Business buying training & mentorship
The framework serious buyers use to close deals without getting burned
A complete acquisition training program built by an advisor who has evaluated over 1,000 businesses, so you don't make the six and seven-figure mistakes he has seen up close.
- 1,000+
- Businesses evaluated
- 14 yrs
- Business and M&A experience
- $1M-$50M
- Deal range
The problem
Most buyers don't know what they don't know.
By the time they find out, they have already wired the money. The Business Buyer Blueprint exists to fix that before it costs you.
Active listing · Florida
Commercial HVAC Services Co.
$2.4M ask · 4.2x SDE · SBA eligible
Common buyer mistake
Buyer skips the normalized earnings review. Pays $2.4M for a business generating $380K, not the $570K presented. The seller had been running personal expenses through the P&L for three years.
Due diligence flag
Top 2 customers equal 68% of revenue. Concentration risk. Renegotiate the price.
- 01
You can't spot normalized earnings
Sellers and brokers add back expenses you will actually have to pay. If you don't catch it, you are overpaying from day one.
- 02
Customer concentration hides in plain sight
Two clients representing 60% of revenue can make a company worth half what it looks like on paper. Most buyers miss it entirely.
- 03
You don't know what to ask for in due diligence
Sellers provide what buyers ask for. Ask the wrong questions and you get incomplete answers and a nasty surprise after closing.
- 04
Deal structure can cost you as much as price
Seller notes, earnouts, and working capital adjustments are all negotiable. Not knowing this means leaving money on the table.
"The buyers who get hurt aren't unsophisticated. They just didn't know what to look for before they signed."
What's inside
12 modules. Every stage of the deal.
From your first look at a business to prepping it for your own eventual exit, the complete acquisition playbook in one program.
- 01
Acquisition basics
Compare buying an established business with starting from scratch. Understand existing revenue, operating history, and the risks that remain after a purchase.
Ownership · Acquisition process · Risk
- 02
Understanding business valuations
Learn how earnings, seller adjustments, and valuation methods affect the asking price. Question the numbers before deciding what a business is worth to you.
SDE & EBITDA · Multiples · Cash flow
- 03
Choosing the right business
Match your skills, capital, location, and goals to a business model. Decide whether you want to be an active operator or work with a management team.
Buyer criteria · Industry fit · Owner role
- 04
Becoming a prepared buyer
Prepare your buyer profile, financial information, and search plan. Communicate clearly with sellers and brokers and understand what they need from a credible buyer.
Buyer preparation · Broker relationships · Readiness
- 05
Financing your acquisition
Compare SBA loans, seller financing, and investor capital. Understand down payments, repayment obligations, and how financing terms affect the deal.
SBA loans · Seller financing · Investor capital
- 06
Sourcing deals
Build a search across marketplaces, brokers, owner conversations, and off-market opportunities. Apply your buying criteria rather than chasing every listing.
Broker listings · Direct outreach · Off-market search
- 07
Preliminary assessment
Screen a business before committing to deeper work. Review fit, initial financials, seller motivation, and obvious red flags to decide whether to continue.
Initial screening · Seller questions · Deal fit
- 08
Crafting an offer
Understand a letter of intent and the terms beyond price. Approach negotiations with a clear rationale, realistic contingencies, and respect for the seller’s priorities.
LOI · Deal structure · Negotiation
- 09
Due diligence and legal review
Organize financial, operational, legal, and market checks. Work with qualified professionals to verify seller claims, liabilities, contracts, and transfer requirements.
Financial verification · Contracts · Operational risks
- 10
Closing and transitioning
Prepare for final documentation, funding, asset or ownership transfer, and the handover. Plan how customers, employees, and suppliers will be supported through the change.
Closing documents · Transfer · Business continuity
- 11
Operating and growing
Focus first on stable operations. Track useful performance measures, understand the team, and identify growth opportunities without disrupting what already works.
KPIs · Team management · Growth planning
- 12
Preparing for an eventual exit
Learn why documented processes, reliable financials, and less dependence on the owner matter. Consider future sale readiness while building a business you can operate well today.
Systems · Sale readiness · Exit planning
Checklists, documents, and lesson resources
Use the downloadable resources provided with lessons to organize your search, capture questions, and work through the acquisition process. Bring your findings and deal questions to the group calls.
Your instructor
14 years. Over 1,000 deals. Seen every mistake in the book.
- 1,000+
- Businesses evaluated
- 14 yrs
- Business and M&A experience
- $1M-$50M
- Deal range
Michael Freedman has spent 14 years building, buying, and selling businesses across main street and digital markets, evaluating over 1,000 companies and facilitating six-to-eight-figure transactions.
He founded The Deal Flow Source, a business acquisition advisory platform, and works with buyers on live transactions today.
The Business Buyer Blueprint is the curriculum he wishes existed when he started, built from the real mistakes he has watched buyers make and the exact frameworks he uses on live deals.
