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
November 11, 2024

Our 6-Step Guide to Securing SBA Funding

You know SBA financing is the route you want to take. But what will the process look like, and what will it be like working with the banks? Well, let us get you covered(sort of) with a step-by-step guide.

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Growth
October 28, 2024

How much business can you afford?

Knowing how much business you can afford with an SBA loan is essential to making the right purchase. The amount you can borrow will depend on several factors, including your down payment, business cash flow, and overall financial health.

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Growth
October 7, 2024

What The SBA Loan Process Might Actually Look Like For You...

The SBA loan approval process can seem complex, but knowing each stage will help you manage expectations and ensure a smoother journey. From start to finish, it usually takes 45 to 90 days, but understanding the key stages can help you navigate potential delays and stay prepared.

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Growth
September 25, 2024

How Lenders Differ in Business Acquisition Financing

When securing financing for a business acquisition, lenders evaluate several critical factors that can shape the terms of the loan. These include collateral requirements, your debt service coverage ratio (DSCR), and down payment expectations. Lenders also look at borrower credit and experience, as well as industry expertise to assess the viability of the business. The loan structure is important, with options like SBA loans, Parri Passu loans, and USDA loans for rural acquisitions offering different benefits. Additionally, lenders factor in geographical preferences, approval times, and loan covenants. In some cases, you may even explore airball (uncollateralized) loans where tangible assets aren't a key factor.

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Growth
September 22, 2024

The Six Step Rundown Rundown on SBA Loan Approval

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Growth
September 9, 2024

SBA Loan Types & Which is Best for You

Let’s break down the most common SBA loan options and help you determine which one is right for your business acquisition goals.

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Growth
August 29, 2024

Understanding SBA Loan Brokers vs. Direct Lenders for Business Acquisition

For those looking to acquire a business, especially in a market where creativity in deal structuring can make or break a transaction, SBA loan brokers are the superior choice.

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Growth
August 15, 2024

Navigating SBA 7(a) and 504 Loan Qualifications: A Guide for Business Buyers

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers two popular loan programs—SBA 7(a) and SBA 504—that can provide the funding needed for your acquisition. However, qualifying for these loans requires meeting specific criteria

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Growth
August 15, 2024

Unlock Your Entrepreneurial Potential: Your SBA Business Acquisition Journey

The essential role of SBA loan brokers in navigating the complexities of business acquisitions. How Clearly Acquired prepares you for the SBA loan process by providing the technology, financial modeling, and expert guidance needed to secure the financing and successfully purchase the business

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Growth
August 4, 2024

Navigating the World of Business and M&A Brokers: Clarifying Licensure and Professional Status

For those navigating the intricate world of business transactions, leveraging the expertise of skilled and technologically advanced brokers, like those on Clearly Acquired, can make a significant difference. These professionals are equipped to handle the complexities of modern business deals, ensuring successful outcomes for their clients.

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Growth
July 22, 2024

The Silver Tsunami is Swelling: Top States Leading the Way in 2024

The "silver tsunami" of business transactions is rolling across the United States, driven by the retirement of baby boomers who are selling their businesses. Every year, over 200,000 small businesses change hands across the country.

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Growth
June 20, 2024

Quality Over Quantity: The Key to Successful Business Acquisitions

Finding a business that is worth an acquisition can be exhausting. In turn, this can cause you to settle. But do not confuse motion with progress. Settling for a mediocre business will slow down your wealth building.

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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