From "Nice to Meet You" to Deal Structures in 15 Minutes

Hey oh, future moguls! The weekly biz-buying newsletter that takes awkward first calls and transforms them into win-win wealth machines - delivering the deal-structuring magic that makes both parties feel like they just hit the jackpot.

This week’s Jackpot:

1. From "Nice to Meet You" to Deal Structures in 15 Minutes

From "Nice to Meet You" to Deal Structures in 15 Minutes

_{How One Phone Call Turned Into A Creative Deal Structure Masterclass}

Last week, I jumped on a quick 15-minute intro call with a business owner. You know how these go - usually just pleasantries, "tell me about your business," maybe some vague talk about "exploring options down the road."

Plot twist: This guy actually knew what he wanted.

Within minutes, I learned he's 55, runs a profitable training business ($1.2M revenue, claims 90% margins - we'll see about that 😏), loves to travel (just spent 3 weeks in Spain), and has a crystal-clear retirement plan: sell in October 2028 when he turns 59.5 and can access his retirement accounts.

Meanwhile, We need immediate cash flow (minimum $300K annually), enough meat on the bone to install a day-to-day operator (and in this case probably a trainer or two)  and want to use maximum seller financing because, well, that's how you actually build wealth buying businesses.

The "Traditional Deal Structure" Problem

Your typical business broker would probably suggest:

• Standard cash deal (boring + risky for me)

• Seller note with immediate handoff (seller loses control)

• Traditional SBA Financing (a financial colonoscopy)

None of these work. He wants immediate lifestyle money while keeping control. I want immediate income while verifying those magical 90% margins.

Enter: Creative Deal Structuring

This is where the magic happens. Creative deal structures aren't about being clever for the sake of it - they're about making deals possible by giving both parties what they actually want, not what they think they're supposed to want.

The mindset shift: Instead of "How do we split this pie?" it becomes "How do we make the pie bigger for everyone?"

In this case:

• He gets: $400K travel fund immediately + enhanced annual income + guaranteed 2028 exit

• We get: $332K annual cash flow starting Day 1 + 4 years to verify financials + motivated partner

The result? We both win bigger than if we'd done a "normal" deal.

How I Think About Creative Structures

Step 1: Forget what deals "should" look like. What does each party actually need?

Step 2: Find the timeline mismatches and emotional drivers (his Spain trips matter more than you think)

Step 3: Structure around cash flow, not just purchase price. Monthly distributions tell you everything about a business.

Step 4: Align incentives so everyone stays motivated throughout the process

The secret sauce? Most sellers want lifestyle enhancement and respect. Most buyers want cash flow and risk mitigation. Traditional structures force you to choose. Creative structures let you have both.

Want the Full Playbook?

We turned this 15-minute call into three complete deal structures that solve the "impossible" problem of immediate gratification for both parties. The winning structure gives him $748K annual income while generating $332K annually for us - from Day 1.

[Get the Complete Creative Deal Structure Guide →]

Because life's too short for boring deals that don't work for anyone.

P.S. - Yes, those 90% margins sound too good to be true. That's exactly why the winning structure includes monthly profit distributions. Trust but verify!