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Finding Your Edge: How to Compete With Private Equity in Today’s Market

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Matt Bodnar
August 19, 2025

Hi ,

Private equity firms are everywhere. Billions in dry powder, teams of analysts, and the ability to move fast—it can feel like an uphill battle for business owners and acquisition entrepreneurs.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to out-muscle PE. You just need to out-think them.

The truth is, private equity has constraints you don’t. They answer to LPs. They have rigid investment mandates. They often chase size over fit. And while they can write bigger checks, that doesn’t mean they’re always the best buyer.

Here’s where you have the edge:

  1. Flexibility – As an independent operator, you can structure creative deals PE can’t touch. Seller financing, earn-outs, rollover equity—you can craft a win-win instead of forcing a template.

  2. Speed & Personal Touch – Sellers don’t just want a number; they want certainty, trust, and to know their legacy is in good hands. You can build rapport and move decisively—faster than a committee ever could.

  3. Strategic Fit – You don’t need to chase IRR targets. You can focus on what actually grows your business—synergies, customer overlap, or operational leverage. That creates more long-term value than a financial model on a spreadsheet.

  4. Cultural Alignment – PE often underestimates how much culture matters post-close. You can promise continuity for employees, customers, and the brand—something money alone can’t buy.

Private equity may dominate headlines, but that doesn’t mean they have to dominate the deals you’re after. If you know how to position yourself, you can win—sometimes even against buyers with much deeper pockets.

The key? Stop trying to fight them at their game. Instead, play your own.

Because while they’re focused on financial engineering, you can focus on creating real value. And in the long run, that’s the edge that wins.

Considering acquisitions for your growth strategy? Come join us at DealCon to meet the people you need and get the exact playbooks to use M&A to scale your business.

Apply now at DealConLive.com!

We’d love to have you in the room.For more information, go to www.DealConLive.com or email me.

Hope to see you in Austin,

Matt Bodnar

DealCon: CEO M&A Summit

Sept 8-10, 2025 Austin, TX