In this episode the hosts break down exactly how they evaluate private investment opportunities as limited partners, revealing what makes them say yes—or pass—on search funds, business acquisitions, and real estate deals.

Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.

Looking to build a professional website in minutes? Try Wix: https://wix.pxf.io/c/6898629/3115214/25616?trafcat=template

HubSpot is the backbone for how businesses scale without chaos. Try them out here: https://go.try-hubspot.com/OeG9Vr

Subscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.acquanon.com/newsletter

💰 Sponsored by:
Viso Business Capital — Get the right SBA loan tailored to your acquisition needs with Heather Endresen’s firm. Sign up for a free live Q&A on SBA loans at https://www.visocap.net and click “Zoom Sign Up” in the top-right corner.

FRANZY - Thinking about buying a franchise instead of an independent business? FRANZY is a free platform built for acquisition-minded entrepreneurs who want to explore franchise ownership without broker bias. FRANZY matches you with franchise opportunities based on your capital, goals, and lifestyle—and includes free coaching from experienced franchise operators. If you're exploring ETA but want a structured, system-driven alternative, check out https://franzy.com/

This week, the hosts step away from reviewing a business listing to answer a question they receive constantly: How do experienced investors evaluate private acquisition opportunities? Whether it's a search fund, an independent acquisition, or a real estate investment, the hosts explain exactly what they look for before writing a check.

Key Highlights:
- Where experienced investors actually find off-market acquisition opportunities.
- How LPs evaluate sponsors, business quality, and buyer-business fit before investing.
- Understanding preferred equity, waterfalls, carry, management fees, and capital structures.
- Why sponsor incentives and personal financial commitment matter more than flashy IRR projections.
- Bill and Mills share the private investment hurdle rates they personally require before writing a check.

Subscribe to weekly our Newsletter and get curated deals in your inbox

Advertise with us by clicking here

Do you love Acquanon and want to see our smiling faces? Subscribe to our Youtube channel.
Do you enjoy our content? Rate our show!
Follow us on Twitter @acquanon Learnings about small business acquisitions and operations.

For inquiries or suggestions, email us at contact@acquanon.com