Introducing ETA IQ (2.0) – Financial Modeling & Deal Tracking Platform for Search Funders

Hey everyone! We’re excited to share a major update to ETA IQ — the financial modeling and deal tracking platform designed specifically for Searchers. This update expands the original financial model to support more complex deal structures and all types of Searchers, both in the U.S. and internationally. If you prefer a quick video walkthrough instead of reading, here's a 2-min intro clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCUhIvTImYQ ________________________________________________________________________________________ FREE TRIAL FOR SEARCHFUNDER MEMBERS Over the last year, hundreds of Searchers have used ETA IQ and provided feedback that’s helped shape this new version. As a thank you, we’d like to offer members of the Searchfunder community a 10-day free trial. If you’re interested, drop your email in the comments and we’ll reach out to set you up. You can also email me directly at redacted ________________________________________________________________________________________ WHAT’S NEW? 1) EXPANDED INTERACTIVE FINANCIAL MODEL The model now supports, among other things: ▸Conventional or SBA 7(a) loans for Senior Debt ▸Seller Notes & Seller Equity Rollovers ▸Investor waterfall calculations (distributions, IRR, MOIC) ▸“Net Working Capital Navigator” to help estimate working capital requirements ETA IQ is designed to support both quick deal screening and full underwriting. Most users leverage the platform as a quick filter based on DSCR and cash flow requirements (“does this deal even work?”). From there, they’ll go on to build full lender- and investor-ready models with projections and return analysis. ——— 2) IN-PRODUCT EDUCATION Nearly every term, calculation, and metric includes built-in definitions, explanations, and short videos written *specifically* through the lens of ETA and Search Funds. The goal is to make every input transparent and every output understandable, regardless of whether you have a background in accounting, finance, or M&A. ——— 3) DEAL & CONTACT TRACKER Prior to building ETA IQ, we used Hubspot during our own Search. It worked, but required time-consuming upfront configuration and included many features we never needed. One of our core design principles with ETA IQ was zero setup. The entire platform is designed for out-of-the-box use by Searchers, with no configuration required. Certain elements can be customized, but those are driven by personal preference rather than functional necessity. ________________________________________________________________________________________ WHY WE BUILT THIS We’re former Searchers, and like most of you, we lived this process. It was a grind, and we kept thinking there should be better tools to make it easier. If you’re curious about our motivation or background, you can read more here: https://etaiq.com/about-us And if you’d like a deeper walkthrough of the financial model, we put together a longer overview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYg8gcuzDgY