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Why I Thought BizBuySell Was a Waste of Time

For a long time, I thought sites like BizBuySell were garbage.

Every time I submitted an inquiry, the broker wouldn’t respond. I mean — why even accept inquiries if you’re not going to reply?

It’s maddening.

I also dismissed BizBuySell because of its efficiency. The more accessible a marketplace is, the more competition it attracts — and the faster the best deals disappear or get bid up. I figured if a business was listed publicly, it was probably already picked over.

But then I talked to another acquisition entrepreneur. Someone with the same goal as me — and three businesses already under their belt. The first thing I asked was how they sourced their deals.

Turns out? They only use BizBuySell. 🤯

So I decided to give it another shot.

The site is nationwide and includes just about every business imaginable. I didn’t have a specific industry in mind, so I filtered listings to my surrounding counties — far enough to broaden the pool, but close enough to drive to.

And wouldn’t you know it? I actually found some decent-looking deals.

But finding a business is just step one.

The next challenge? Getting a broker to take me seriously.

How I Finally Got Brokers to Respond

Let’s talk about business brokers for a second.

Think of them like real estate agents — but instead of houses, they’re selling businesses. And in Michigan, all you technically need to become a business broker is a real estate license.

Neat, huh?

But here’s the kicker: the broker doesn’t work for you.

They work for the seller — because that’s who pays them. Their job isn’t to help you find the perfect fit. It’s to close the deal and earn their commission.

Now imagine being a broker with a listing on BizBuySell.

You’re probably getting dozens — maybe even hundreds — of inquiries every week from people who aren’t serious buyers. Some are just curious. Some are bored. Some might even be trying to snoop for competitive intel. You don’t know who’s legit and who’s wasting your time.

And in Southeast Michigan, where deal flow is relatively low, a lot of brokers still have a regular 9-to-5. Simply put, your inquiry isn’t always a priority.

So if you send a lazy, generic inquiry?

Yeah…you’re not getting a response.

That’s why this time, I did it differently.

I took the time to craft real messages — not just “I’m interested.” I wanted to signal that I was qualified, prepared, and serious. I workshopped the messaging (with help from ChatGPT), then started sending them out.

And this time?

They responded.

From Surface-Level Deals to Real Due Diligence

Within a few days, I was signing NDAs, reviewing confidential info, and looking at real businesses.

And with that came a wave of new lessons.

When you're doing due diligence, you have to accept that there's no such thing as a "perfect" company. There will always be issues, unknowns, and risks baked into the deal.

The real question is: What are the key risks — and can I manage them?

That’s the job of an investor. To weigh what’s known, assess what’s uncertain, and decide whether you can confidently move forward.

And sometimes, even when a deal looks great on paper...the answer is no.

Just a few nights ago, I reviewed a company with strong cash flow, a long history, and a loyal customer base.

But as I started walking through the risks, I realized something important:

I didn’t understand the industry well enough to de-risk the deal.

It wasn’t a bad business. It just wasn’t right for me.

And that’s a hard call to make because turning down a potentially great business feels counterintuitive.

But betting big money outside your circle of competence?

That’s a recipe for disaster.

Redefining My Buy Box

That moment helped me sharpen my buy box — to get clearer about what fits my skill set, aligns with my interests, and supports my long-term goals.

For the first time in a while, I feel real momentum.

The nervousness is still there. But so is the pride.

I’m stepping outside my comfort zone — and inching closer to the person I’ve always wanted to be.

No breakthrough yet.

But progress?

Hell yes.

This Week’s Partnerships

StartEngine’s $30M Surge — Own a Piece Before June 26

Private markets are having a moment, thanks to companies like StartEngine.

The leading alternative investing platform is helping everyday investors like you access deals once reserved for VCs and insiders, including exposure to private market titans like OpenAI, Databricks, and Perplexity.¹

How’s it going? In Q1 2025, StartEngine pulled off $30M in revenue, its biggest quarter ever (based on unaudited financials).²

But StartEngine isn’t just a middleman. The company earns 20% carried interest on select pre-IPO offerings, unlocking value for shareholders when these deals succeed.³

How can you tap into this diversification play? By investing in StartEngine.

StartEngine has crowdfunded $85M+ to date, and you can join 45K+ shareholders before the company’s current round closes on June 26.

Invest in StartEngine

_{Reg A+ via StartEngine Crowdfunding, Inc. No BD/intermediary involved. Investment is speculative, illiquid & high risk. See OC and Risks on page.}

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