The eight-module process

1. Module 1 — About You & Your Situation, then Module 2 — Preparing to Search, then Module 3 — Searching for the Right Business (the search loop).
2. From Module 3, apply the Basic Filter: step 1 (is the business suitable?) then step 2 (is it a strong business?). Either step can return to Module 3; passing both leads to Module 4 — Pre-Due-Diligence Secondary Filters, which can also return to Module 3.
3. Module 4 leads down to Create Financial Models (improvement opportunities and an acceptable budget-adjusted net profit), which can return to the search loop or pass to Module 5 — Determining a Value, then Module 6 — Making an Offer.
4. If the offer is accepted, continue to Module 7 — Due-Diligence; if not accepted, go to the Re-consider offer Terms branch (change terms, re-negotiate, or terminate), from where the Re-Offer path loops back to Module 6 — Making an Offer with a renegotiated offer. Choosing to terminate ends the process for that business and returns to Module 3 — the search loop. If Due-Diligence fails, the flow returns to Re-consider offer Terms; if it passes, it continues to Module 8 — Settlement of the Business.

An “If Fail, Return to Module 3” label on a filter or model step sends you back to the search loop (Module 3), and choosing “c) Terminate” in Re-consider offer Terms returns you there too. Orange boxes are the eight modules; the paper boxes are the filter and offer tools.