# How a Director of Sales is looking to acquire small businesses on his terms

Ann Li  
February 27, 2025 ⋅ 3 min read

Nate H., a sales director with a wireless company and seasoned real estate investor, is on a mission to acquire small businesses. His journey, fueled by a passion for ownership and community, highlights the inefficiencies he encountered in the traditional business acquisition landscape and how Baton offered a refreshing alternative.

## About the buyer
- **Name:** Nate H.
- **Current Role:** Director of Sales at a Wireless Company, Real Estate Investor
- **Business Interests:** Specialty Retail (Plant Boutiques), Remodeling/Construction

## The challenges
Nate's journey into business acquisition began three years ago, with serious pursuit starting about 18 months ago. He quickly discovered the hurdles in the traditional marketplace:

1. **Ineffective Business Broker Interactions:** Nate found that as a buyer, he wasn't getting the time of day from traditional business brokers. Without a prior deal closed, they were not proactive in bringing opportunities to him.
2. **Time-Consuming Search Process:** Traditional platforms like BizBuySell felt outdated and inefficient. Sifting through numerous listings and dealing with multiple brokers proved to be a drain on his time.
3. **Lack of Transparency and Vetted Information:** Nate expressed frustration with the lack of vetted financial information on traditional marketplaces. Basic information was often missing, making it difficult to quickly assess the value of a business and craft a Letter of Intent (LOI).

## Why Baton?
Nate stumbled upon Baton while searching on BizBuySell. Intrigued by a listing, he researched Baton on LinkedIn and was impressed by the company's modern approach and legitimate business model. The platform's streamlined process and focus on vetted information starkly contrasted his previous experiences.

> _"It was like going from a webpage from like the 2000s to a modern, clean [interface],"_  
> _Nate said, highlighting the vastly different user experience._

## From "Hello" to LOI
Here's what Nate's Baton journey looked like:

1. **Streamlined Platform:** Baton's single platform allowed Nate to interact with a dedicated team, simplifying communication and eliminating the need to sign multiple NDAs and introductory agreements.
2. **Vetted Information:** Unlike other marketplaces, Baton provided vetted financial information upfront, enabling Nate to quickly assess the value of businesses and determine his interest.

## The outcome (so far)
While the initial deal didn't materialize, Nate remains an active buyer of Baton, armed with a clearer understanding of the acquisition process and a strong appreciation for Baton's platform. He is focused on specialty retail (plant boutiques) and remodeling/construction companies.

## Nate's advice
> "Baton just made it super simple," Nate says. "Don't let only a few entities own everything. Let's go acquire stuff so that we make personalized communities."

## Thinking about buying a business?
If you're a business buyer seeking a more efficient and transparent acquisition process, explore Baton today.