We regularly encounter companies that went to market, rejected our offer—or accepted another buyer—and are still unsold months later. Sometimes the business has since had a down year, making a conventional sale even harder. Suppose the owner believes the company is worth $2.5–$3 million, but the current earnings and available debt only support a lower valuation. Rather than walking away permanently, could the buyer invest $300,000–$500,000 for 20%–40% of the company, provide some liquidity to the owner, and establish a contractual path to acquire the balance later? Alternatives might include: A minority investment with a future purchase option A control investment with substantial seller rollover A phased buyout A partial payment at closing plus a seller note An earnout tied to restoring earnings The objections are legitimate. The owner may be giving up control without receiving the full sale price. The buyer may inherit the operational burden without enough authority. Both sides may disagree later about valuation, distributions, investment, or the timing of the eventual sale. But the owner’s current alternative may be no transaction at all—and another year operating a business they already wanted to exit. For buyers, the question is whether previously unsold companies represent an overlooked sourcing channel. For owners, the question is whether partial liquidity and a credible path to exit are preferable to waiting indefinitely for an all-cash buyer at yesterday’s valuation. Have you successfully structured one of these transactions? What made it work, and where did it break down?