Hey everyone, Just joined SearchFunder, though I've been researching ETA on my own for the past few months. Apologies if this is the wrong place for this kind of post. Quick background: I come from an engineering and construction background, pouring concrete in the ICI. I'm looking at commercial cleaning as an entry point since the work happens mostly in the evenings, which fits around my full time job. End goal isn't just one cleaning company. I want to use it as a foothold into other commercial service verticals like asphalt and lawn care down the line. Purchase range is roughly $300K to $1M, staying smaller on purpose since I don't want something that demands more time than I can give on top of my job. A couple things I'd love input on: Education vs experience: worth pursuing formal ETA education, or is one to two years of self directed research and networking enough to get into a first deal? Curious what's actually worked for people here. Build vs buy: a friend has offered to let me partner into his very small existing commercial cleaning business (a few contracts) to learn hands on. Take that opportunity, or keep my search broad and not anchor to commercial cleaning too early? Cold outreach to owners: should I just be calling commercial cleaning companies directly and asking if they'd consider selling? Or is that a bad way to open that conversation? Working with brokers: when calling business brokers, is it enough to just give my name, number, and say I'm looking for a commercial cleaning business, or should that whole process happen over email instead? Wasn't sure what's actually normal here. Appreciate any advice or pushback on my thinking here.