How to overcome Search Fatigue?

January 13, 2026

by a searcher from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management in Concord, CA, USA

I kicked off my search June of 2025 and while I've submitted five offers to date none were accepted. How do people manage the reality of deal fatigue? I can see the signs of it starting to settle in for myself and want to develop some good habits to protect against it deterring my search, especially coming off the heals of the holidays where I saw my deal flow slightly decline due to travel. All advice is greatly appreciated.

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Reply by a searcher
from The University of Michigan in Downingtown, PA, USA

Thanks for the tag ^redacted‌! Keep your head up, you've seem to have gone past the hardest part and that's getting deals in front of you. I assume your are referring to LOI's not being accepted, which will always happen. Take them as reps and learn, ask the brokers or sellers if proprietary for feedback so you can do better on the next. Just getting to an LOI is a feat in itself and you should be proud of where you are. Stay positive, the market will open soon with more deals and I am sure you will get an LOI accepted soon. I am working on a proprietary deal that has so far taken a full year to get to LOI on. Albeit the first 3 quarters last year were just relationship building with the seller, but it has taken me 3 months just to get enough information to provide a clean LOI. Every day I feel like I'm in and out of the deal. My mentor keeps me level headed and driving forward and my wife continues to support me which makes the ups and downs easier to manage. Good luck and I am sure you will get an LOI accepted!

Reply by a searcher
from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, USA

There's a reason why so few people buy businesses. It is a hard process. From convincing yourself that you can do it to connecting with the businesses and owners that are a good fit for you to navigating the LOI, diligence, and closing process. Burn out is real. Self-doubt is real. Take a break, reconnect with what is driving you to pursue this route, and use that to help regain focus. What parts of the process can you dial-back a bit and deal with less precision? Where do you need to double-down to ensure its the right fit and a good opportunity and fit for you--without information overload and analysis paralysis?

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