Acquire. — First Choice Business Brokers M&A

Acquire.

Stage I — Buyer Representation

We help serious buyers access the right businesses — off-market, at the right price, with the right structure. You don't just find a business. You acquire the right one.

80%
Of buyers never close a dealWithout expert representation, the process is stacked against you.
$183K
Negotiation savings — one clientExpert structuring and representation that pays for itself.
42days
From introduction to closeOff-market access and a proven process accelerates everything.
"Listing brokers represent the seller. We represent you."
— Acquire. Maximize. Exit.™
The Problem

Most buyers are competing on a playing field designed against them.

When you search public business listing sites, you are competing with hundreds of other buyers for the same opportunities. Prices are inflated. Brokers represent the seller. And the best businesses — the ones that are truly worth acquiring — never appear on those sites at all.

The Listing Broker's Role

They are working for the seller — not for you.

Listing brokers are legally and ethically obligated to maximize the seller's outcome. Their job is to get the highest price, the best terms, and the smoothest exit for the person they represent. When you engage a listing broker without your own representation, you are negotiating alone — without access to the same information, the same experience, or the same leverage.

Your Acquisition Team's Role

We maximize your value, protect your interest, and negotiate on your behalf.

Our role is the opposite. We represent you — the buyer — at every stage of the process. From identifying the right opportunity and validating financials, to structuring the offer, negotiating terms, and coordinating through closing, our team is working exclusively to protect your interests and maximize your outcome.

The Off-Market Advantage

The most valuable businesses never reach the open market.

They move quietly — through direct relationships, broker networks, and private conversations. By the time a business appears on a public listing site, it has already been seen, picked over, and priced for a competitive market. The real advantage belongs to buyers who gain access before that happens.

Public Listings

Compromised from the start.

  • Multiple competing buyers driving prices up
  • Information advantages held by the seller's broker
  • Limited flexibility on terms and structure
  • Best businesses already off the market
  • Picked-over opportunities with hidden issues
Off-Market Access

Your unfair advantage.

  • Direct conversations with owners before public listing
  • No competing buyers driving prices up
  • Stronger deal structure and cleaner closings
  • 278+ brokers across 119 national offices providing deal flow
  • AI-powered sourcing engine identifying emerging opportunities
  • Access to pre-market deals unseen by the public
How Off-Market Deals Reach You

Serious buyers get access before anyone else knows the deal exists.

Our deal sourcing combines human relationships with proprietary technology — creating a pipeline of opportunities that never surface on public marketplaces.

01

Direct Seller Relationships

Direct connections with business owners exploring a quiet transition — before they engage a listing broker.

02

FCBB National Network

278+ licensed brokers across 119 national offices sharing deal flow and providing local market intelligence.

03

Private Referrals

Qualified opportunities sourced through trusted CPAs, attorneys, and lenders who know us and our buyers.

04

Pre-Market Deals

Early access to businesses not yet publicly listed — giving our buyers a first-mover advantage.

05

AI-Powered Scanning

Proprietary technology identifying high-potential opportunities at a speed and scale no individual broker can match.

06

Regional Teams

Specialized sourcing teams in Phoenix and El Paso with deep local market relationships and on-the-ground access.

Choose Your Path

Three ways to engage — based on how you intend to buy.

There is no single best option. There is only the one that fits how you want to approach ownership. Some buyers want structure. Some want flexibility. Some want access and nothing else. The important thing is alignment.

Path 1

Exclusive Buyer Engagement

For buyers who want priority access and a clearly defined path

Instead of chasing every listing, you align around what you are actually trying to buy — and see the right opportunities first. Full acquisition team behind you. Deepest analysis, negotiation leadership, and deal structuring.

Best for: First-time buyers stepping into ownership, or those replacing income who want a focused, structured approach.
Get Started — Path 1
Path 2

Strategic Non-Exclusive

For buyers who want flexibility without flying blind

You can look at deals wherever they come from — your own network, other brokers, online listings — and bring us in when you want another set of experienced eyes. Strategic support without giving up control.

Best for: Buyers who have looked at deals before and want perspective without exclusivity.
Get Started — Path 2
Path 3

Deal Introductions Only

For buyers who just need access

If you already know how you evaluate, negotiate, and execute deals, sometimes all you need is to be connected to the right seller at the right time. Direct introductions with no ongoing involvement unless requested.

Best for: Experienced buyers, investors, PE groups, and family offices with their own deal teams.
Get Started — Path 3
Results in Practice

What expert representation actually delivers.

Numbers don't lie. Due diligence doesn't guess. Representation protects your money — and our track record reflects that.

