Finding Companies for sale in a slow market

January 07, 2026

by a searcher from The University of Alabama - Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration in Saint Petersburg, FL, USA

I started my search in the Tampa Bay Area, where I am current based, about a year ago which seems to have a lot of potential. Family changes are pushing me to be closer to Jacksonville which has a much slower market or the decent business are not making it to market at all. What are some strategies that have worked for others in markets where good business are rarely being posted and how did you go about searching in these areas?

Reply by a searcher
from University of South Carolina in Savannah, GA, USA

In slower markets, off-market deals are often where the best opportunities appear. I’ve found the most success through direct conversations with contractors, vendors, neighbors, and others connected to local businesses, since they usually know who is considering retirement before anything goes public. Realtors and CPAs are also underutilized sources. They are often involved in ownership transitions well before a sale is announced. Staying visible and building genuine local relationships matters far more than waiting for listings to appear.

Reply by a professional-advisory
from University of Florida in Tampa, FL, USA

Hey there, Stephen. We coincidentally just hosted a webinar on Deal Flow, which included strategies for optimizing this area. One of the strategies we teach our community members is the importance of moving past email and into the real world by physically going to companies you wish to acquire, introducing yourself to owners, and booking as many meetings as you can. You never know where your networking will lead.

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