Quietly buying small businesses for 18 months

★ signal-weak r/entrepreneur · ↑ 197 · 💬 48 · 2025-06-04 · kw: buy box price · open on reddit ↗

Tool

Empire Flippers, Facebook groups, Twitter, r/microacquisitions

Issue

Business marketplace platforms like Empire Flippers have 20+ competing buyers on listed deals, brokers add 15-20% to prices, and publicly listed businesses typically have underlying problems, forcing buyers to search off-market channels.

Cost

15-20% broker markup on acquisition price; unstated time investment over 18 months

Recommendation

none

Date context

2025-06-04; post reflects 18-month historical experience

extracted with

anthropic/claude-haiku-4.5 · 2026-05-08

Body

**TL;DR:** While everyone's fighting over overpriced listings on Empire Flippers, I'm finding better deals in Facebook groups and random Twitter threads. The best opportunities aren't where you think they are. # The Reality Check 18 months ago, I had zero experience buying businesses. Thought I'd just browse some marketplace, find a profitable SaaS, write a check, and watch money roll in. Spoiler alert: That's not how it works. **What I discovered:** * Every "good" deal on marketplaces has 20+ buyers competing * Brokers add 15-20% to the price (sometimes more) * The businesses listed publicly are usually the ones with problems * Sellers list when they're desperate, not when the business is thriving Happy to share my theory !! Editing: Got many questions about where to find off-market deals? You may try a community which are like a marketplace, eg r/microacquisitions

Top comments (7)

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[score=71] Thomas_PrinceF1S

So has it been profitable? You didn't really specifiy lol. How exactly do you make money with this business plan?

[score=47] WonderfulSavings7136

LARP

[score=41] Chance_Life1005

I do a similar thing but mine are more profitable. Also my course is cheaper.

[score=74] StayAtHomeAstronaut

Quietly posting about what I'm doing quietly is hilarious. Dude is definitely selling a course or some shit

[score=19] prestigeperfections

Totally, off-market deals in Facebook groups and places like r/microacquisitions are way better than crowded marketplaces.

[score=16] yourbizbroker

I find opportunities for business buyers from listings and off market prospecting. Listed businesses tend to be better prepared for the sales process, the sellers are more motivated, and the closing happens faster. But there is a lot of competition. Off market opportunities have almost zero competition but the sellers tend to be less motivated and prepared. Businesses are usually overpriced whether or not there is a broker or how they are found.