FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Straightforward answers about the register, discreet introductions and how enquiries are handled.
- What is BusinessWanted.com?
- A reviewed register of live UK acquisition requirements from verified buyers. Owners of matching businesses, and the advisers who represent them, can write to us in confidence quoting the mandate reference.
- Is my business advertised anywhere?
- No. Nothing is published about your business. Only the acquirer's requirement appears on the register. Your enquiry is passed to the buyer discreetly; if you do not wish to proceed, no trace of the approach is left.
- How do I enquire about a specific mandate?
- Use the enquiry form on the mandate page (or the general contact page) and quote the reference: for example BW000295. Include a brief outline of your business: sector, approximate turnover, location and why the fit looks credible.
- Do you charge owners for making an introduction?
- No. Owners and their advisers are not charged for enquiring, being introduced, or completing a transaction reached through the register.
- Are the buyers on the register genuine?
- Every acquirer on the register has submitted a written mandate covering their investment criteria, funding position, decision process and prior experience. Requirements that lack a defined thesis or a credible route to completion are declined.
- What kinds of buyers publish requirements?
- Private acquirers, search funds, family offices, investment-backed trade consolidators and established corporates. Each mandate identifies the buyer type so owners can judge fit.
- What information do you share with the buyer?
- Only what you provide in your enquiry. We do not append data, disclose your identity to third parties, or share your details with any other acquirer on the register.
- How quickly will I hear back?
- Enquiries are reviewed on the day they arrive. Where the fit is clear we introduce you to the acquirer promptly. Where the mandate is a poor match we say so plainly rather than pass on a speculative approach.
- Can I register interest in more than one mandate?
- Yes, provided each represents a plausible fit. Please submit a separate enquiry per mandate so we can route each one correctly.
- How do I register an acquisition requirement?
- Use the Register Your Requirement link at the top of the site. Provide a written outline of investment criteria, funding structure and prior transaction experience. Approved mandates are set to the register's standard format before publication.
- How long does a mandate stay on the register?
- Requirements remain live while the acquirer is actively searching. When a mandate closes: because a transaction has completed, the criteria have changed materially, or the search has been suspended, it is retired.
- How do you handle personal data?
- See the Privacy Notice for a full account. In short: we hold enquiry details only for as long as needed to make the introduction and evidence how it was made, and we do not use enquiry data for marketing.
Still have a question? Write to our team.