Codie Sanchez and her team have built something genuinely rare: a community and curriculum that treats acquisition entrepreneurship as a real craft, not a marketing pitch. The frameworks around deal sourcing, seller psychology, capital stack design, and SBA-aligned financing have directly shaped how I structure my own roadmap, from Deal Zero through larger platform plays.

This team truly has your back. They've got industry experts, people who've purchased businesses in the industries we're looking for and are willing to jump on a call within a few hours to help you get unstuck. Highly recommend.

Codie has been doing wonders for business advice. Savvy, on point and very tuned in. She doesn't take you to glamorous, she takes you to no nonsense business ideas. The glamour will follow later. I really related to an email on the ceiling. I find this so timely in my business and give such needed direction. Well done!

Joined the CT community in February. Started looking into a HVAC franchise. While asking some questions regarding franchising, Rylan informed me the company had multiple lawsuits, and showed how the franchise was unproven. It is using a territory it converted and relaying that information to sell more territories. If it were not for the CT community and the knowledge it possesses, I could have slipped into a few hundred grand mistake! Big thanks to CT and Rylan!

Mind blowing....simple changes to pack a huge impact punch to my bottom line. To be surrounded by 100 other founders across different industries and approaches was incredibly powerful. Every moment of the three days was a learning opportunity. HIGHLY recommend!

Contrarian first taught me how to buy a business; then they taught me how to run a business. I've learned an insane amount in a short period of time, and I'm making more money and have more flexibility than I've ever had before. Thank you, Codie, and your awesome Contrarian team!

We are OFFICIALLY BUSINESS OWNERS!! It has been a whirlwind, but we are over the moon that this dream has come true for us.

This is like having a board of advisors full of experts in various fields. You learn just as much from the others members as you do from the mentors. If you're in a place to dedicate a few hours a week to working ON your business instead of IN your business, this is the place for you.

Had an absolute blast at the workshop in March. Got to meet a lot of different leaders from all walks of life & Codies team blessed us all with immense knowledge. Being able to be in a room with other leaders who have similar problems and/or solutions is one of the most unique ways to connect and I absolutely found that here.

Working on your business never stops and these guys lay the foundation to build your business as high as you want to take it. They helped me clear though the noise and focus on the things that matter to grow your business.

I recently had the opportunity to attend a Contrarian Thinking 3-day workshop along 100 entrepreneurs and business operators/owners in Austin and the experience was action packed. Money loves speed and the entire team/speakers were very practical + dedicated to ensuring attendees walked out of the workshop with an actionable plan (vs concepts) and tangible do this now steps (vs. inspiration). It was refreshing to be around a room of like-minded, growth-minded individuals from a variety of business genres; and, in the age of AI, Zoom fatigue and doom scrolling, you cannot beat human connection IRL (in real life). Codie, of course, is awesome and inspiring--and the team she has built around her at CT is a reflection of her energy and character. Adrian with the customer experience side of everything was particularly amazing -- he took the time to genuinely understand my business (functional medicine + gut health brand) and think even bigger!

The conference was absolutely incredible. I truly can't stop talking about it to anyone who will listen. This room was built for entrepreneurs at their core, and I felt that the entire time I was there. I walked away with an abundance of knowledge, clarity, and direction that I know will help catapult my businesses forward. I'm especially excited to join the Boardroom and continue learning from Codie's team as I step into this next phase of my entrepreneurial journey. Being surrounded by such driven, like minded people was inspiring, many of which are now friends. I'm already looking forward to being back in the room again.

From creative direction to high-level strategy, from big-picture thinking to the fine-tuned details, they are operating on a level that blends cutting edge CRM systems, AI innovation, and what most people overlook… the money. The metrics. The real business backbone.

Contrarian Thinking gave me the tools and support to buy a business. It was engaging, informative and helped connect me to resources I needed. I would highly recommend it for anyone looking to buy a business. You will still need to put in the work.

Everyone I have spoken to so far has exhibited real care and concern for helping me move my business forward, especially Alex Hooper. He is patient, extremely responsive and genuinely cares about helping me get answers and information. His insight has already helped me to push my ad agency to do more with less. They were asking me to double my marketing budget! Alex was able to cut through the nonsense and provide me with a framework that would force the agency to be far more efficient and effective with a forecasted result of doubling my lead volume with ZERO budget increase. I did not know what information I was lacking, so I was not equipped to ask the right questions. Alex is helping shed light on all the areas I need to get more informed about. Thank you Alex and Contrarian!!

