Why No One Wants To Dance With You

2026 Q2 M&A Report: Why Buyers Are Growing but Deals Are Down (And How to Make Your Business Sellable)In this mini episode of Locally Owned for small to mid-sized business owners, the host breaks down insights from the 2026 Q2 M&A report: the buyer pool and the number of owners looking to sell are growing, yet overall purchases are down 10% from last quarter. With 10,000 baby boomers retiring daily—owning 12 million businesses worth $10 trillion and often lacking successors—the episode warns that businesses not built to sell risk going extinct as sophisticated, well-capitalized buyers avoid risk and demand verifiable books, SBA-loan qualification, and “earnings durability.” The host explains how rising costs are driving a 3% decline in both revenue and cash flow when owners absorb increases instead of pricing accordingly, and urges owners to get a professional valuation this week to understand where they stand and build an exit plan before the “silver tsunami” hits.00:00 Q2 M&A Wake Up Call01:09 The Ballroom Metaphor01:56 Boomer Exit Crisis02:58 Build To Sell New Normal05:08 Silver Tsunami Reality Check07:25 Crowded Buyers Picky Deals09:17 Earnings Durability Matters09:41 Pricing Power And Margins12:03 SBA Readiness And Leverage13:59 Winners Vs Marginal Businesses15:15 Get A Valuation This Week17:12 Final Call Ride The Wave