I’ve recently decided to switch careers and decided ETA is the right choice for me. I have been successful in my current career so if I jump I want to do it right. I have a business that’s relatively passive now so I don’t know that I need a funded search, but I’ll definitely need investors to get the deal.

I’ve already done the small business in the real estate world so I’m ready to jump to a bigger deal and I want to work with private equity.

I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on to learn the industry and I have two questions:

1. does it make sense to start my search before I have funding for the deal? Do I find the deal then go find investors?

Or will owners not take me seriously unless I have investors backing me to prove I can close?

2. I want to be sure I’m reading the right stuff. Any book recommendations I’ll take!