M&A Advisor – SMB / ETA Acquisitions (Financial Modeling & Deal Screening)
Overview
I am a self-funded Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) buyer seeking to acquire a small-to-mid sized business (SMB) in the supply chain logistics, warehousing, and distribution space. I’m looking for an SMB-focused M&A Advisor to support financial modeling, scenario analysis, and deal structuring for acquisitions in the $750K–$3MM EBITDA range.
This role is ideal for someone experienced with search funds, independent sponsors, or SMB private equity — not large-cap PE or academic LBO modeling.
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Primary Focus
•Design a fast deal screening framework (go / no-go analysis)
• Build a simple, flexible SMB financial model template for a self-funded searcher
• Incorporate sector-specific KPIs (logistics / distribution)
• Stress-test assumptions, downside cases, and deal structures
• Support ongoing deal-by-deal underwriting
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Key Responsibilities
• Analyze raw financials quickly in conjunction with deal materials including the CIM
• Normalize EBITDA and validate add-backs upon initial deal screening.
• Build and refine a SMB acquisition financial model template to analyze deals, incorporating 3-statement analysis and forecasting operational cash flow, working capital and capex needs.
• Model SBA 7(a) + seller financing structures, including forgivable seller notes and earnouts
• Run scenarios, sensitivities, and downside cases to mitigate deal specific risks and opportunities
• Flag key diligence risks and decision drivers
• Provide concise, buyer-oriented insights
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Ideal Background
Required
• Experience with SMB acquisitions or ETA/search-fund buyers
• Practical financial modeling for owner-operators
• Strong Excel / Sheets skills
Preferred
• Logistics, warehousing, distribution, or industrial services exposure
• SBA transaction experience
• Not the best fit if your background is primarily large-cap PE / IB or highly complex institutional LBOs that do not translate into lower cap market SMB acquisitions.
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Engagement
• Initial project: core model + screening framework
• Ongoing: deal-by-deal modeling & advisory
• Flexible schedule with hourly rate (activity may fluctuate based on deal flow)
• Long-term collaboration preferred
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To Apply
1. Include one SMB-scale model sample (redacted or dummy data OK).
2. Describe your experience working on SMB acquisitions or with search fund / ETA buyers (Include deal size and your role)
3. Have you worked with logistics, warehousing, or distribution businesses (if so, please describe the deals)?
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Apply Now