If you’re searching for a business to buy and finding it’s harder than expected:

Welcome to the club.

After 20 years in the game – including buying eight companies and founding the Acquisition Lab – I’ve seen firsthand what separates the successful from the stuck. At one point, I bought six businesses in three years.

I share that to say: every time I went into “full search mode,” I came back to the same five daily habits. They don’t just keep you sane – they get results.

Most first-time buyers are surprised by how long and emotionally taxing this process is. It’s not uncommon to review over 100 deals, submit 10–15 offers, and still not close for 6 to 18 months. The search process isn’t just financial – it’s psychological. That’s why your daily habits matter more than your deal sheet.

Whether you’re in month one or month ten of your search, these are the habits that will set you up to buy the right business at the right time.

1. Exercise (Yes, Seriously)

You might not expect this to top the list, but if you’ve ever bought a business, you’ll understand why.

Searching for a business is mentally exhausting. You’re doing the work, but you can’t control the timing. Some days nothing happens. Others, it’s chaos. And when the pressure mounts, your mindset will make or break your momentum.

Source: Reddit

Exercise keeps you grounded. It gives you visible progress at a time when everything else feels uncertain. Whether it’s cycling, walking, lifting weights, or just moving your body outdoors – build the habit now.

Because after you buy the business, the stress only gets higher. You’ll need this anchor already in place.

2. Relentless Search Focus

When I was doing my second acquisition, I sat down with a gray-haired broker at a Panera in St. Louis. As we wrapped up, he stood up and said, “Anyone can buy a business in six months if they’re committed.” Then he walked out.

That moment lit a fire in me.

Source: Instagram | Jason Selk

My takeaway was this: If you’re serious, act like it. 

Get your mindset in “deal mode.” Work with urgency – like you need to be under LOI in 3–4 months. That means analyzing deals daily, following up with brokers, and keeping your momentum high. You won’t hit your timeline perfectly, but the velocity of your effort will determine your success.

3. Review Deals Like It’s Your Job (Because It Is)

Every buyer I’ve seen close a deal has looked at hundreds first.

Buying a business is like buying a house: the more you see, the more you understand what you want – and what a good deal looks like. So, make reviewing CIMs (confidential information memorandums) part of your daily routine. Sit down with a coffee, open your CRM, and dig into deals.

Track what you’re seeing. Learn to compare. And most importantly, don’t let a week go by without looking closely at something real. You’re training your eye and preparing to move fast when the right one pops up.

4. Daily Outreach for Deal Flow

If you want better deal flow, you have to create it.

That means reaching out to new brokers, revisiting current ones, checking listings, and getting in front of sellers. Every day, ask yourself: How do I get fresh deals into my system? Then do it.

Brokers need to know what you’re looking for – and that you’re credible. Offer your personal financial statement, your target criteria, whatever they need to keep you top of mind.

Pro tip: Time block your search. Spend up to four hours a day on deal review and outreach. If you get through your list in two hours, great – stop there. It’s about showing up consistently, every day, with relentless focus.

5. Find a Community That’s Getting Deals Done

Buying a business shouldn’t be a solo mission.

That’s why I created Acquisition Lab – to get buyers out of their living rooms and into real deal-making conversations. Inside the Lab, serious buyers stay focused, avoid common pitfalls, and accelerate their path to acquisition with the help of 14 on-staff advisors and a community of peers who are actively reviewing deals, making offers, and closing.

Many members are first-time buyers who get under LOI faster than most – not because the process is easy, but because they’re following a proven system. When you build the right habits and surround yourself with the right people, momentum follows.

Final Thought: Build the Habits Before You Need Them

If you plan to buy a business in the next 1 to 24 months, this is the time to lay the groundwork.

Exercise. Stay focused. Review deals. Build your pipeline. Find your people.

This journey is unpredictable. But if you build these five habits into your day, you’ll give yourself the best shot at success – and be ready when the right business finds you.

If you’re ready to acquire a business in the next 12 months, the Acquisition Lab is your first stop. Reach out to us today and get on the fast track to becoming an acquisition entrepreneur.