Tip for the Week: What is Searchfunder.com?

THE UPHILL CLIMB OF THE SEARCHER'S JOURNEY


1) WHAT IS SEARCHFUNDER.COM?

We are your global newsletter, online toolkit and global community for the uphill climb toward successfully buying and operating a stable, profitable business, called a search fund, which is a niche within the broader category of entrepreneurship by acquisition. redacted is an online community of over 10,000 members that supports searchers seeking to buy a profitable business that they can run.

Searchers now have an online hub of operators, investors, lenders, intermediaries/brokers, lawyers, accountants, insurers and other professionals who are familiar with search funds and who want to support the community. We also provide tools, such as InvestorMatch, DealMatch and industry reports to help you succeed as well opportunities for discounts on other resources that can save you $10,000 or more on your search costs.

We are all the great things about social networks like LinkedIn, Facebook, Quora and Match.com --- just laser focused on only one purpose: buying a small to medium sized enterprise. In addition to the companionship and matching features, your membership provides you with access to databases and discounts to get the task done. So, you can call us a functional social network -- far, far more than a forum or a group.


► Get started ► Search for a Target ► Get Funded ► Operate your new business successfully ► Sell Your Business ► Become an Investor in other searchers


► Get started:
  • ► Experience search firsthand by securing an internship on our jobs board.
  • ► Explore our catalog of live streams, resources and case studies.
  • ► View expert market research and industry reports for countries around the globe
  • ► Network with thousands of search funds and investors worldwide.
  • ► Apply to our Nut & Bolts program - a workshop focused on pre-search essentials
► Search for a Target
  • ► Find potential targets through our DealExchange
  • ► Network with intermediaries and brokers knowledgeable about search funds
  • ► Attend live stream presentations by sellers seeking a search fund to carry on their legacy.
  • ► Source targets through DataAxle
  • ► Evaluate deals using BVR DealStats and industry reports
► Get Funded
  • ► Network and learn from debt and equity providers excited to work with search funds.
  • ► Algorithmically match your PPM to investors based on your search criteria.
  • ► Obtain debt and equity once your target acquisition is under contract.
  • ► Share deals with fellow Searchers for finders’ fees or just to be nice.
► Operate your new business successfully
  • ► Learn about the challenges facing business owners through our catalog of live streams
  • ► Tap into our network of small to medium sized business operators for support and knowledge sharing
  • ► Share your knowledge and lessons learned through our S.O.S.: Searchfunder Operators Sessions

► Sell Your Business

  • ► Showcase your business on our Seller Stream (presenting non-confidential information).
  • ► List your business on our DealExchange
  • ► Find professionals to help you evaluate your business and to close the sale.
    Note: Searchfunder does not take a transaction fee.
► Invest in Searchers
  • ► Algorithmically match your investment criteria with searchers seeking mentorship and equity financing
  • ► Share your expertise through our Investor Live Streams

  • * What is a search fund? Click redacted. Members can click redacted for more in depth info.

    * How to get started with search funds? Click redacted.

    * How to explore the subject more deeply? Click redacted

    * Take a tour of redacted click redacted.

    * What's the best way to get started on Searchfunder? Click redacted.

    * How to post and comment on Searchfunder? Click redacted.

    * What are the ground rules for this community? Click redacted . (Scroll to Step 4). Because we have one focus, you will not find aggressive behavior, rants, political diatribes, or the TMI posts of other networks.

    * What industry reports does Searchfunder provide to searchers? Click redacted

    * What valuation data does Searchfunder provide? Click redacted.

    * How can Searchfunder help with my proprietary search? Click redacted.

    * Are there other perks and discounts available? Click redacted.

    * What if I'm operating my company after a successful search? Click redacted.

    * What if I'm selling or representing a business? Click redacted.

    * What if I'd like to invest in searchers? Click redacted for info on how searchers will be matched to you.

    * What if I'd like to loan money to searchers? Click redacted for redacted on how searchers will be matched to you.

    2) WHY SEARCHFUNDER.COM?

    Information about entrepreneurship through acquisition and search funds was traditionally accessible only to a select group of elite MBA students. redacted has been painstakingly built from scratch, exclusively for the global search fund community.


    Our Searchfunder community contains people seeking to accomplish one of the most stressful and largest tasks of their careers -- buying a company to run. To get that task done, searchers need to connect with other searchers, investors, lenders and professionals. While knowledge of the model is growing, it is time-consuming and labor intensive to identify -- on your own -- reliable resources that are knowledgeable and supportive of search funds. Luckily, Searchfunder has painstakingly done that leg work for you.


