Business Buyer Scorecard

Want to Buy a Business? Don’t Pay the Rookie Tax.

Most people think buying a business is as simple as finding a listing and making an offer.

It’s not.

If you’re not prepared, you’ll overpay… miss red flags… or get stuck chasing dead-end deals.

That’s the Rookie Tax—and it’s expensive.

This quick scorecard reveals where you’re strong, where you’re vulnerable—and what to do next.

✅ 100% confidential
✅ Takes 2-5 minutes
✅ Built for serious buyers ready to close in the next 6–12 months

No spam. No BS Just clarity.

Name* This field is required.

First Name

Last Name

Email* This field is required.

example@example.com

Which of the following best describes you?* This field is required.

I own an existing business

I'm still trying to buy a business

I'm thinking about acquiring a business

In regards to the Learning Curve of Buying a Business, Question: "How comfortable are you with the different stages of acquiring a business, Deal Sourcing, due diligence, valuation, and integration? Have you had experience with these before, or is this something you're still learning?"* This field is required.

A) Highly experienced: I’ve handled all stages of acquisitions before.

B) Moderately experienced: I’ve been involved in some parts of the process but not all.

C) Limited experience: I’ve studied the process but haven’t been through a full acquisition.

D) No experience: I’m completely new to the acquisition process.

How would you describe your current ability to generate consistent deal flow for potential business acquisitions, both on-market and off-market?* This field is required.

A) Highly confident: I have a strong and consistent deal flow with multiple lead sources.

B) Moderately confident: I have some deal flow but need more sources and consistency.

C) Limited confidence: I’ve started building deal flow but haven’t had much success yet.

D) No confidence: I’m struggling to find business opportunities and need help creating deal flow.

Have you clearly defined what kind of business you’re looking to acquire—industry, size, location, cash flow, etc.? Or are you still figuring that out?

A) Crystal clear: I have a written acquisition profile and use it as a filter.

B) Somewhat clear: I know a few criteria but haven’t nailed down specifics.

C) Not yet: Still exploring and open to ideas.

Regarding the Financial Report Cards and Light Due Diligence: "How comfortable are you with conducting due diligence on a business? Understanding What a "Good Deal" is versus a "Bad Deal", Do you have the experience, or process or a team in place to ensure you don’t miss any red flags during your evaluation?"* This field is required.

A) Very experienced: I’ve led or been deeply involved in due diligence processes.

B) Some experience: I’ve participated in due diligence but didn’t lead it.

C) Limited experience: I know the basics but haven’t been involved deeply.

D) No experience: I have no experience with conducting due diligence.

As far as Assessing Risk, "When evaluating a business, how confident are you in identifying potential risks, such as hidden liabilities or market weaknesses? Have you developed any strategies or processes to minimize guesswork?"* This field is required.

A) Highly confident: I have a solid process for identifying and mitigating risks.

B) Somewhat confident: I’ve done this before but could use more guidance.

C) Not very confident: I can spot some risks but might miss important details.

D) No experience: I don’t have a system for assessing risks yet.

When it comes to the Emotional Investment required, Question: "How do you handle the emotional side of making high-stakes decisions, especially when it involves your money and time? Have you found any techniques that help you stay objective during the process?"* This field is required.

A) Very controlled: I stay objective and don’t let emotions affect my decisions.

B) Mostly controlled: I manage emotions well but occasionally struggle.

C) Somewhat emotional: I often find emotions influencing my decision-making.

D) Highly emotional: I find it difficult to stay objective when making big decisions.

When it pertains to Financing/Raising Capital: Question: "Have you secured financing for a business acquisition before? What has been your experience with lenders or investors viewing you as a risk, and how have you navigated that?"* This field is required.

A) Highly experienced: I’ve secured financing for acquisitions multiple times.

B) Some experience: I’ve secured financing for other ventures but not acquisitions.

C) Limited experience: I’ve started exploring financing options but haven’t secured any.

D) No experience: I have no experience with financing an acquisition.

As far as Negotiating a Deal: Question: "In previous negotiations, have you ever felt outmatched by more experienced parties? How have you ensured that you got favorable terms, especially when dealing with seasoned sellers?"* This field is required.

