Business Acquisitions Favor Value Over Volume as Buyer Competition Intensifies

After years of post-pandemic whiplash — surging deal volumes, record prices, and then cooling headwinds from rising interest rates — the U.S. small business market has found its footing. The Q1 2026 BizBuySell Insight Report confirms what many experienced brokers have been feeling on the ground: buyers and sellers are no longer waiting for perfect conditions. They’re moving forward.