Does the business fit?
Compare industry, geography, target purchase price and operating requirements. A buyer seeking an owner-operated business may have a different mandate from a strategic acquirer seeking an add-on.
A buyer’s budget is the start of the conversation.
To qualify a business buyer, separate what they want to buy, what equity they can contribute and what the specific business can support. Each answers a different question.
Before an introduction
Four questions worth keeping separate
What can the buyer contribute?
Distinguish an equity budget from funds available for this transaction. Consider the source and timing of funds, other commitments, and cash needed for fees, working capital and reserves.
What has actually been reviewed?
Ask what information supports the budget, when it was reviewed and what has changed. A stated balance, a document review and a lender decision are different levels of evidence.
Does the proposed financing work?
Review cash flow, purchase price, debt service, buyer experience and proposed terms together. The same buyer can be a plausible fit for one transaction and unsuitable for another.
Target purchase price is not approved buying capacity
A target range describes a search. An equity range describes a budget. Neither establishes an approved loan amount. Acquisition financing also depends on the business’s repayment ability, lender requirements and the structure of the transaction.
For example, a purchase price can exclude working capital, transaction costs or property. Two businesses offered at the same price can have very different financing needs. Ask what is included before comparing a listing with a buyer’s budget.
The SBA’s 7(a) program overview identifies creditworthiness and a reasonable ability to repay among its eligibility criteria. A public profile cannot establish SBA eligibility or substitute for lender underwriting.
Use the capital stack calculator to explore funding sources and the DSCR calculator to test cash-flow assumptions. These are planning tools; their results are not financing commitments.
Ask for the basis of each number
A review date tells you when profile information was considered. It does not show whether the buyer’s cash is still available, whether another acquisition has committed those funds, or whether a lender has reviewed your listing. Reconfirm material facts for the current deal.
- Search range: confirm what the price includes and whether the buyer’s mandate has changed.
- Equity budget: ask about the funding source, access timing and other cash needs.
- Supporting evidence: distinguish buyer statements, documents reviewed and lender decisions; record the date and scope.
- Financing assumptions: identify the earnings basis, existing debt and proposed seller-note treatment.
For a private follow-up, a personal financial statement helps organize assets and liabilities, while a business debt schedule organizes existing obligations. Neither replaces supporting evidence or lender review.
Why a credit score is not a public qualification badge
Personal credit can matter to a financing review, but a score alone says little about the target business’s debt capacity, a buyer’s available equity or operating fit. Duneland’s public directory does not publish personal credit scores or credit reports.
The FTC’s Fair Credit Reporting Act overview explains that consumer report information may only be provided for a purpose specified in the Act. Duneland keeps personal credit information out of public profiles. Any credit review belongs in an appropriately authorized, private process.
Turn qualification into a useful next step
Start with a short, anonymized business summary: industry, region, asking price, revenue, earnings basis and the proposed timeline. Include a public buyer reference if a directory profile looks relevant. Duneland handles the buyer conversation.
If you already have a buyer, bring the proposed transaction for an acquisition financing review. We can discuss the equity requirement, business cash flow and seller-financing assumptions without treating a directory match as a credit decision.
Read what our directory review status means or see what to include in a deal enquiry.
Discuss the financing structureDuneland Financial · Guide updated October 5, 2026. Program requirements and a buyer’s circumstances can change; assess them for the actual transaction.
Questions brokers ask
How should a broker qualify a business buyer?
Confirm the search criteria, planned equity contribution, supporting evidence and fit with the specific transaction. Ask what was reviewed and when, distinguish personal liquidity from business debt capacity, and have the proposed financing assessed for the actual acquisition. Duneland coordinates the buyer conversation.
Does a reviewed buyer profile mean the funds are verified?
No. The directory review date records a review of profile information. It is not a certification of current funds, a credit approval or a commitment to buy. The source, availability and timing of equity must be assessed for the transaction.
What is a qualified business buyer?
Qualification is specific to the acquisition. A useful review considers the buyer’s search criteria, relevant experience, available equity and the financing needs of the proposed business. A directory profile is a starting point for that conversation, not approval of a loan or offer.
Does proof of funds establish buying capacity?
Proof of funds can support a review of available equity. It does not establish how much acquisition debt a business can support, whether the funds remain available, or whether a lender will approve the proposed terms.
Can a broker contact a buyer directly through Duneland?
All enquiries go to Duneland. We review the opportunity, coordinate the buyer conversation and discuss next steps with the broker. The public directory does not expose buyer names or contact details.
Have a deal in front of you?
Whether you have a signed LOI, are preparing an offer or are still evaluating the opportunity, send us the basic numbers and where you are in the process. We’ll look at the business, buyer and proposed structure and determine what the financing path may look like.