The equity-raising platform for self-funded acquisitions

Raise the equity to close your acquisition.

Turn a signed LOI into an investor-ready raise. Present the deal once, reach prospective backers whose criteria fit, and coordinate interest through closing.

Market research only. No securities are being offered and no funds are being accepted.

Illustrative equity raise Not an offer

Commercial Services Acquisition

Phoenix, Arizona · Signed LOI

Purchase price: $2.8M
Outside equity needed: $475K
Operator investment: $125K
Raise progress: $175K
Interested backers: 4
Next milestone: Investor review

See the equity-raise workflow

Built for focused, post-LOI equity raises

Self-funded Searchers Prospective Backers SBA & Conventional Financing Transaction Advisors

Present the acquisition once, reach relevant backers, and coordinate the raise against a real closing timeline.

See how SMBTrader works

The post-LOI problem

Finding the business is only half the search.

Once a deal is under LOI, a self-funded searcher must raise outside equity while completing diligence, securing debt, and racing a fixed closing clock.

SMBTrader replaces scattered outreach, repeated explanations, and disconnected diligence with one structured equity-raise workflow.

WHEN A LIVE DEAL EMERGES

Turn a signed LOI into an investor-ready raise.

Organize the business, operator, financing structure, equity need, and material risks through one consistent framework.
Illustrative example only. Not an actual investment opportunity. No securities are available.

Illustrative Acquisition

Not an offer

Purchase price

$2,800,000

Revenue: $4.4M
Adjusted EBITDA: $725K
Purchase multiple: 3.9x
Recurring revenue: 72%

Senior acquisition debt: $2.2M
Total equity: $600K
Operator equity: $125K
Outside equity: $475K

Conventional financing. Simplified purchase-price funding; fees and working capital are not included. Terms require lender and legal review.

See the business and capital stack together.

Understand historical performance, valuation, leverage, sources and uses, and the operator’s personal investment before evaluating the opportunity.

Operator Profile

Personal investment

$125,000

Role: Full-time CEO
Relevant experience: 12 years
Acquisition thesis: B2B recurring services
Post-close responsibility: Direct operating control

Illustrative profile. Not an actual operator.

View illustrative structure

Know who will run the company.

Evaluate the operator’s experience, personal capital, post-close role, and plan for creating value.

STRUCTURE + TRANSPARENCY

Capital that fits the acquisition.

Not every investor or financing structure fits every transaction. SMBTrader is being designed to surface those constraints before they become closing problems.

Business & transaction

Illustrative review dashboard

Three-year revenue
Year 1	Year 2	Year 3
To review	To review	$4.4M

Adjusted EBITDA: $725K
Revenue recurrence: 72%
Purchase multiple: 3.9x
Customer concentration: Diligence required
Debt-service coverage: Subject to debt terms and cash-flow review

What needs to be verified?

Historical financials, EBITDA adjustments, customer concentration, and cash available for debt service require transaction-specific diligence.

Understand the business

Review historical performance, purchase terms, leverage, customer concentration, and the assumptions supporting the acquisition thesis.

Operator & alignment

Illustrative profile

Relevant experience: 12 years
Post-close role: Full-time CEO · direct operating control
Personal investment: $125K
Operating plan: B2B recurring services; execution plan subject to diligence.
Ownership percentage: To be determined by final terms

Capital contributed does not, by itself, determine ownership, control rights, or distributions.

Evaluate the operator

See who will lead the business, what experience they bring, how much capital they are investing, and how their incentives align with investors.

Conventional financing

Operator equity

Outside equity

$125K
Ownership and control subject to terms

$475K
Eligibility and distribution restrictions

Senior debt · $2.2M

Seller financing: none assumed.
Potential guarantors: lender review.

Understand the structure and risk

See the proposed financing path, ownership structure, material constraints, and the reasons the acquisition could lose money.

Why this deal could lose money

Debt service, customer losses, rising costs, and operator execution can erode value. Private investments may be illiquid and lose all invested capital. Illustrative structure only; lender and legal review required.

One raise. Two aligned sides.

Built for the people completing the acquisition.

