The FORGE Program
Join the next generation of elite small business leaders
Accelerate your path to ownership with our 12-week action-based business acquisition and leadership development program.
Next cohort begins on 01 MAR 2025
FORGE is an immersive program that selects, trains and empowers the next generation of American owner-operators
The FORGE Experience
FORGE is ideal for individuals who have a proven track record of professional success and leadership experience with the grit and determination to buy and successfully operate a business within 12-months of starting the program
Accelerate your path to ownership while developing world-class operations and leadership skills.
Hone your business acumen, leadership skills, and operational savvy so you’re ready to run a great business.
Identify what types of small businesses and industries are the best fit for you and how to find great deal opportunities.
Learn how to run a thorough acquisition process and gain the trust of small business brokers, sellers and investors.
Connect with like-minded peers who are as determined as you are and experienced advisors from all walks of SMB life.
Immerse yourself in the world of SMB ownership and join a network that is designed to support you all the way through your long-term journey.
Here’s what’s included
3-day summit
We kick off the program with a 3-day in-person summit in Austin, TX where you’ll spend time with the FORGE team and your cohort-mates while learning from elite operators, investors, and other professionals in the SMB world that can support your ownership journey.

Educational modules, centered on 3 crucial topics, each with action-based programming:

  • Deal Hunting – From crafting your buy box to building rapport with sellers, we train you on all our lessons learned from 100+ acquisitions.
  • The Acquisition Process – We break down the nuts and bolts of structuring a deal, diligencing the target, and securing the right financing.
  • Leadership & Operations – Buying a business is just getting to the starting line. We’ll prepare you for the real race, with lessons on transitions, growth tectics and more.


World-class
curriculum
Insane
network
Each cohort is hand selected for best-in-class operators from a variety of backgrounds. Throughout the program, we’ll help you grow your network with introductions to attorneys, investors, lenders, and successful owners.

Our goal is for you to leave FORGE with the best SMB network possible.
Alongside the curriculum and network, members get:
  • 1:1 deal reviews throughout their search
  • Access to successful owners who advise our FORGE members
  • Lifetime access to the Operator Network


Workshops,
1:1 deal reviews, and more
Curious to learn more?
Request a call with someone on our team to determine
whether FORGE is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not ready to commit
to FORGE?
Start your journey at the Operator Network, Mainshares’ community for aspiring and current owner-operators.
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