10/23/2026
Most people start looking for a business to buy by scrolling listings.
From the broker’s side of the table, the buyers who actually close start somewhere else.
Here’s what I tell every buyer in Florida:
1️⃣ Define what you want to own first. Industry, how hands-on you want to be, and which part of Florida. Tampa, Miami, and Naples are very different markets.
2️⃣ Get your financing straight before you call a broker. Talk to an SBA lender early so you know your real price range.
3️⃣ Get on a broker’s buyer list. Some of the best deals are matched to prepared buyers before they ever hit the internet.
4️⃣ Learn to read the numbers. Ask for tax returns, not just P&Ls, and understand what “add-backs” really mean.
5️⃣ Build your team early. A business attorney, a CPA, and an insurance agent who knows Florida’s market.
6️⃣ Know the Florida specifics. You can inherit a seller’s unpaid sales tax if your attorney doesn’t get a clearance before closing. Check flood zones, insurance costs, and storm clauses in the lease.
Good businesses at fair prices move fast. Sellers pick the buyer who’s ready.
Thinking about buying a business in Florida? Send me a message and I’ll share my buyer guide.
