How Do You Vet a Business Owner Who’s Showing Interest?

April 22, 2025
by a professional in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
When a business owner replies to your outreach and shows interest, what’s your next move?
Do you hop on a call right away?
Check their website?
Ask for financials first?
Look for red flags?
The early signals can be tricky. Some sellers sound great at first, but things fall apart fast. Others are rough around the edges but turn out to be solid deals.
So I’m curious, what’s your process for vetting a business owner once they show interest?
Any lessons or red flags you’ve learned to watch for?
from London Business School in South Africa
from California State University, Northridge in Austin, TX, USA