Do I need business or finance experience to join?

No. The program starts from the beginning and has worked for actors, engineers, marketers, and career professionals with zero prior business ownership experience. There's even a module dedicated to helping you decide what type of business to buy.

What's the difference between the Foundations Course and the Academy?

The Acquisition Foundations Course ($2,000) is a standalone self-study program covering deal-making fundamentals. The Contrarian Academy (~$10,000) is the full experience — it includes the course, 6–8 live coaching calls per month, deal coaching, legal templates, event access, and the full buyer community. If you buy the course first, the $2,000 is fully credited toward the Academy if you upgrade.

Is there a refund policy?

Yes. A full refund is available if requested before your cohort's start date. Once the cohort begins, refunds are not available. Always confirm current terms directly with Contrarian Thinking before purchasing.

Will I get direct access to Codie Sanchez?

Codie is active in the community and appears at live events, but day-to-day coaching is led by her team of experienced operators and deal coaches. One-on-one sessions with Codie are not part of the standard program offering.

What kinds of businesses does the program focus on?

The focus is on "boring businesses" — established, cash-flowing Main Street companies like laundromats, HVAC services, plumbing companies, car washes, and local service businesses. Typically under $10M in revenue, with consistent earnings and room for an operator to add value.

How long does it take to close a first acquisition?

It varies. Contrarian Thinking requires members to commit to closing within one calendar year. Some close faster; others take longer depending on capital, deal criteria, and market conditions.

Does the program cover how to finance an acquisition?

Yes. SBA 7(a) loan financing is a core part of the curriculum, including how lenders evaluate deals, how to structure acquisitions for SBA approval, and how to combine seller financing and earnouts to reduce upfront capital requirements.

Is this program only for US-based buyers?

Primarily yes. The SBA financing content and many legal templates are US-specific. International members do join, and the deal-making frameworks apply broadly — but buyers outside the US should be aware that some tactical content won't transfer directly to their market.

Contrarian Thinking Academy By Codie Sanchez

Name: Contrarian Thinking Academy
Brand: Codie Sanchez
Rating: 4.6 (67 reviews)

Codie Sanchez

Verified on AllPros

4.6/5(67)

Entrepreneurship · Coaching

10,000+Hear from one

4.6/5

67 verified reviews

Got doubts?15-min free call with our team. We'll help you decide if this course fits your goals, flag red flags, and answer questions the sales page won't. We're your course insurance.

Contrarian Thinking Academy Review Summary

Review summary

Created with AI, based on 67 verified reviews

4.6/5

Contrarian Thinking is one of the most credible programs in the business-acquisition space. Codie genuinely practices what she teaches, owning 30+ businesses herself.

The curriculum is practical and deal-focused, not theory-heavy. The ~$10,000 Academy price is a serious commitment, but for motivated, capital-ready buyers the community, coaching, and deal resources justify the cost.

Less suited to those still exploring whether business ownership is the right path.

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4.6/5

2026 average·67 reviews

Program traits

What verified reviewers flagged most often

64 students tagged at least one strength

Practical content
94%TOP
Community support
61%AVG
Real experience
61%AVG
Clear explanations
47%AVG
High availability
22%LOW
Fast results
16%LOW

Contrarian Thinking Academy worth the money?

We ask verified students who took this course whether it was worth the price — their votes help show if the investment paid off.

96% of verified reviewers said yes.

How many students finished the course?

Share of verified reviewers who completed the full program. Green = finished, red = did not finish.

100%Finished

Finished100%
Did not finish0%

About Codie Sanchez

Verified creator

Codie Sanchez

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Business & Entrepreneurship · Phoenix, Arizona, USA

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Contrarian Thinking Academy

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Reviews

Codie Sanchez is a former Wall Street executive turned serial entrepreneur and NYT bestselling author. After 15 years in finance at Goldman Sachs, Vanguard, and First Trust, she left to acquire "boring" cash-flowing businesses — laundromats, car washes, service companies — and built Contrarian Thinking to teach others how to do the same. Journalist (Arizona Republic, Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award winner) → Vanguard → Goldman Sachs → State Street → First Trust (Head of Latin America Investments) → Founder of Contrarian Thinking & Main Street Holding Company. MBA from Georgetown University with international accreditations from ESADE (Spain) and FGV/EBAPE…Show more

Contrarian Thinking Academy Reviews

Ratings & reviews

4.6/5

67 reviews

Rating breakdown

AllPros reviews are verified and authentic. Here's how.

10 reviews on this page

Ufemia B

1/5Verified review

My result

I completed a disappointing two-day event marked by unfulfilled follow-ups and continuous sales upselling.

Cons

Overpromised resultsOverpriced for the valueWeak community

About the creator

Not mentioned.

Free comment

Overpriced and Disappointing Experience. Overall, a disappointing experience.