    Most searchers have a finite time to ramp up their search operation, then conduct their search for an acquisition target and finally to successfully close a deal. It's time-consuming enough to educate family, friends, networks and business owners about search funds. Thus, searchers should save as much time as possible on the other significant milestones on their journey: addressing ramp-up issues, connecting to funding sources, and accessing knowledgeable professionals.


    We are a community approaching 10,000 members (and growing fast!) devoted to the search fund model. Our community also includes operators who have successfully acquired one or more businesses. Operating redacted so that it remains a vibrant, active and helpful community takes round-the-clock sustained effort and, yes, money. Your fee helps to cover our hard costs to make the community work well for you.


    ^redacted‌, ^redacted‌ and ^redacted‌ strive each day to make redacted a better community. Many of the features you'll see on Searchfunder are based on member feedback. So, we wholeheartedly welcome your feedback in building a community that serves you better.

    We have wonderful options for cost conscious members to earn discounts for free access to the community by engaging in activities that contribute to the well being of the community. To obtain complete access to Searchfunder, you must register. You may cancel at anytime.


    3) SEARCHFUNDER IS A TREMENDOUS VALUE

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    Referral discount


    For any referral resulting in a new paid Searchfunder membership, both you and your referee will receive a permanent 33% discount on your paid subscription. You can earn free access indefinitely to Searchfunder by referring 3 new members. Your referee must use your unique referral link for you both to receive this special referral discount. Your unique referral link is included in the footer of nearly every Searchfunder email to make it as easy as possible for you to share.


    Annual Prepaid Plan

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    For cost conscious members, our monthly plan offers you the flexibility to determine how much you are willing to pay based on earning credits for activities that contribute to the health and vibrancy of the community. The more you contribute, the greater the discount. Think of it as payment in kind or like a safe driver discount in car insurance -- where you are rewarded for engaging in activities that benefit the entire community,

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    Monthly Plan: Posting or commenting access discount

    Once you join Searchfunder, you can earn free access credits by posting or commenting. You earn at least 30 days of additional free access for each post or comment you make on Searchfunder. You can bank up to 12 months of additional access at once so it's easy to keep your membership free if you choose. You are responsible for monitoring your access status. See below on the ways in which we help you to monitor your access.


    Monthly Plan: Proration

    If your free access expires and your paid subscription begins, you can still earn a pro-rata Searchfunder credit by posting or commenting during the billing cycle. These credits will offset any future paid subscription charges. Because we offer so many easy ways to earn free access, there are no cash refunds for unused access credits.


    Regular notice of account status

    Searchfunder is a self-serve service. You can monitor your access status in 3 ways:

            * on the top left and right hand corners of nearly every Searchfunder page (while logged in)

            * in the footer of nearly every email we send (you can dial your email preferences from once a day, to once a week, to never).

            * On your account info dashboard (located on the main menu ► next to your upper right profile picture)


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    Payment Terms

    You understand that the health and vibrancy of the community relies on each member fulfilling their commitments to contribute their knowledge and/or financially to the community. So, by agreeing and subscribing to a Searchfunder subscription plan, you are agreeing to recurring payments on an annual or monthly basis, depending on your choice. You also are agreeing to pay these payments when they come due along with any additional one-time charges you might choose to make while using Searchfunder.

    Cancellations

    Cancellations may be made at any time you choose by using a direct link provided in your confirmation email or by clicking on the main menu ► next to your profile picture: account >> billing. Depending on the subscription plan, cancellations may be effective immediately and may void out any remaining paid or earned access credits. Because Searchfunder is heavily discounted, you understand that once your credit card has been charged, you are not entitled to a refund -- even if you cancel your account shortly thereafter.

    Refund Policy

    Our services are at rock bottom pricing. Thus, all Searchfunder community purchases and subscription fee payments are final and nonrefundable. If you believe that there has been a billing error, you must contact Searchfunder within 30 days of such charge. We cannot provide refunds for charges older than 30 days. We reserve the right to issue a refund or credit at our sole discretion. If we issue a refund or credit, we are under no obligation to issue the same or similar refund in the future.

    Due to the bargain basement pricing, we do not issue do-overs or mulligans for forgetfulness, lack of use, failure to receive or read emails, or other matters not within Searchfunder's control.



    Wait, how does that work?


    For our community to thrive, our members must provide either earned or paid contributions. You decide how you wish to contribute. Here's a graphic on how the system works:


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    Searching is better together.
    We rely on word of mouth to spread the news about our features and benefits. So, if you like what you've read, tell your colleagues by clicking the share link.