The 5% Down Financing Kit$27 one-timeGet the kit →

For first-time business buyers

Buy an established business with as little as 5% of your own cash.

The SBA checklists, calculators and lender directory I use to structure acquisition financing, so you walk into your first lender meeting already knowing your numbers.

Get the Financing Kit: $27 →One-time payment
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Excel and PDF filesMain Street and onlineSecure checkout

▶ How 5% down works, in 45 seconds. Tap for sound.

Right now you might be thinking

"I don't have $500K sitting in the bank."

"Banks won't lend to someone who's never owned a business."

"I don't even know how much cash I'd need."

"I heard you can buy with zero down. Is that real?"

Sound familiar?

Most first-time buyers either overestimate the cash they need, or chase zero-down schemes that no longer work under current SBA rules. This kit shows you the real math, and what lenders will ask you for.

How 5% down actually works

On a $1M acquisition, the cash you bring can be $50,000, not $500,000.

Total project cost$1,000,000Purchase price plus closing costs and working capital

SBA equity injection$100,000The 10% minimum for a first-time acquisition

Seller note on full standbyup to $50,000Can count for up to half of the injection

Minimum cash from you$50,000The rest is the SBA 7(a) loan

Illustrative example based on the equity injection rules for an Initial Acquisition in SBA SOP 50 10 8.1 (effective October 1, 2026). The 10% is based on total project cost. A seller note counts toward half of it only if the seller agrees to full standby: no principal or interest payments for the life of the SBA loan. Lenders can require more than the minimum. Confirm current rules with your lender.

What's inside

Five tools, grouped by the question you're stuck on

If you need to know how much cash you need

1. Down Payment Planner

Enter the price, closing costs and working capital. It shows your required equity injection, how much a standby seller note can cover, and the cash you actually need.

Included

2. Debt Service Coverage Calculator

Check whether a business's cash flow can carry the loan payments before you make an offer, using the same ratio lenders underwrite to.

Included

If you need a lender to say yes

3. SBA Loan Package Checklist

Every document an SBA lender asks a buyer for, in the order they ask, so your package is complete the first time.

Included

4. My Personal SBA Lender Directory

The SBA preferred lenders I work with, who actively close acquisition loans. Each listing shows deal size range, industry focus, whether they lend on online businesses, and who to contact, plus a short email template for your first outreach.

Included

If you need the seller to help finance

5. Seller Note Structuring Guide

The terms to propose, how standby notes work, and how to explain them to a seller so the conversation helps your deal instead of killing it.

Included

Get all five tools: $27 →

Who made this

I've spent 14 years on both sides of the table.

I'm Michael Freedman, a licensed Florida business broker. I've built, bought, sold and advised on businesses since 2012, from Main Street companies to online brands. I've watched good buyers lose great deals because their financing wasn't ready when the seller was. This kit is the part of my process that fixes that.

14+

years buying and selling businesses

1,000+

businesses evaluated

$100M+

in deals closed and advised on

From buyers I've worked with

Real buyers, real deals

Trained to check the numbers himself

For the past year, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Michael Freedman as a mentor while searching for a business to acquire. I trained under him across the entire acquisition process: sourcing deals and screening them on a first look, analyzing seller materials and pressure-testing the numbers, communicating effectively with brokers and sellers, getting under LOI and renegotiating terms, and running preliminary due diligence on my own, starting from the bank statements and reconciling everything against the P&L and the underlying revenue records. Michael is direct. When a deal doesn’t work, he says so plainly, teaches you to see it yourself, and helps you know when to walk away. I haven’t closed on a business yet, but I’m a sharper, more disciplined buyer than I was a year ago. I’d recommend Michael to anyone serious about buying a business.

Javad B.Buyer in an active search, mentored for one year

Closed his first business with an SBA loan

Just closed on my first business via an SBA loan. Mike's community and insights were an invaluable part of the process and he personally reviewed and OK'd the acquisition and connected me with my legal counsel (which saved me thousands). Highly recommend!

Dave SchneiderFirst-time business buyer

Guided through every step of the deal

From start to finish, he provided exceptional service, guiding me through every step of the process with professionalism and expertise. Mike took the time to understand my goals, offering valuable insights and advice. [...] I highly recommend Mike to anyone looking to buy or sell a business.

Bubba JenningsClient

Individual results. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

This kit is for you if

You're an executive, engineer, physician or operator with savings, looking at your first acquisitionYou're considering a Main Street or online business and plan to use an SBA loanSomeone told you "just use the SBA" and you want to know what that actually involves

It's not for you if

You want to buy a business with none of your own moneyBuying a business would put your family's savings at riskYou're looking for legal or tax advice (talk to your attorney and CPA)

Questions buyers ask

Is $27 a one-time charge?Yes. One payment, no subscription. The files are yours to keep.

I haven't found a business yet. Is it too early?No. Financing takes longer than most buyers expect, and sellers favor buyers who show up with their numbers ready. This is the right time.

Does it work for online businesses?Yes. The SBA equity rules are the same for Main Street and online acquisitions. The checklist notes where lenders treat them differently.

What format are the files?Spreadsheets that open in Excel or Google Sheets, plus PDF guides and templates.

Is this financial or legal advice?No. It's educational material. Confirm your specific deal with your lender, attorney and CPA.

Know exactly how much cash you need. Tonight.

Five tools. One payment of $27. Instant download.

Get the Financing Kit: $27 →Takes about a minute. You'll have the files in two.