James

1/5Verified review

My result

I encountered a shallow, uneducated sales interaction that completely broke my long-term brand trust.

Cons

Overpriced for the valueOverpromised resultsWeak support

About the creator

hat's not what I expected from Codie's brand. After investing years in her content, the first live interaction with her team should have reflected the same thoughtfulness and quality.

Free comment

I've been following Codie's work for years, so I went into the initial call with high expectations. Unfortunately, it was a huge letdown. Honestly, the experience was so bad that I'm unsubscribing. A brand that preaches insight and value should live up to it in every interaction, especially the first one. This was a horrible experience from start to finish.

Sage Miah

1/5Verified review

My result

I experienced absolute failure with the tech tools, saving zero deal metrics since April.

Cons

Overpriced for the valueToo fast or too slowOverpromised results

About the creator

Codie means very well, but she is so far removed from the day-to-day operations at this point.

Free comment

Nothing works. The deal calculator along with any of the "tech" associated with it i.e. Bizscout, has never worked since April when I purchased it. Not one single deal I have inputted has been able to save numbers on a web page. Not one business on Bizscout is "up to date" on whether or not the business is still available for sale. This is elementary level programming. The service is highly overpriced and not worth it. Whatever you are promising is available as a tool SHOULD WORK. I do not expect my business acquisitions success to succeed due to Contrarian Thinking/Academy however they are rebranding it. The TOOLS should work.

Kelby

4/5Worth the moneyVerified review

My result

I significantly accelerated my personal and professional acquisition journey in profound ways.

Pros

Practical contentHigh availabilityCommunity support

About the creator

Not mentioned.

William Battle

4/5Worth the moneyVerified review

My result

I successfully added an additional revenue stream directly to my existing W2 employment.

Pros

Practical contentHigh availabilityReal experience

About the creator

Not mentioned.

Free comment

Guaranteed ROI if you put in the work. I didn't come from an entrepreneurial or financial background so it was incredibly helpful. I am well on my way to full-time business ownership

Courtney Nixon

4/5Worth the moneyVerified review

My result

I found immense growth, development, and support despite operating halfway around the world.

Pros

Practical contentCommunity supportReal experience

About the creator

Not mentioned.

Jack Hartigan

4/5Worth the moneyVerified review

My result

I maintained strict accountability to my core business goals across multiple workshop sessions.

Pros

Practical contentHigh availabilityCommunity support

About the creator

Codie walks the walk while preaching a much-needed message. She brings in Ayman, who has experience in a much different space and they compliment each other very well.

Seth Whalen

4/5Worth the moneyVerified review

My result

I secured highly applicable, valuable insight on efficiently scaling and operating different businesses.

Pros

Practical contentCommunity supportFast results

About the creator

Codie and Ayman provided amazing insight and guidance into so many different businesses on how to efficiently and effectively scale and operate.

Amber Simonetti

4/5Worth the moneyVerified review

My result

I gained access to increasing opportunities and a powerful network of highly motivated individuals.

Pros

Practical contentHigh availabilityReal experience

About the creator

Not mentioned.

Ian Mayer

5/5Worth the moneyVerified review

My result

I got answers to a year of stagnancy before lunch on the very first day.

Pros

Practical contentFast resultsReal experience

About the creator

Working with Codie and Ayman was a life-changing experience. Codie means very well, but she seems far removed from the day-to-day operations at this point according to other reviews, though my direct workshop experience with them made me think in ways I had never thought before.

Contrarian Thinking Academy · Program

About this program

Contrarian Thinking Academy

Coaching

Learning format

Entrepreneurship

Subcategory

English

Course language

$2,000

Price

Price may change · updated within 1–2 weeks

What you'll learn in Contrarian Thinking Academy

How to identify and evaluate cash-flowing small businesses worth buying
Business valuation frameworks used by private equity professionals
How to structure deals, write LOIs, and negotiate with sellers
Due diligence processes to spot risk before signing anything
How to finance acquisitions using SBA 7(a) loans and seller notes
Finding off-market deals and building a consistent acquisition pipeline
How to operate and scale a Main Street business post-acquisition
The "boring business" thesis — why unsexy businesses build lasting wealth
How to build a holding company and execute multiple acquisitions
Exit planning strategies to maximize enterprise value before a sale

Best For

Employed professionals ready to own their first business
Investors wanting cash-flowing assets beyond stocks
Entrepreneurs looking to skip the startup phase
Anyone with capital ready to deploy into acquisitions
Business owners wanting to expand their portfolio
People committed to closing a deal within 12 months

Not For

Total beginners unsure if business ownership suits them
Those seeking passive income with zero involvement
People expecting one-on-one coaching from Codie directly
Anyone looking for a "get rich quick" outcome
Buyers with no accessible capital or financing path
Those uncomfortable with calculated financial risk

What's Included in Contrarian Thinking Academy

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