Can you recommend services that find SMBs for sale BY-OWNER?
November 07, 2025
by a professional from University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business in North Palm Beach, FL, USA
Here's a challenge I'm tackling for the first time.
And it’s a BIG obstacle for many potential buyers:
How to meet DIY owners trying to sell or
potentially might sell if properly approached by a qualified business buyer.
The “BIZFIZBO” (a term I trademarked, playing off real estate “FSBO”) – especially the unadvertised offerings -
represent up to 80% of the best opportunities, which is why . . .
increasingly, I’m asked:
"Who should I hire to search, on my behalf, for off-market sellers?"
THE SITUATION
Some buyers NEED to outsource their search.
• Especially to meet the BY-OWNER offerings (or potentially available).
And sometimes it’s SMART to outsource.
• To protect employment, while discreetly trying to buy a business.
• Or, because of insufficient time or availability.
• Often, because they realize that their personality and mannerisms won’t “sell” during their first encounters with potential sellers.
They hope whomever identifies potential sellers will lay a foundation enabling a warm welcome for the buyer’s first live interaction with sellers.
My work focuses on training and coaching buyers to find and acquire the right businesses using the right methods.
• But I don't conduct acquisition searches on behalf of my clients.
I’M SEEKING RECOMMENDATIONS
Who are the best service providers to outsource search?
I'm creating a curated resource of reputable search services—people/firms that:
• Understand buyer acquisition criteria
• Conduct thorough, professional searches, without conflict of interest
• Price their services fairly
• Show a verifiable track record of successful searches, introducing buyers to sellers (completing transactions, a bonus!)
If you've been a client of one of these services, or if you provide these services, I'd value your recommendation.
Please share via comment, DM, or email—AND please include WHY the service provider is among the best.
“The Vetted Resource: Finders of SMB Sellers for Buyers”
This resource will be shared, to serve buyers who are ready and capable but need the right service provider to search on their behalf, and connect potential sellers with these potential buyers.
What's been your experience working with these kinds of service providers?
What differentiated the bad, good, or the great among these services?
from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Philadelphia, PA, USA
from Babson College in Boston, MA, USA