A) Very confident: I’ve successfully negotiated favorable terms in multiple deals.

B) Moderately confident: I’ve negotiated a few deals but could improve.

C) Somewhat hesitant: I’ve struggled with negotiations or needed help.

D) No experience: I’ve never been involved in business negotiations.

Regarding your current Network (Accountants, Attorneys, Investors, Advisors, Brokers etc) : Question: "Do you already have a network of professionals—like brokers, lenders, or advisors—that you can rely on during the acquisition process? How have your connections helped you in the past?"* This field is required.

A) Well-connected: I have a strong network of professionals I can rely on.

B) Moderately connected: I have a few connections but need more.

C) Limited connections: I’m starting to build a network but it’s still small.

D) No connections: I currently have no network in the acquisition space.

Lets talk about your process, and getting Overwhelmed: Question: "When you've been in complex, fast-moving situations, how do you manage information overload? Have you developed any systems to help stay organized and focused during the acquisition process?"* This field is required.

A) Highly organized: I have systems in place to manage complex information.

B) Somewhat organized: I manage, but it can get overwhelming at times.

C) Often overwhelmed: I struggle to handle the volume of information.

D) Completely overwhelmed: I find it hard to manage and process all the information.

Once you acquire a business, what’s your plan for the first 90 days? Do you have a strategy for operating or growing the business - do you see opportunities to 5X the business?

A) Yes: I’ve mapped out a 90-day plan and/or have an operator or plan in place.

B) Kind of: I have ideas but nothing written or structured.

C) No: I’ll figure it out after closing.

Will you be operating the business yourself or hiring someone to run it? Have you thought through your team needs?

A) I have an operator or team in place.

B) I plan to operate it myself but may need help scaling.

C) I haven’t figured that out yet.

How do you typically approach learning something complex, like business acquisition? Do you prefer going it alone, following a system, or working with a mentor/coach?

A) I follow structured systems and take coaching seriously.

B) I’m a self-learner but open to support.

C) I prefer figuring it out on my own.

How much time can you realistically dedicate each week to buying a business (deal sourcing, meetings, review, etc.)?

A) 10+ hours per week — I’ve made this a top priority.

B) 5–10 hours per week — I’m juggling other things.

C) Less than 5 hours — this is a side interest for now.

What is your credit score?

Above 760

650 to 760

below 650

How much money do you have available for a down payment? Why it matters: SBA Lenders want to see liquid reserves for the down payment, post-close cash needs, and emergencies.

$250k to $500k

$100k to $250k

$25k to $100k

Zero to $25k

How would you describe your current net worth (your total assets minus your liabilities)? Why it matters:

$1 million or more – I’ve built up significant financial strength

$500k–$1 million – Solid foundation, still growing

$100k–$500k – Making progress, but still building

Under $100k – Early stage or heavily reinvested

Roughly how much are you paying each month on personal debt (mortgage, car loans, student loans, etc.)? Why it matters: SBA assesses your Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) at the personal level too.

Less than $1,000 – I keep my monthly burn low

$1,000–$2,500 – Manageable, but something to watch

$2,500–$5,000 – Starting to feel heavy

Over $5,000 – Let’s just say I’m funding the banks’ retirement plans

What do you thinking is holding you back from buying a business - closing your first deal?

Why do you want to buy a business? (you need a strong "WHY")

Want to actually fix the weak spots in your acquisition game?

Most people take this quiz…and stay stuck.

Why? Because they never fix what the quiz exposes.

If you're serious about buying a business—like actually getting across the finish line—you need more than a score.

You need a roadmap.

That’s exactly what this $19.99 ebook gives you:

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The proven 3-part system first-time buyers use to find, fund, and close 7-figure deals (without wasting years or risking everything).

✅ No fluff
✅ No “100% seller finance” BS
✅ Just what actually works—step by step

Like Tom—stuck for 2 years on his own. Joined the system.
On the 14th deal we looked at...He closed on a $2.5M business. It worked for him. It can work for you.

🎯 Click here to Get the Book for $19.9 9
You’ll get your quiz results soon...
But if you’re ready to stop guessing and start closing—grab the book now.