What Buyers Want & When Sellers Should Sell? Join SMB.co’s Live Panel with Novastone Capital Advisors (NCA), June 26, 2025

Why do some businesses sell quickly while others sit on the market?
SMB.co and Novastone Capital Advisors (NCA) are teaming up to explore exactly what makes a business attractive to buyers… and what holds deals back.
What’s the event?
A live Zoom panel featuring SMB.co co-founders Joe Brown and Brit Karel, joined by Taylor Perry (Managing Director and Head of Investment Team at NCA) and Dr. Nell Smircina (Search Fund Principal at NCA).
Location: Zoom
Date: June 26th
Time: 9:00 AM PDT
Co-hosted by: SMB.co & Novastone Capital Advisors
Who is this session for?
This session is for small business owners, buyers, brokers, and searchers who want honest, real-world insights into what makes a deal happen or fall apart.
We’ll cover:
- What buyers really care about (beyond just the numbers)
- Where sellers often get stuck
- When sellers should start preparing
- What makes a business attractive in today’s market
- How tools like valuations and CIMs change the game
- Common blind spots: emotional ties, messy books, team risk
- Misconceptions buyers bring to the table and how to manage them
Whether you're preparing to sell now or just thinking ahead, you’ll leave with practical takeaways you can use.
Bringing NCA into the conversation
Novastone Capital Advisors (NCA) is a global firm solving SME succession challenges through its Operator-Led Search Fund Program.
With $440M in capital deployed, 23 portfolio companies across 10 countries, and a team of 50+ professionals, NCA supports experienced entrepreneurs in acquiring and growing small businesses while helping owners find the right successor to carry on their legacy.
Their on-the-ground experience makes them the perfect partner for this conversation.
Why this conversation matters
At SMB.co, our mission is to make buying and selling small businesses simpler, smarter, and more transparent. But too often, sellers and buyers walk into deals with the wrong expectations, and miss out on great opportunities because of it.
That’s why we’re hosting this panel: to bring both sides to the table for a real conversation about what actually moves a deal forward, what stalls it, and how to be better prepared.
Save your spot, bring your questions, and leave with more clarity and confidence in your next move.