The Best Way To Get Started Learning About Buying Small Businesses

I love learning about buying small businesses. In MBA circles, it's called Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA).

Unfortunately, when I first got interested in ETA, I had a hard time figuring out where to start. Most of the knowledge was limited to elite MBA communities at Stanford, Harvard, and Chicago. However, the interest and passion for ETA has grown considerably and now ETA clubs are popping up around the country for those interested in launching a search fund or a self-funded search.

So, if you are trying to learn more about buying a small business, here's the best way to get started:

• Read This Book: 'Buy Then Build' by Walker Deibel will give you a lay of the land and is a helpful way to get your bearings. You can find it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3TgHtAQ

• Read This Book: 'HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business: Think Big, Buy Small, Own Your Own Company' by Richard Ruback and Royce Yudkoff, is the foundational guide for new ETA searchers. You can find it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/4cWK4Ha

• Read This Guide: 'Search Fund Primer' by the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB). The primer offers practical tips and templates for launching a search fund. You can find the primer here: Search Fund Primer | Stanford Graduate School of Business

• Watch This YouTube Video Series: Veteran ETA by Charlie McCarthy is a must-watch beginner resource for anyone interested in the ETA process- especially veterans at top MBA programs. You can find it here: https://youtube.com/@veteraneta?si=1lefuLfaYzgHA0yS

These 4 resources will exponentially accelerate your learning process.

*Amazon affiliate links are included in this post.