The Complete Self-Funded Search Investing Guide — Free Download

Master Self-Funded Search Investing

Download our free 24-page guide with proprietary market data, capital structure analysis, and a complete due diligence framework

Packed with Proprietary Data & Analysis

Charts, frameworks, and benchmarks you won't find anywhere else

Search fund activity trends

Search Fund Activity

Capital breakdown

Capital Sources

Target industries

Target Industries

Acquisition timeline

Typical Timeline

Enterprise value ranges

EV Ranges

Revenue ranges

Revenue Ranges

Traditional vs Self-Funded Search

Traditional Search Fund

  • $400K-$500K committed search capital
  • 2-year dedicated search period
  • Institutional LP base required
  • Step-up pricing at acquisition

Self-Funded Search

  • No committed search capital needed
  • Flexible timeline, often part-time capable
  • Individual investors and small checks welcome
  • Simpler equity structure, aligned incentives

What's Inside the Guide

Market Overview

Current state of self-funded search with data from 2024

Capital Structures

SBA loans, seller notes, equity, and preferred structures explained

Return Analysis

IRR benchmarks, risk factors, and portfolio construction

Due Diligence

Comprehensive frameworks for evaluating searchers and targets

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