Who pays us
Who the buyers are.
Acquirers pay Serava a research subscription to access business registry data and sourced company profiles. You pay nothing. This page explains who those buyers are, what they typically do after acquiring, and what Serava requires from them before any introduction.
Understanding buyer types is useful regardless of whether you decide to engage. These are the people who are actively looking for businesses like yours right now.
Buyer categories
Four types of buyers in the Serava network
These are not exhaustive categories and individual buyers vary significantly. What matters is the specific buyer, their track record, their capital, and their plans for the business they acquire. This overview gives you context for the conversation.
Search fund principals
Who they are
Typically an MBA graduate or experienced operator who raises a small amount of capital (usually from a group of investors) specifically to find, acquire, and then personally run one business. They become the CEO.
What they typically buy
Usually one business in the $2M–$15M EBITDA range. Industry-agnostic or with a defined sector focus. Prefer businesses with recurring revenue, strong customer relationships, and management depth below the owner.
What typically happens after acquisition
The principal moves in as the operating CEO. They typically retain the existing team. The previous owner usually stays for a transition period (3–24 months depending on the complexity of the business and the deal structure). Long-term hold orientation: 5–10+ years.
Capital source
Self-funded search fund or funded search. Capital committed from institutional or individual investors before the acquisition. Not raising capital deal-by-deal.
What this means for you
If you want a clean exit with no ongoing involvement, search fund deals can be structured that way but often work better when the owner is available for transition support. If you are emotionally invested in what happens to the business and team post-close, search fund buyers tend to be the most operator-focused buyer type.
Family offices
Who they are
Private investment vehicles for high-net-worth families or family groups. Each family office is different: some are very hands-off (capital only, professional management team), some are operationally involved.
What they typically buy
Range is wide: $1M EBITDA to $50M+ depending on the family office size. Often prefer sectors they know. May already own businesses in related industries. Geographic preferences vary.
What typically happens after acquisition
Depends heavily on the specific family office. Some leave management entirely in place. Some install a professional manager. Some merge with an existing portfolio company. Ask specifically about their track record with previous acquisitions.
Capital source
Direct capital from the family balance sheet. No outside investors with return expectations. This often means more flexibility on deal structure and timeline.
What this means for you
Family offices have longer investment horizons than PE funds. If you are concerned about a 5-year exit forcing changes on the business, a family office may be a better fit. But 'family office' covers enormous variation in style, involvement, and intent — verify each one specifically.
Independent sponsors
Who they are
Operators or dealmakers who identify acquisition targets first, then raise capital from investors on a deal-by-deal basis. They do not manage a committed fund with pre-raised capital.
What they typically buy
Usually $1M–$10M EBITDA. Must be able to build a compelling equity story for investors. Prefer businesses where they can articulate a clear value-creation plan.
What typically happens after acquisition
The independent sponsor typically takes an active role in the business post-acquisition, either as a board member, operating partner, or in some cases as an interim executive. They are incentivized by carried interest on the deal.
Capital source
Capital is raised after the deal is under letter of intent. This creates more closing risk than a committed fund. Serava requires demonstration of investor relationships and credible capital sourcing before introductions.
What this means for you
Independent sponsors can move quickly on the front end but have more variable closing risk than buyers with committed capital. If deal certainty is important to you, ask about their track record of closing deals they have put under LOI.
PE-backed acquisition platforms
Who they are
A company that is itself backed by a private equity fund and is actively acquiring businesses in the same industry to build a larger platform (a "rollup"). The PE fund has a defined investment horizon, typically 3–7 years.
What they typically buy
Businesses in their specific industry. Usually a defined size range that fits their rollup thesis. Geographic preferences tied to their existing footprint or target markets.
What typically happens after acquisition
Varies significantly. Some platforms integrate operations tightly (shared back office, unified branding). Some run independently under a holding structure. Almost all have a defined exit (sale or IPO) on the PE fund timeline. The business you built will likely be resold within 3–7 years of your sale.
Capital source
Capital from the PE fund. Usually committed and certain if the deal fits the mandate.
What this means for you
The PE timeline is the most important thing to understand here. If you sell to a PE-backed platform, your business will almost certainly be sold again within the fund's hold period. Employees and culture can change significantly through that second sale. If long-term continuity matters to you, discuss specifically what happens to the business at the end of the fund's hold.
Buyer requirements
What Serava requires from every buyer before any introduction.
These are not aspirational standards. They are gates. A buyer who does not meet them does not get introductions.
Signed platform terms with Serava
Every buyer agrees to our terms of service before accessing any company information. This includes obligations around confidentiality, consent requirements, and conduct toward business owners.
Stated acquisition mandate
A documented description of what they are looking for: industry, geography, revenue or EBITDA range, deal structure preferences, and timeline. We don't work with buyers who say 'anything good.' Vague mandates produce bad introductions.
Proof of funds or committed capital
Within 48 hours of a business owner requesting it. The document comes from the buyer (a bank letter, capital commitment, or fund statement), not from Serava. We do not move introductions forward without verifying that capital actually exists.
No direct outreach to owners outside the process
Buyers who learn about an owner through Serava cannot contact that owner directly, outside of Serava's facilitated process, without the owner's separate consent. This protects owners from being approached in ways they didn't agree to.
NDA before receiving identifying information
Buyers sign their own NDA before receiving your name, company name, or specific financial information. You control what goes to which buyer and when.
Honest limits
What we cannot promise.
We cannot guarantee any buyer will make an offer.
Buyers determine what they want to buy. A buyer may meet your business and pass. That is not a failure of the introduction — it is the normal outcome of most M&A processes. Most businesses that enter a process do not sell in that process.
We cannot tell you what your business is worth.
A valuation requires your actual financial statements, industry comparables, and an expert who represents your interests. We have none of those things before you share them with us. Anyone who gives you a number from a cold email is making it up or using it to manipulate you.
We cannot promise what a buyer will do after acquisition.
Post-acquisition integration decisions are made by the buyer. We can tell you what a buyer has done historically with acquired businesses. We cannot bind them to future behavior.
We cannot promise confidentiality against your own public records.
Your business name and registration are in public databases that anyone can access. Our NDA covers what you tell us specifically. It does not remove you from public registries.