Can I still find a business to buy through my own industry contacts instead of a broker?

Yes — there's no requirement to go through a broker to buy a business, and industry contacts are actually one of the most common ways serious buyers find opportunities that never reach a public listing. Suppliers, trade associations, accountants who work across your target industry, and even competitors can surface interest from owners who haven't decided to formally list but would consider a serious, credible approach.

This route generally requires more of your own legwork than working with a broker who already has a pipeline of active sellers, but it also means you may find opportunities before they attract competing buyers through a public process. Once contacts lead to a genuine conversation with an owner, treat it with the same discipline you would a broker-sourced deal: confidentiality expectations set early, a letter of intent once interest is real on both sides, and proper due diligence and purchase documentation before you're financially committed. A Treadstone business lawyer can help formalize the process once you've identified a real prospect through your network.