Resources

Tools and insights for disciplined searchers.

Free resources, frameworks, and notes on finding and winning proprietary deals.

Free Resources

Start here.

What 250+ Owner Replies Taught Us About Acquisition Outreach

Our most popular lead magnet. Real patterns from real reply threads. What works, what doesn't, and why most outreach fails.

PDF Guide

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The Search Fund Market Map

SBIC financing, PE saturation, and retirement-age ownership by state and metro. Find the markets where capital infrastructure is strong and competition is low.

Interactive Resource

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Regional Heat Map 2026

Where the opportunities are. Market-by-market data on business transition activity, competition density, and sourcing potential.

PDF Report

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Bought the Biz Podcast

What really happens after you buy the business. Christi Loucks and Garth Fasano share honest conversations about acquiring, operating, and growing small businesses.

Podcast

Listen Now

Blog

From the blog

DealBuff Blog · 12 min read
How to Build a Regional Search Fund Strategy in 3 Phases
DealBuff Blog · 10 min read
The Endowment Effect: Why Your $2M Offer Gets Rejected by a $1.5M Business
DealBuff Blog · 7 min read
A Tale of Two Economies
DealBuff Blog · 8 min read
Cold Email Has Died 1,000 Times
DealBuff Blog · 9 min read
2025 in Review: What 82,000 Emails Taught Us About Off-Market Search
DealBuff Blog · 7 min read
When Service Becomes Strategy: Turning Military Experience Into Business Credibility
DealBuff Blog · 8 min read
The Reply Rate Trap: What 9 Industries Really Teach You About Finding a Deal
DealBuff Blog · 8 min read
Why "Not Now" Is Better Than You Think
DealBuff Blog · 6 min read
Developing Your Buy Box: The Framework Most Searchers Skip
DealBuff Blog · 5 min read
Is Search in a Bubble?
DealBuff Blog · 7 min read
Building Your Search Fund Budget
DealBuff Blog · 7 min read
Email Deliverability: The Challenge That Makes or Breaks Your Outreach
DealBuff Blog · 7 min read
Why Do Proprietary Search?

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