strategically combining multiple funding sources, entrepreneurs can manage cash flow, reduce risk, and stay agile as they scale.

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Growth
June 28, 2025

Machine Learning in Risk Assessment for SMBs

Small businesses face rising threats from cyberattacks, fraud, and regulatory burdens, but machine learning (ML) is leveling the playing field. By detecting anomalies, predicting risks, and adapting in real time, ML tools can dramatically reduce fraud losses and strengthen security. For SMBs with limited resources, platforms like Clearly Acquired demonstrate how AI can be accessible, cost-effective, and essential for safer transactions and smarter risk management.

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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