Codie Sanchez – Main Street Accelerator

Codie Sanchez’s Main Street Accelerator is a course on buying and running an existing business. It follows the acquisition process from developing a buyer’s mindset and sourcing opportunities through negotiation, due diligence, financing and day-zero operations.

The course includes video lessons, worksheets and templates, with materials in Docs, PDF, spreadsheet and video formats.

Business acquisition skills and resources

• Develop a strategic mindset for successful business acquisition.
• Identify lucrative acquisition opportunities in the market.
• Negotiate effectively to secure beneficial deals.
• Perform thorough due diligence to assess business value.
• Access real-world templates and actionable worksheets.
• Receive ongoing support to ensure your business growth.

Acquisition entrepreneurship and the Foundations unit

Main Street Accelerator examines acquisition entrepreneurship as a way to enter business ownership by purchasing an existing company. The course discusses the potential advantages of an established business, including existing systems, customers and revenue streams.

Unit 1, Foundations, introduces the deal journey and lifecycle, what is involved in running a business, and the 10 Acquisition Entrepreneur Mindset Pillars. It explores strategic thinking and resilience as ways to stay focused on consequential opportunities throughout the acquisition process.

Foundation resources include an Action Steps Checklist, an Acquisition Journey Reference Sheet and a Self-Reflection Worksheet for considering your readiness to lead a business.

From deal clarity to day-zero operations

The course presents the acquisition lifecycle as a sequence of practical steps, from defining your criteria and finding a business to negotiating, arranging financing and managing the ownership transition.

Unit 2, Deal Clarity, uses the Contrarian Deal Clarity Framework to help you define income goals, identify your skills and choose industries suited to your strengths. The Zone of Genius Worksheet and Deal Clarity Worksheet support the creation of a personalized Deal Box to guide your search.

Unit 3: Origination and deal tracking

Origination focuses on finding on-market and off-market businesses that fit your acquisition criteria. The lessons cover online marketplaces such as BizBuySell and seven additional approaches to locating off-market opportunities.

The Contrarian CRM Database provides a way to track deal flow and monitor progress. A Business Sourcing List and Business Broker List are also included to help organize the search.

Unit 4: Outreach to sellers and brokers

Outreach covers how to present yourself as a serious buyer and communicate with business owners and brokers. The unit introduces the FROG Method for meeting sellers and discusses initiating conversations and responding to on-market opportunities.

Bonus seller-outreach methodologies accompany a Buyer Profile PDF, Cold Email Outreach Scripts and a list of Questions To Ask Sellers.

Unit 5: Deal evaluation and valuation

Evaluation looks at assessing a business before making an offer, using cash flow analysis and market comparables. The unit explains how to calculate Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE) and apply the 10 Contrarian Business Value Markers Framework.

A deal calculator supports the numerical review, while an NDA Template, Deal Decision Tree and SDE Calculation guide provide resources for the evaluation process.

• Business acquisitions involve financial risk, and profitability is not guaranteed.

Frequently asked questions

What does Main Street Accelerator cover?

The course covers the business acquisition lifecycle, including deal criteria, sourcing, seller outreach, valuation, negotiation, due diligence, financing and the transition to day-zero operations.

Who is Main Street Accelerator designed for?

It is designed for aspiring acquisition entrepreneurs, including people considering a new career and those looking to expand an existing business portfolio.

What materials are included in the course?

The course includes video lessons, worksheets, templates and reference materials in Docs, PDF, spreadsheet and video formats. Resources include a deal calculator, outreach scripts and an SDE calculation guide.

Does the course cover finding off-market businesses?

Yes. Unit 3 covers online marketplaces such as BizBuySell alongside seven additional strategies for finding off-market opportunities.