Whether you are considering buying an existing business, preparing to sell the company you have built, or advising clients through the transaction process, the path forward can be complex.
Your Next Move: Buying or Selling a Business in Today’s Market will bring together entrepreneurs, prospective buyers, business owners, lenders, advisors, and other professionals for a half-day of education, conversation, and networking focused on one important question: What’s your next move?
With dedicated learning tracks for both buyers and sellers, attendees can explore the issues, opportunities, and decisions involved in successfully transitioning business ownership.
The event will take place on Friday, September 25, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute (IEI) at Temple University’s Fox School of Business. Admission is free thanks to a sponsorship from law firm Pashman Stein Walder Hayden, P.C., but registration is required.
This event is hosted by the Small Business Development Center at Temple University and the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute.
Choose the Track That Fits Your Next Move
The summit will feature three breakout session blocks, each offering parallel tracks tailored to where you are in the business journey:
The Buyer Track is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and investors who are actively exploring or pursuing business acquisition. Sessions will cover how to identify and evaluate acquisition targets, understand deal structures, secure financing, and set yourself up for a successful transition into ownership.
The Seller Track is designed for established business owners who are planning for succession, preparing for a sale, or beginning to think seriously about their exit. Sessions will address business valuation, readiness assessment, finding qualified buyers, and the legal and financial steps that protect your interests through the transaction.
Professional service providers including attorneys, accountants, financial professionals, lenders, business brokers, consultants, and advisors can benefit from attending to better understand the challenges their clients face.
For Buyers: Build Your Path to Business Ownership
From identifying the right opportunity to understanding financing and navigating the transaction process, the Buyer Track will help attendees ask better questions and prepare for the road ahead.
Session #1: Is Acquisition Right for You? The Mindset, the Math, and the Search
9:45 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.
Learn the fundamentals of buying an existing business, from defining your acquisition criteria and finding opportunities to approaching sellers, screening potential deals, and identifying red flags.
Session #2: Financing the Deal — A Lender Panel
10:40 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Explore acquisition financing options, including SBA 7(a) loans, seller financing, equity requirements, and ROBS, while learning what lenders look for and how to avoid common financing pitfalls.
Session #3: Closing the Deal: Due Diligence, Deal Structuring, and What You Need to Know
11:35 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.
Learn how to navigate due diligence, deal structure, key transaction terms, professional advisors, and the closing process to successfully complete a business acquisition.
For Sellers: Prepare for What Comes Next
Whether a sale is around the corner or still years away, the Seller Track will provide business owners with information and perspectives to help them begin preparing for a successful transition.
Session #1: Are You and Your Business Ready to Sell? Valuation, Readiness, and the Exit Mindset
9:45 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.
Learn what drives business value—including owner dependency, customer concentration, financials, and operational scalability—and identify the highest-impact steps to prepare your business for a successful sale.
Session #2: Finding the Right Buyer and Managing the Process
10:40 a.m. -11:30 a.m.
Explore how to identify and qualify the right buyer, maintain confidentiality, work with advisors, and evaluate offers based on both purchase price and deal terms.
Session #3: Maximizing Your Exit: Tax, Deal Structure, and Legal Protections for Sellers
11: 35 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.
Learn how taxes, deal structure, seller financing, earnouts, non-competes, and estate planning can affect the proceeds and long-term outcomes of a business sale.
Who Should Attend?
This conference is designed for:
- Professionals interested in buying an existing business
- Entrepreneurs exploring business ownership through acquisition
- Business owners considering selling, succession, or an eventual exit
- Business owners who want to begin preparing their companies for a future transition
- Attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, business brokers, consultants, and other professional service providers
- Lenders and financing professionals
- Economic development and entrepreneurship professionals
- Anyone interested in learning more about the business acquisition and sale process
Connect With the People Who Help Make Deals Happen
Buying or selling a business rarely happens alone. Successful transitions often involve a team of professionals with expertise in financing, valuation, legal considerations, accounting, business brokerage, operations, and more.
In addition to educational sessions, Your Next Move will provide opportunities to connect with professionals and peers who are involved in the business transition ecosystem.
Ready to Make Your Next Move?
Whether you are actively preparing to buy or sell a business or simply beginning to explore your options, Your Next Move is an opportunity to gain new perspectives, hear from experienced professionals, and connect with others navigating the business transition process.
Register now at the link here. The event is free to attend, but registration is required.