Buy-Box Builder: see how well a deal fits what you're looking for
EXAMPLE · SAMPLE LISTING, NOT REAL DATA
Fits on record
2
Criteria met, and a document backs the listing's answer
Fits on the seller's word
4
Criteria met, nothing in hand yet
Unknown
1
The listing doesn't answer the criterion
6 of 10 criteria fit. 4 of those rest on the seller's word and 1 is unanswered; 3 do not fit. The listing fits on paper more than on record.
Set your criteria once, test a listing against them, and mark what stands behind each of the listing's answers. See how much of the fit is on record and how much rests on the seller's word. Then copy your buy box to send to brokers. Nothing is stored.
1 · Write your buy box
Fill what you know. Every criterion you leave blank stays out of the read
EXAMPLE · SAMPLE LISTING, NOT REAL DATA
WHAT YOU WANT TO OWN
Comma-separated
The most you'll take on
WHERE, AND HOW BIG
THE TRANSITION
Months
CAN YOU CLOSE IT
Unborrowed cash you can put in
To live on, after the business pays its loan
2 · Test one listing against it
For each answer the listing gives, mark what stands behind it
EXAMPLE · SAMPLE LISTING, NOT REAL DATA
Industry
You want: HVAC, plumbing
Geography
You want: Arizona, Nevada
Owner involvement
You want: Owner-operator
Operational complexity
You want: Up to moderate
Runs on systems or on the owner
You want: Prefer systematized
SDE
You want: $250,000 – $500,000
Asking price
You want: Up to $1,500,000
Seller transition
You want: At least 6 months
Seller staying on
You want: Nice to have
Hours per week it needs
You want: You can give 50
SUPPORTED · a document backs it CLAIMED · the listing says so, nothing in hand MISSING · the listing doesn't say
3 · The fit read
Fit on record, fit on the seller's word, and what you don't know yet
Fits on record
2
Criteria met, and a document backs the listing's answer
Fits on the seller's word
4
Criteria met, nothing in hand yet
Unknown
1
The listing doesn't answer the criterion
6 of 10 criteria fit. 4 of those rest on the seller's word and 1 is unanswered; 3 do not fit. The listing fits on paper more than on record.
Geography · you want Arizona, NevadaON RECORD
Asking price · you want Up to $1,500,000ON RECORD
Industry · you want HVAC, plumbingON THE SELLER'S WORD
Owner involvement · you want Owner-operatorON THE SELLER'S WORD
Operational complexity · you want Up to moderateON THE SELLER'S WORD
SDE · you want $250,000 – $500,000ON THE SELLER'S WORD
Seller staying on · you want Nice to haveUNKNOWN
Runs on systems or on the owner · you want Prefer systematizedDOES NOT FIT
Seller transition · you want At least 6 monthsDOES NOT FIT
Hours per week it needs · you want You can give 50DOES NOT FIT
Can you close it
Equity injection at $1,350,000 — the SBA minimum is 10% = $135,000; you have $180,000COVERED
You need $120,000 a year; the listing's SDE is $410,000 — on the seller's wordCOVERS IT BEFORE DEBT SERVICE
Before debt service. Run the DSCR calculator for whether the business can pay for the loan on the supported number.
What to ask the seller for
One line for every answer that isn't on record yet — sequence, not scope
IndustryThe listing's own description, then a site visitCLAIMED
Owner involvementOrg chart and the owner's weekly hours, in writingCLAIMED
Operational complexityProcess list, licenses, headcount by roleCLAIMED
SDETax returns and the P&L behind the SDECLAIMED
Seller staying onSeller's written intent on stayingMISSING
Your buy box, in one paragraph
Send it to brokers as-is
My buy box — October 14, 2026
• Industries: HVAC, plumbing
• Geography: Arizona, Nevada
• SDE $250,000 to $500,000
• Asking price up to $1,500,000
• Owner-operator
• Operational complexity up to moderate
• Prefer a business that runs on systems, not the owner
• Seller transition of at least 6 months
• Seller staying on is a plus
• Equity available: $180,000 (SBA 7(a) financing)
Please send listings that fit, with the documents that support the numbers.
Your criteria, your reading of the listing. Supported means a document backs the figure — it is not verification, audit, or assurance. Counts, not a score: Verity's Fit read runs on the documents themselves. Not financial advice.
VERITY · IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS
Verity does this on the documents themselves.
Upload the listing, the returns, and the P&L — every figure traced to its source page, every contradiction surfaced as a question. Reading your documents is always free; the in-depth analysis that surfaces every contradiction is $20 a deal.