Ask an owner off-market what they’d want for their business and you’ll rarely get a real number. You’ll get “make me an offer,” or a number well above anything they’d actually take. They weren’t planning to sell. You showed up. So they anchor high.

The gap is normal. Walking away because of it is the mistake.

In our July update, Calder Capital M&A Advisor Jake McDonald joins Sam Scharich, Calder Capital’s Buy-Side Managing Director, to walk through a deal where the buyer and seller started far apart on price, and the structure that got it closed.

Watch the update below.

Have questions? We’ve answered the top buy-side FAQs here.

Check out our clients who have been featured on the Acquiring Minds podcast:

We have 2 searchers who recently closed deals with the Calder Capital Buy-Side team that have been featured on the Acquiring Minds podcast, hosted by Will Smith. Click the images below to listen to their stories and learn more.

Have a question you’d like answered?

Thanks for watching our July 2026 Buy-Side Update! Looking to buy a business? Email our Buy-Side Managing Director, Sam Scharich, at [email protected] with any questions, and he will do his best to answer them in next month’s update.

Check out answers to frequently asked questions about Calder’s Buy-Side Services here.

Why work with Calder?

Calder serves as a Buy-Side M&A advisor and provides acquisition search services to serious buyers with clearly defined acquisition criteria. Calder does all of the heavy lifting: researching prospects, qualifying prospects, verifying ownership, confirming phone numbers and emails, reaching out directly multiple times solely on behalf of our client, and setting up a drip campaign so that your prospects are periodically and professionally contacted. Additionally, as requested, Calder will conduct business valuations, write LOIs, negotiate on behalf of our client, coordinate due diligence, and quarterback all steps to a successful closing.

Calder works with clients on a guaranteed basis, so if we don’t deliver, our clients don’t pay. Check out some of our current clients here.

If you enter your criteria here, our system will automatically alert you to any current or future sell-side opportunities we are representing that are of interest to you. Be advised, these engaged sellers are represented by us and are selling through a competitive bid process.

Interested in buying a business with Calder Capital? Complete our form below to connect with our team of M&A professionals.

Read more about our top-tier Silver and Gold Buy-Side Advisory services by clicking below: