Top M&A Entrepreneurs

Can't Afford the SBA Down Payment?

Jon Stoddard

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What We Talked About:
I sat down with Sean Smith from SMB Investor Network and we broke down exactly how first-time buyers can actually raise equity to buy a small business — without the usual myths, BS, or dead-end advice.

We covered:

  • What investors really want to see before they write a check
  • Why having your own skin in the game still matters (sorry, no magic button)
  • How to spot businesses that actually attract investors — and which ones scare them off
  • The biggest red flags investors look for (and how to avoid them)
  • Why SMB investing is exploding right now — and how you can ride the wave
  • How to get your deal in front of the right investors (instead of getting ghosted)
  • How to position yourself so investors want to work with you

If you’re serious about raising money to buy a business — and you’re tired of bad advice — you’ll want to hear this.


Chapters

00:00 Introduction to SMB Investor Network
02:53 The Need for Equity Injection in SMB Acquisitions
06:05 Understanding Investor Preferences and Deal Dynamics
09:12 Evaluating Different Business Models for Investment
12:00 Challenges in Funding Professional Services Firms
15:03 Navigating Personal Capital Requirements for Buyers
18:08 Investor Expectations and Myths in SMB Acquisitions
24:31 Understanding Financial Discrepancies in Business Valuation
26:11 The Importance of Quality of Earnings Reports
27:38 Structuring Attractive Terms for Equity Raises
30:10 Identifying Red Flags in Investment Deals
34:28 The Growing Interest in SMB Investments
36:49 The Process of Submitting Deals to SMB Investor Network
39:01 Strategies for Generating Interest in Investment Deals
41:46 Understanding the Investment Structure and Rights
45:17 The Value Proposition for Passive Investors