Resources / For dealmakers
Dealmaker resources
Philadelphia sits in the middle of the country's ETA capital, so the community part of buying a business here is easy. The paperwork part is where deals slip: two clearance certificates and one license transfer account for most of the surprises. Community first, then the paperwork that bites.
The community
- Wharton ETA SummitVerified July 2026
The annual gathering of the entrepreneurship-through-acquisition world, typically early April — held in the middle of the country's ETA capital.
- SearchfunderVerified July 2026
The national online community for search funds and small-business acquisition — where the searchers, investors, and intermediaries actually are.
The paperwork that bites
- PA bulk sale clearance (REV-181)Verified July 2026
Buying 51% or more of a business's assets? Without a bulk sale clearance certificate from the PA Department of Revenue, the buyer inherits the seller's unpaid state taxes. Start 6–8 weeks before closing.
- Philadelphia tax clearanceVerified July 2026
The city-side counterpart. Certificates are valid for only 30 days, so time the pull to your closing date — not to when the lawyer first asks for it.
- PLCB license transfersVerified July 2026
A liquor license transfer is a formal application that takes months, and Philadelphia County licenses trade at commonly cited figures of roughly $60K–$150K. Budget for the money and the calendar.
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