7 Best Resources to Learn How to Buy a Business

Entrepreneurship doesn’t always mean starting a company from scratch. For a growing number of aspiring founders, buying an existing small business has become an appealing alternative, offering the opportunity to step into a proven company with established customers, revenue, and operations already in place. This path, called entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA), is gaining momentum among professionals looking for a more practical route into ownership.

But learning how to buy a business can feel overwhelming at first. From understanding deal structures and financing to finding the right opportunities and evaluating risks, there’s a lot to navigate. Fortunately, a growing ecosystem of programs, platforms, podcasts, and books is making the process more accessible than ever.

Here are seven of the best resources to help you learn the fundamentals of buying a business and take your first steps toward becoming an acquisition entrepreneur. 

Programs

1. Venture for Canada’s ETA 101

ETA 101 is designed for individuals who are exploring the possibility of buying a business and want to understand how the process works in Canada. Participants learn the fundamentals of acquisition, including sourcing deals, valuation, and financing — along with the realities of the Canadian small business landscape. 

Program details: 

• When: March 19 – April 23, 2026 (5 weeks)
• Where: Fully virtual
• Who: Those dreaming of buying a business but not sure where or how to start. 
• Price: $1,400 CAD (full scholarships available for women in Northern Ontario, covering the entire program fee, email eta@ventureforcanada.ca for more information) 
• Deadline to enroll in the program is Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 at midnight 

Learn more about the program here and enroll here

2. Venture for Canada’s ETA Bootcamp: Toronto

ETA Bootcamp is designed for those who are ready to move from interest to action. Participants develop a real acquisition thesis, learn how to evaluate deals with confidence, and connect directly with the operators, investors, bankers, and advisors involved in buying businesses.

Program details: 

• When: April 11 – May 16, 2026 (5 weeks)
• Where: Hybrid – virtual learning + in-person sessions in Toronto
• Who: Mid-career professionals with 5+ years of work experience
• Price: $2,600 CAD (full scholarships available for women in Northern Ontario, covering the entire program fee, email eta@ventureforcanada.ca for more information)
• Deadline to enroll in the program is Wednesday, April 1st, 2026 at midnight 

Learn more about the program here and enroll here

Platform 

3. Village Wellth

Village Wellth is a deal management platform designed for entrepreneurs who want to buy an existing business. The tool combines a marketplace for acquisition opportunities with software that helps buyers organize listings, analyze financials, evaluate deal structures, and manage the entire acquisition process from search to closing. By bringing together deal flow, financing connections, and expert guidance in one place, Village Wellth aims to simplify the often complex journey of purchasing and operating a small business. 

Check it out here 

Podcasts

4. Acquiring Minds 

Hosted by Will Smith, the show features in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs who have purchased companies, sharing real stories about how they found deals, financed acquisitions, and grew their businesses. Through practical lessons and candid conversations, the podcast offers listeners a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to become a successful business buyer.

Listen to the podcast here

5. In The Trenches

In The Trenches offers a candid look at the realities of running and leading small and mid-sized businesses. Hosted by entrepreneur and CEO Steve Divitkos, the show features conversations with operators, investors, and industry experts on topics like leadership, acquisitions, operations, and the personal challenges of entrepreneurship. Through practical insights and real-world experiences, the podcast aims to help SMB owners and aspiring CEOs navigate the complexities of building and leading a company.

Listen to the podcast here 

Books

6. HBR Guide to Buying A Small Business : Think big, Buy small, own your own company

Written by two Harvard Business School professors, Richard Ruback and Royce Yudkoff, who specialize in acquisition entrepreneurship, this guide walks readers through the practical realities of purchasing and running a company. This book also explores common pitfalls buyers encounter during the search and negotiation process, and explains why stable, “boring” businesses can often be the most attractive opportunities. 

Purchase the book here

7. Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game

Buy Then Build written by Walker Deibel challenges the traditional idea that entrepreneurship must begin with launching a startup. Instead of building a business from zero, it presents the strategy of acquiring an existing, profitable company and growing it as your own. Drawing on real acquisition-entrepreneur experiences, the book explains how to find promising businesses, evaluate risks and opportunities, navigate the purchase process, and step into ownership. It offers a practical roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to skip the uncertainty of startups and pursue financial independence by buying and scaling an established company. 

Purchase the book here

About Venture for Canada

Venture for Canada is a leading national non-profit and charity with a mission to transform how Canadians access meaningful work through proven entrepreneurial pathways and programs. Through hands-on work experiences and a national community of founders and operators, Venture for Canada helps Canadians and businesses modernize and scale while shaping the national conversation on the future of work in the AI era.