For business owners: our platform & services are 100% free for sellers, which is unique in our industry.

For buyers: Our buyers pay success fees for access to our exceptional services and subscriptions. Our optional Dealonomy Premium subscription offers buyers first-mover advantage, as well as a discount on the Success Fee (among many other perks).

We use a step-down tiered fee structure — kind of like how tax brackets work (also similar to the Lehman Scale).

You pay one rate on the first $999,999 of the purchase price, then a lower rate on the next $1,000,000 – $1,999,999, and so on.

Details & examples below.

Buyer Success Fees & Tiers

We sell all types of businesses, in every industry. Our favorite businesses to sell are established entities with between 750k - $20m in revenue and $250k+ in earnings.

We sell companies from all over the USA and Canada (for now, more coming soon).

We work with all industries, ranging from Main Street Brick & Mortar to Online E-Commerce (and everything in between).

More questions about your business? Our team would love to help you sort them out.

We have successfully sold businesses in nearly every industry. Some of the top sectors we work in include:

• Home & Facility Services
• Agriculture & Natural Resources
• Construction & Real Estate
• Financial & Professional Services
• Manufacturing & Industrial
• Healthcare, Medical & Social Services
• Too many more to list!

Even if you don’t see your industry or business type listed, we’ve probably sold something similar before!

A few of our more unique business sales include a ferris wheel light bulb manufacturer, a special effects (SFX) make-up & set-design company, an online certification course provider, and an ice cream machine repair business.

If you have more questions about your business or industry, don’t hesitate to contact us.

We’re building great technology to streamline the deal process — but there’s no substitute for real relationships when it comes to getting a business bought and sold.

While traditional business brokers work exclusively for the seller — negotiating against you on their client’s behalf — Dealonomy believes both sides deserve advisor-led facilitation to get the deal across the finish line.

That’s why every deal on Dealonomy is supported by experienced M&A Advisors and a dedicated support team (including Deal Managers and Deal Closers) who work with both the buyer and the seller to keep things moving forward.

As a buyer, you’ll always have real humans involved — people who understand the process, know the numbers, and can help you navigate negotiations, due diligence, and anything else that comes up on the way to closing.

Acquiring a small business can be a strategic move to achieve growth and diversification. Here at Dealonomy, helping good people buy and sell small businesses is our bread and butter.

However, it's essential to be aware of the potential risks involved to make an informed decision. Some potential risks to be aware of include:

• Financial Liabilities (such as hidden debts)
• Overvaluation
• Operational Challenges
• Market and Industry Risks
• Market Saturation
• Regulatory Changes
• Reputation and Customer Base
• Brand Perception
• Customer Retention issues
• Legal Liabilities
• Pending Litigation
• Compliance Issues

With due diligence, all of these can be mitigated or avoided completely. Dealonomy takes care of a host of risks by pre-evaluating every business we list. We never help sell a business that isn’t valuable and market-ready, and we work with buyers and sellers alike to make sure your next business acquisition is the right fit.

No — buying a small business is not a passive investment. In fact, it’s probably one of the least-passive investments you can make.

If you want to earn the full SDE (Seller’s Discretionary Earnings) shown in our listings, you’ll likely need to step in full-time — often replacing the seller’s role and working 40+ hours a week to operate the business.

That said, there are two popular ways buyers create more “passive” ownership:

1. Hire a General Manager (GM):
   You can budget from the company’s earnings to bring in a GM to handle day-to-day operations, while you oversee the business at a higher level.
2. Bring on an Operating Partner:
   You can structure a deal where someone you trust takes on the operational role, with real ownership in the business. You remain a financial partner, while they manage the day-to-day.

Both approaches are common among buyers who are acquiring multiple businesses or aren’t in a position to step away from their current work.

Scaling a business after acquisition involves implementing strategies to expand operations, increase revenue, and enhance market presence. This process requires careful planning and execution to ensure sustainable growth.

We recommend that every growth & scaling plan include a comprehensive assessment, strategic goal setting, investments in tech and automation, enhanced marketing and sales efforts (including digital marketing), funding, financial management, and optimizing operations, with a heavy focus on customer experience.

By implementing these strategies, you can effectively scale your newly acquired business, positioning it for long-term success and profitability. While you work with us at Dealonomy, we’ll give you all the resources you need to be prepared for your unique acquisition & scaling project.

We see a lot of strong buyers — but also a few recurring missteps that can hurt your chances of getting selected. Here are the big ones to avoid:

1. Submitting an LOI at the minimum offer amount.
Most deals on Dealonomy will sell for more than the listed minimum, especially if they’re attractive. Offering the bare minimum not only lowers your odds — it can also leave a bad first impression on the seller. Use our earnings calculator to run the numbers based on your actual down payment, financing plan, and salary needs. Then submit the strongest offer you can realistically support.

2. Skipping the profile and buyer intro.
Sellers (and M&A Advisors) don’t just care about what you’re offering — they care about who you are. This is a relationship-driven process. If you haven’t completed your buyer profile or uploaded a cover letter or intro video, your offer may get overlooked. Sellers want to know who they’re transitioning their company to. Make sure you put your best foot forward.

3. Not having a clear operational plan.
If you’re not planning to step into the business full-time or relocate to the seller’s location, you need a strong operating plan — including a committed GM or operating partner. Submitting an LOI without a plan for how the business will be run post-close is a quick way to get passed over.

4. Not having your down payment secured.
Before a seller accepts an offer, the M&A Advisor will want to verify that you’re financially ready to close. If you can’t demonstrate proof of funds for your down payment, your LOI likely won’t move forward. Be prepared with documentation or a clear funding strategy from day one.

Avoiding these mistakes will put you far ahead of most buyers — and increase your chances of getting the deal you want.