I have zero regrets about joining the Contrarian Thinking community. Acquisitions are a complex topic, but what impressed me the most is their ability to simplify everything and proactively answer questions before you even realize you have them. I never felt lost at any point. Whenever I had a question, it was answered, and the guidance was always clear. The structure and organization of the community are excellent. Everything is laid out in a way that is easy to navigate and understand. It is simple, yet packed with an incredible amount of value. You cannot get confused because the process and resources are so well organized. Most importantly, I was able to successfully acquire a business thanks to this community. I honestly have no idea how I would have done it without them.

Codie and her team at Contrarian Thinking have been a welcome voice of support, inspiration, and challenge for me as I look to run my business and lead my team in the best way. There is no question too big or too small and the shared experience is incredibly valuable. My thoughts and habits are brought to the light and scrutinized and then can be improved. The CT experience has been a great addition to our company!

The team is constantly challenging me to think bigger, move faster, and plan to stay ahead of the curve. So glad I joined the group. Lots of great business owners for networking, and lots of talent on CT and GB to help me get to the next level. Carter and Alex are stand outs, also thanks to Codie for creating the forum and all of the other amazing resources.

Contrarian Thinking's small business advisory practice, The Boardroom, is so much more than a typical coaching program. Codie and her team deliver a top-tier consulting engagement tailored to each owner's unique business goals. Consulting engagements like this were once only available to F500 companies and were very expensive. Codie made this available to the mom-and-pop family businesses that once filled our main streets, which now either sell to PE or compete with it. Leveraging her own team of experts and proprietary analytics, Codie gives small business owners the edge to compete in today's marketplace, to build the business of their dreams, and preserve their legacy for future generations. 10/10 recommend

Great opportunity for people that want to make a difference in life through business. Personally spoke with one of their representatives - Adrian and the guy was very genuine, transparent for the Academy. I consider the culture in the whole company and academy is like his and I would love to get to know them better and acquire a business together in the team.

In terms of product value, it delivers. The content is straightforward, actionable, and focused on real-world application. It's not filled with fluff or motivational filler. You get clear frameworks around evaluating opportunities, thinking independently, and focusing on cash-flowing, overlooked businesses. That alone makes it worth the price. What I appreciated most is that it feels aligned with the service and brand Codie promotes, practical, numbers-driven, and realistic. It doesn't oversell or promise overnight success. Instead, it emphasizes patience, discipline, and smart decision-making. That honesty adds a lot of credibility. Value for money-wise, I'd say it's strong, especially if you're serious about business or investing. Even one or two mindset shifts from this can easily outweigh the cost. Overall, it feels like you're paying for perspective and clarity, not hype. And in today's crowded business space, that's refreshing.

The Contrarian Academy sets a different standard for business education. It's clear from the start that buying a business is hard, they don't sugarcoat it and the team (support, advisors, deal guides, ambassadors) support you every step of the way! Helping members show up do the tough work. The tools, deal flow, and frameworks make a huge difference in sourcing and evaluating businesses and the community shows up daily, action-oriented, collaborative, and focused on real ownership and business growth. If you're serious about acquiring a business, this isn't just content, it's an unfair advantage.

What really makes BizScout by Contrarian Thinking stand out for me is the outreach process, the staff engagement, and the leadership behind it. From the beginning, the outreach felt intentional and professional. No pressure, no generic scripts just real conversations. The team is responsive, organized, and genuinely supportive. You can tell they care about relationships, not just numbers. And a big part of what makes it special is Bobby's leadership. The clarity, direction, and standard he sets trickle down to the entire team. There's accountability, vision, and a strong sense of purpose. That kind of leadership creates trust, and you feel it in every interaction. BizScout isn't just a product. It's a well-led community backed by a team that actually shows up. That's rare and that's why it stands out.

Extremely informative. There are tons of resources including webinar style materials, worksheets, sample/template documents, and loads of question and answer sessions for individual attention. The community is large and there is such a range of experience and expertise that there is always someone with a specific answer or direction on what to look into next. It is certainly an investment but it was well worth the money. You MUST put in the time, effort, and repetitions to be successful but that is true in all things. I closed on my first acquisition last week, I am extremely type A, and a hard worker and have a I can figure it out attitude with most things, but buying a businesses has hundreds if not thousands of considerations, so I do not know that I would have ever felt I knew enough to get myself to move forward without the community. I plan on purchasing at least 1 more business and will continue to be an active participant in the community.

