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Good morning!
Most buyers start their search on BizBuySell, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
But today I want to talk about a different approach that often leads to better deals with less competition.
Community Spotlight
Another day, another big win by a member of our community 👇️
Bryan became the first Canadian to close a deal in Acquisition Ace, buying a $125k trailer manufacturing business.
“I think that’s what I was missing the whole time... is some sort of mentorship or camaraderie... somebody to talk this through. It’s hard to do it by yourself. It’s much much easier when you have somebody to do it with."
👉 Want mentorship and support from experienced buyers? Book a call with our team here.
Most buyers start their search on BizBuySell or other listing sites.
They’re competing with dozens of other buyers, paying inflated broker fees, and dealing with sellers who’ve been coached to maximize price.
Meanwhile, there’s a parallel universe of profitable businesses whose owners aren’t actively selling (but would consider the right offer).
These are off-market deals, and sometimes, they can be better opportunities than anything you’ll find listed publicly.
Why Off-Market Deals Make Sense
1. You avoid broker commissions
Brokers typically take 8-12% of the sale price.
When you go directly to the owner, that money stays in the deal, by lowering the purchase price or giving you more flexibility in structure.
2. You control the narrative
On listed deals, brokers frame the value and manage negotiations.
Off-market, you’re educating the seller on valuation and guiding the process.
If they’re not talking to other buyers, you set the terms.
3. More room for creative structures
Brokers want deals to close fast with maximum cash at closing (that’s when they get paid).
Direct deals give you flexibility to propose seller financing, earnouts, consulting agreements, or other structures that reduce your upfront capital.
4. You’re building a bigger pipeline
Acquisitions are a numbers game.
Most serious buyers run both on-market and off-market strategies simultaneously to maximize deal flow.
(Inside Acquisition Ace, members learn how to source off-market deals through direct outreach and automated campaigns. Want to learn this process? Book a call with our team here.)
The Downsides to Consider
1. It takes more work upfront
You’re doing cold outreach to owners who may not be thinking about selling.
Expect lower response rates and longer timelines compared to responding to active listings.
2. Financials might be messy
Owners who haven’t thought about selling often haven’t prepared their books for a transaction.
You may need to hire professionals to clean up financials or build a quality of earnings report from scratch.
So, are off-market deals right for you?
Off-market deals require more effort, but can offer better economics and more control.
Most successful buyers use both strategies:
Responding to listings while simultaneously reaching out directly to business owners.
Ready to learn off-market deal sourcing?
👉 Book a call with my team here, and see if you’re a fit for the Acquisition Ace community, where you’ll learn everything you need to know about finding deals that never hit public listings.
 | Onward, Ben Kelly PS: Check out our latest YouTube video. I show you how I bought a profitable boring business without spending a dime and how you can do it too. |
