I’m currently mapping out my plan to acquire a business in 2027 and would love some insight from people who have already gone through the search and acquisition process. My focus for the rest of 2026 is pretty straightforward: knock out debt, strengthen my financial profile, get as SBA-ready as possible, and position myself to have roughly $500K available toward an acquisition. For 2027, I’m targeting businesses roughly in the $2M–$3M purchase price range, ideally with $1M+ in SDE. The biggest thing I’m working through now is **which industry makes the most sense for my background and skill set. My experience is primarily in: Real estate brokerage Mortgage brokerage Business brokerage Sales, deal sourcing, negotiations, and relationship building I’m pretty industry-agnostic at this stage, but a few areas I’ve been exploring are insurance, HVAC, fire/life safety, and other essential service businesses with recurring or predictable revenue. HVAC interests me because of the demand and opportunity for growth, although I don’t have an operating background in the industry. Insurance feels potentially more aligned with my existing experience in sales, financial services, and relationship-driven businesses. For those who have acquired businesses through SBA or gone through the ETA/search process: Given my background, what industries would you be looking at? I’d especially love to hear from people who bought outside of their previous industry. How much weight did you put on direct industry experience versus choosing a strong business where your existing skills could transfer?