Closed on my first business this past Friday! It's a Senior Move Management company located in MN. I've learned so much! Thanks to everyone for the knowledge and support!

Adrian really took the time to help me out and gave me a ton of valuable insight and clarity. I walked away with a much better understanding and real direction. Definitely appreciate the support.

My membership in Contrarian Thinking/Contrarian Academy was instrumental in my success in buying a business. The support I received throughout the process and the contacts I made with other members were invaluable. I have been part of three different coaching organizations, and this one is the standout. Since I had two different coaching experiences to compare it to (in different spaces - short term rental and self-storage acquisition), I knew what to look for this time and knew what was different the minute I entered. So well organized. So many opportunities for learning. So many ways to get one on one help without begging for it. Honestly, there was more help available than I even had time to access. The other thing that really stands out here is the way Contrarian seeks out honest feedback and then makes a concerted effort to address it, which has resulted in constant improvement on an already great product. I'm looking forward to jumping into the next step now - Growth Boardroom for business owners. I have no doubt I will experience the same level of support there.

As a first-time small business owner without a local mentor, the Contrarian SMB Boardroom has been an invaluable resource. Carter has an ability to get to the root of an issue quickly while remaining thoughtful and empathetic. The advice is practical, direct, and genuinely useful.

This is an excellent community. I've joined others and immediately regretted it. Not so with this one. It's obvious they know their stuff and you can learn a lot about acquisitions. Coming from a PhD in chem, this was way, way more valuable than my friends that went to get an MBA. For the price, it's a steal where you can learn a boatload. Also, the in person events are amazing networking opportunities where I've met extremely high profile people (former CXOs from multibillion $ PE firms) in addition to other extremely business savvy operators and entrepreneurs.

Words that in my view describe this academy/community are dynamic, engaging, inspiring, welcoming and highly collaborative. Whatever I have learnt with CT, I couldn't have done it without the help of this community and advisors. I can't recommend it enough if you are willing to put in the effort and want to own a business.

The support and guidance we've received have been truly invaluable. The information shared is abundant, and the speakers are incredibly resourceful. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals in a consistent, growth-focused environment has been transformative. Every member of the team is exceptional. We've achieved all of our goals, in large part because of this community. We can't thank Carter and Alex for all of the help and guidance you have provided!

If it wasn't for Codie and the CT group, I wouldn't be under contract for my first business. I have gained so much knowledge from this group - it is amazing. The live meetings have helped a ton to let us know we are not alone. Joining this group was one of the best things we ever did. Highly recommend it!

I have been pleasantly surprised by the quality and breadth of the resources available to community members. You are not just getting insights and support from one person selling a course. There is a whole team of experts helping you do the thing. All aspects of sourcing, buying and running a business.

We bought a business in 2025! They helped us deal search during a special workshop before the MSOWS event. It was that deal they helped us find that ended up working out over other deals we were sourcing. The deal reviews done both live on a Zoom call and discussions in Slack are invaluable for seeing blind spots and risks. The course is decent but the group is where the value is for people like us that have not had significant relationships with successful business owners in our lives. Then once we took the leap and became owners, the next group, the Boardroom, has been incredibly insightful and supportive. Shout out to Carter who really takes time to understand each business owner that participates. Absolutely life-changing. We couldn't have done this without Codie and crew.

We joined the boardroom at Contrarian this year and have already seen a return on our investment. The community and the advisors are top notch and make you feel like your business is a priority. They are honest and actually help in real time! We would recommend this to any small business looking to grow.

I've been in the SMB Boardroom for six months now. I get a lot out of the calls and coaching and councils. Coach Carter is fabulous and gives actionable advice. It's helping me retool my business. When I need help applying the general advice to my business, the team has been generous with their time and support.

Great experience as a business owner looking to grow my business, tackle the issues normally encountered in upward trajectory. Not theoretical junk from a book--actionable, tactical guidance from people who have been there, done that and at top of game! Required consultants for anyone serious about business ownership

I would not have bought my first business if it wasn't for this community. Being part of this community is motivating and encouraging. The journey is not easy and learning on the community and the knowledge offered really makes all the difference. I can't say better things about this group. Best decision I've made to invest in myself.