SMBTrader is currently validating this workflow. No securities are being offered and joining either group is non-binding.

For Self-Funded Searchers

Raise the equity needed to close.

Present the acquisition once, reach backers whose stated criteria fit the deal, and coordinate interest against the closing timeline.

For Prospective Backers

Evaluate operator-led acquisitions clearly.

Review the business, transaction, operator commitment, financing, and material risks through one consistent deal format.

How it works · intended experience

From signed LOI to coordinated equity raise.

01
Prepare the deal once

Bring together the LOI, business performance, capital stack, operator background, equity need, and material risks.
02
Reach relevant backers

Share the investor-ready package selectively with prospective backers whose stated criteria fit the transaction.
03
Coordinate the raise

Track interest, answer recurring questions, control diligence access, and monitor progress toward the equity requirement.

Financing compatibility is a starting point, not an approval or investment recommendation. Every proposed structure would require transaction-specific diligence and professional review.

Clarity before commitment

Important questions. Straight answers.

We are validating demand, not operating a live investment marketplace. The interfaces on this page are illustrative and do not represent verified opportunities.

What is SMBTrader?

SMBTrader is developing equity-raise infrastructure for self-funded acquisitions. The intended workflow helps a searcher turn a signed LOI into an investor-ready package, reach relevant prospective backers, and coordinate interest through closing.

Can I invest today?

No. SMBTrader is conducting market research. No securities are being offered or sold, and no investment funds are being accepted. Future access or financing is not guaranteed.

Are these real opportunities?

No. The acquisition, operator profile, figures, and structures shown here are illustrative examples, not actual investment opportunities. Photography is contextual and does not depict a listed business or participating operator.

Who is eligible to participate?

Future participation would depend on the transaction, applicable securities framework, investor eligibility, financing path, and lender requirements. Expressing interest would not establish eligibility, reserve an allocation, or commit anyone to invest.

Will every SBA-backed acquisition support passive investors?

No. SBA-backed transactions have program-specific ownership, eligibility, control, and guaranty requirements. A passive investment structure that works for one acquisition may not work for another. Lender and legal review are essential.

Does owning less than 20 percent eliminate guaranty risk?

No. Owners of at least 20 percent generally must guarantee an SBA loan, but the SBA or lender may require other guarantors. Indirect ownership, control, and transaction-specific requirements also matter. An ownership percentage alone does not establish an exemption.

Can an SPV avoid SBA ownership rules?

An SPV is not a blanket workaround. Indirect ownership and control may still be relevant, and entity structures can introduce additional eligibility and guaranty questions. The applicable program rules and proposed ownership chain must be reviewed with the lender and qualified counsel.

How risky are small-business acquisitions?

They can be highly risky. Leverage, customer concentration, unexpected costs, inaccurate financial information, and operator execution can impair value. Private investments may be illiquid, distributions are not assured, and investors can lose all invested capital. Guarantors may face obligations beyond their equity investment.

Help shape what comes next

Join the conversation.

Help validate a focused post-LOI equity-raise workflow. Both pathways are in development and every response is non-binding.

Choose the pathway that fits you. Your response is non-binding.

Investor Network

For prospective backers interested in reviewing operator-led, post-LOI acquisitions through a consistent deal format. Joining indicates market interest, not approval or a commitment to invest.

Searcher Pilot

For self-funded searchers preparing for or managing a post-LOI equity raise. Joining does not guarantee financing, investor introductions, or access to future services.

SMBTrader is currently conducting market research. No securities are being offered or sold, and no investment funds are being accepted. Future eligibility, financing structures, ownership requirements, and guaranty obligations would depend on the applicable transaction, lender, securities framework, and professional review.

This page provides general concept information, not investment, legal, tax, or lending advice.

Privacy

Interest forms request only the information shown. Do not submit confidential company materials, tax returns, financial statements, or other sensitive diligence documents through these forms.

Terms

The website is for market research and general information. Joining a network or pilot does not create an investment, advisory, lending, brokerage, or financing relationship.

Risk disclosures

Private-business investments may be illiquid, leveraged, and dependent on the operator. Investors can lose some or all invested capital, and guarantors may have obligations beyond their equity investment.