Case Study — From Stuck to Closed
42days
From introduction to close
$183K
Negotiation savings

A buyer had spent 7+ months chasing listings with no traction. No real opportunities. Repeatedly ghosted by brokers. After engaging our team, he received an off-market match at day 12. We validated the financials, identified significant growth opportunities, structured an SBA-ready offer, and led all negotiations.

"You guys paid for yourselves. Easily."
Case Study — Due Diligence That Saved $241K
$241K
Renegotiation savings

A buyer was prepared to purchase a listing, confident in its "fair" valuation. Our analysis revealed inflated addbacks, hidden owner dependency, concentrated revenue, working capital gaps, and seasonality buried inside the SDE calculation. We renegotiated a $241,000 price reduction — and the seller still accepted.

That is the power of real analysis. Numbers don't lie. Due diligence doesn't guess. Representation protects your money.

Engagement & Fees

Clear. Fair. Performance-aligned.

Our fee is consistently outweighed by the savings and protections we achieve. Through negotiation, corrected pricing, and avoiding bad deals, we routinely secure 5–20% price reductions and $30K–$250K in addback corrections for our clients.

Path 1

Exclusive Representation

Highest priority — full acquisition team
$5,000

Fully refundable if no qualified deal is delivered within 90 days.

Retainer$5,000
On offer acceptance$5,000
Success fee at close10%
Get Started
Path 3

Deal Introductions

Curated access for experienced buyers
$5,000

Fully refundable if no qualified deal is delivered within 90 days.

Retainer$5,000
On offer acceptance$5,000
Success fee at close5%
Get Started
Our Guarantee

90-Day Deal Guarantee

If we do not deliver a qualified deal that fits your Buy Box within 90 days, you receive a full refund of your initial retainer. We continue sourcing for you free of charge. We commit to timely communication and a no-ghosting guarantee — we own your success.

Common Questions

Answers to what buyers ask most.

Is the $5,000 retainer refundable? +
Yes — if we don't deliver a qualified deal matching your Buy Box within 90 days, your retainer is fully refunded.
How quickly will I receive qualified deal introductions? +
Expect qualified introductions within 30–42 days after Buy Box confirmation. If no qualified deal is delivered in 90 days, your $5,000 retainer is fully refunded.
Do I pay a fee if I find my own deal? +
Yes, for Paths 1 and 2, fees apply to any deal you pursue during the engagement, even if found independently. We still provide full support in valuation, negotiation, and closing.
Can I upgrade paths later? +
Absolutely. You can move into a higher level of support at any time.
Do you work nationwide? +
Yes. While our offices are in Phoenix and El Paso, our network and sourcing are national through the FCBB network of 278+ brokers across 119 offices.
What if I'm brand new to buying a business? +
Path 1 — Exclusive Buyer Engagement — was designed exactly for you. We guide you through every step, from Buy Box clarity and financial validation to negotiation, closing, and post-close transition.
What is the difference between SDE and EBITDA? +
SDE (Seller's Discretionary Earnings) shows an owner's total take-home profit including their salary, while EBITDA reflects overall operating profit before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. We analyze both to provide a clear picture of profitability, avoid hidden costs, and ensure smooth financing.
Is there help drafting offers? +
Yes — we prepare offers using attorney-written templates, saving you thousands in legal fees and speeding the closing process. We always recommend having your attorney review the final documents.
Your Acquisition Advisors

Dr. Leilani Felix-Acosta & Dr. Fernando Acosta

Founders of Acquire. Maximize. Exit.™ and owners of First Choice Business Brokers of Phoenix and El Paso. Certified M&A Advisors, Certified Business Intermediaries, and trusted advisors to buyers across the United States.

Dr. Fernando Acosta
CM&AP · CBI · Value Builder Certified Advisor

Fernando brings deep expertise in business valuation, deal structuring, SBA financing, due diligence, and negotiation. A Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership, he has founded, operated, and advised businesses across numerous industries — giving him firsthand insight into every stage of the acquisition process. He serves in leadership with the Arizona Business Brokers Association.

Dr. Leilani Felix-Acosta
Business Advisor · Operations · Leadership Development

Leilani brings a perspective rooted in healthcare executive leadership, operational excellence, and human connection. She works alongside buyers to evaluate not just the financials, but the operational consistency, owner dependency, and cultural health of every business — the factors that determine whether an acquisition truly succeeds after closing.

Ready to Begin?

The right business is already out there.

It just isn't on a public listing site. Schedule a consultation and let's identify your Buy Box, your path, and your first step toward ownership.

Schedule a Free Consultation