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

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

By Codie Sanchez

4.6/5(67)

Verified on AllPros

4.6/5(67)

(67)Entrepreneurship · Coaching

Entrepreneurship · Coaching

Got doubts? We're your course insurance.

Reviews, Scores & Student Outcomes

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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We recommend this program

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Score history

Cumulative verified score over the last 6 months

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4.6/5

2026 average·67 reviews

Pros and cons

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

Is It Worth the Money?

We asked Codie Sanchez students if Contrarian Thinking Academy is worth the money. Here is what verified buyers said.

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 the creator

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.

Codie Sanchez 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

1/5

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

Free comment

Overpriced and Disappointing Experience. Overall, a disappointing experience.

James

1/5

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

1/5

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

4/5

My result

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

Pros

Practical contentHigh availabilityCommunity support

William Battle

4/5

My result

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

Pros

Practical contentHigh availabilityReal experience

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

4/5

My result

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

Pros

Practical contentCommunity supportReal experience

Jack Hartigan

4/5

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

4/5

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

4/5

My result

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

Pros

Practical contentHigh availabilityReal experience

Ian Mayer

5/5

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.

Results mentioned in reviews are individual experiences and are not guaranteed or typical.

Program Overview

Coaching

Learning format

Entrepreneurship

Subcategory

English

Course language

$2,000

Price

Price may change · updated within 1–2 weeks

Learning format

Coaching

Subcategory

Entrepreneurship

Course language

English

Price

$2,000

Price may change · updated within 1–2 weeks

What You'll Learn

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

Still confused?

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