Concierge mentorship
Training is the starting point.
People make it less solitary.
Everything below is included with Concierge mentorship, on top of the full Blueprint course.
The complete buyer curriculum
Work through finding businesses, reading financials, valuing a deal, financing, negotiating, due diligence, and the handover. All paid courses and lessons are included.
Live group calls
Bring your deal, your questions, and your numbers to live calls on Google Meet. Get help evaluating the businesses you are considering.
Call replays
Miss a live session? Return to the recordings on your schedule and revisit the conversations relevant to your search.
Personalized coaching and mentorship
Get direct guidance tailored to your buying goals, questions, and the decisions you face as you work through an acquisition.
Personal deal reviews
Bring the businesses you are considering for a personal review with Mike. Work through the numbers, questions, and potential concerns before deciding how to proceed.
Sourcing help and a member discount
Get help shaping your search and finding relevant opportunities, plus a member discount for a sourcing platform. You remain involved in the search; this is not done-for-you sourcing.
A community of buyers
Ask questions, share deals, and compare notes with other buyers as you work through the acquisition process.
The member directory
Connect with members open to finding partners, lenders, and collaborators. Build relationships beyond the discussion feed.
Is this right for you?
For buyers ready to
do the work.
- You want to buy an established business, not start from zero.
- You are new to acquisitions and want a structured process.
- You want to question the numbers before putting capital at risk.
- You value learning with other buyers, not just watching lessons.
Not a shortcut to a guaranteed deal.
You will still need to search, study, ask questions, and make decisions. The program does not include acquisition capital or replace your attorney, accountant, or lender.
If you are only exploring, start with the free lessons before committing.
Explore free lessonsEnrollment
Two ways in.
Start with the self-paced course, or work directly with Mike through Concierge mentorship.
The Blueprint course
The complete self-paced curriculum. No subscription.
- All 12 training modules, the complete acquisition curriculum
- Deal evaluation frameworks used on real transactions
- Full due diligence checklist and deal assessment tools
- SBA financing and deal structure walkthroughs
- LOI and offer structuring templates
- Valuation models and comparable analysis tools
- Downloadable documents and lesson resources
- A rolodex of contacts for your deal team
Secure checkout. Instant access by email.
Concierge mentorship
Everything in the Blueprint course, plus direct access to Mike. One payment. No automatic recurring billing.
- The complete buyer curriculum
- Live group calls
- Call replays
- Personalized coaching and mentorship
- Personal deal reviews
- Sourcing help and a member discount
- A community of buyers
- The member directory
A short application, then a call with Mike.
The Blueprint course includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read the refund policy.
Before you join
Good questions.
Clear answers.
What is the difference between the Blueprint course and Concierge mentorship?
The Blueprint course ($497, one payment) is the self-paced training curriculum with frameworks, templates, downloadable documents, and a rolodex of contacts. Concierge mentorship ($4,997 for one year) adds direct access to Mike: live group calls on Google Meet, personalized coaching, personal deal reviews, sourcing help, and the member community and directory.
What does the $4,997 Concierge membership include?
One year of access to everything in the Blueprint course, plus live group calls on Google Meet, call replays, personalized coaching and mentorship, personal deal reviews, sourcing help with a member discount for a sourcing platform, the member community, and the member directory.
Is this for first-time buyers or experienced acquirers?
Both. First-time buyers get the complete foundation before looking at a single deal. Experienced buyers use the frameworks to fill gaps and stress-test deals they are already evaluating.
What types of businesses does this cover?
The Blueprint covers established businesses across industries, including home services, local businesses, professional services, retail, and online businesses. Your search should reflect your skills, location, capital, and the operating demands of the specific business.
Do I need to have a business under contract?
No. The program covers the search as well as evaluation, financing, and the transition. You can begin before you have identified a business to buy.
Is the payment recurring?
No. The Blueprint course is a single one-time payment. Concierge membership is one payment of $4,997 for one year of access and is not an automatically recurring subscription.
What is the refund policy?
The Blueprint course ($497) comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee: if it isn't right for you, email us within 30 days of purchase for a full refund. The $199/month membership has a 30-day money-back guarantee on your first month. Concierge mentorship is not refundable. Any additional refund rights required by applicable law remain protected. See the full refund policy for details.
Does the program include the money to buy a business?
No. The course and mentorship cover training and guidance, not acquisition funding. Your purchase price, down payment, legal work, lending costs, and other deal expenses are separate.
Can I explore the training before joining?
Yes. A free account gives you access to lessons marked free. You can also read the free buying roadmap and use the public calculators before deciding whether the course or mentorship is right for you.
Will this guarantee that I buy a business?
No. Training and mentorship do not guarantee an acquisition, financing approval, income, or a return. You remain responsible for your decisions and should use qualified legal, tax, and financial professionals for your deal.
Ready to take your search seriously?
Start with the $497 course, or go straight to Concierge mentorship.