Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about participation, transparency, and how Steward Market works.
Steward Market is a values-first marketplace for ethical business transitions. We connect mission-driven sellers with values-aligned buyers, intermediaries, and capital partners through shared context and mutual consent.
We do not broker deals, provide advice, or take commissions. Instead, we provide the environment, context, and shared language that make better outcomes possible. You remain in control before, during, and after every conversation.
No. Steward Market is a mission-driven for-profit business. We believe marketplace design is a powerful tool for social and economic change, and we’re building a sustainable model to support it for the long term.
Steward Market is for mission-driven founders and owners who care about what happens to their business next. Whether you’re a B Corp, a social enterprise, a community-rooted small business, or simply a founder looking for a transition that prioritizes people and legacy alongside profit, you’re welcome here.
Listing your business on Steward Market costs a flat, one-time fee of $25. No commissions. No success fees. No pressure to transact.
Yes. Sellers can choose to mask their identity and company name until there is mutual interest. You control when you’re visible and when you engage.
Steward Market is open to individuals, search funds, investment firms, and organizations that prioritize stewardship and values-alignment in their approach to ownership. Buyers build profiles that explain their intent and how they’ll show up.
Buyers can signal interest in a listing directly through the platform. Conversations only begin when that interest is accepted by the seller, keeping the process intentional and consent-based.
It’s a voluntary way to pay stewardship forward. Sellers, buyers, and partners can choose to contribute to the fund, which supports the next generation of mission-driven founders through grants and aligned support.
Yes. The Steward Impact Fund is managed by an independent donor-advised fund (DAF), making contributions tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.