Use seller financing
Negotiate an earn-out
Arrange a lease-to-own deal
Find a business with distressed ownership
Partner with an investor
Use an SBA loan or other acquisition loan
Buy through an asset purchase with deferred payment
Offer equity instead of cash
Assume existing debt with lender approval
Use a rollover equity structure
Raise capital from friends, family, or private lenders
Buy a business with strong cash flow and use the business’s own cash flow to fund payments
Target businesses where the seller wants a fast exit
Propose a management buyout
Start with a minority stake and buy the rest later
Use a joint venture to control the business first
Trade services, expertise, or sweat equity for ownership
Find off-market opportunities with motivated sellers
Structure a performance-based purchase price
Use a business broker to identify flexible sellers
Prepare a strong acquisition plan and financial projections
Build credibility with a clean personal financial profile
Negotiate working capital into the deal
Keep due diligence tight to avoid overpaying
Use legal and financial advisors to structure the transaction
Focus on businesses with low upfront capital requirements