LOI: What to Know Before You Sign
Signing a Letter of Intent feels like the moment the deal becomes real. After months (and sometimes years) of preparing for a sale, finally receiving an LOI can feel like the finish line is in sight. But in many deals, the LOI is where the process becomes more intense. What follows is often a deeper […]
How Long Does It Actually Take to Sell a Business?
Most owners underestimate how long it takes to sell a business. You might assume the process will look something like selling real estate: prepare the asset, find a buyer, and close the deal a few months later. In reality, a business sale is a far more structured transaction that includes preparation, negotiations, and due diligence. […]
The Biggest Surprises in Due Diligence
Most sellers we work with assume due diligence is a straightforward process that mostly involves reviewing financials. It often comes as a shock when they realize just how time-consuming and intensive the process becomes. Due diligence is a full-scale examination of your business, all while you still have to run the company day to day. […]
What Is a Sell-Side Quality of Earnings?
As a business owner, you likely have a solid handle on your finances. But when it comes time to sell, the standard changes. Buyers and their advisors don’t just want accurate numbers, they want validated numbers, presented in a format that stands up to professional scrutiny. That’s where a Sell-Side Quality of Earnings (QoE) report […]
What Sellers Regret After Selling a Business
According to the Exit Planning Institute, 76 percent of business owners who sold their businesses regretted selling within a year. That’s tough to read. Less than one in four business owners come out of their sale without regret. You might assume most of these regrets are financial. While some certainly are, there are a range […]
Business Exit Strategy Explained: Reducing Key-Person Risk Before a Sale
By John Marsh Key Takeaways Key-person dependency can reduce valuation and complicate deal structure. A strong business exit strategy starts years before a sale. Documented processes, leadership depth, and customer continuity make a business more transferable. Buyers pay close attention to owner dependency, succession planning, and operational resilience. Who Should Read This? This guide […]
What To Look For In An Advisor
When first-time sellers engage with an advisor, I find most have a common belief: “I hire them. They sell my business.” While this may be true on a basic level, the role of an advisor is much more complex. The right advisor doesn’t just sell your business, they shape the process and help you navigate […]
Preparing for a Sale (2–3 Years Out)
When should I start preparing my business for sale? This is a question we get a lot. The answer varies depending on specifics, but at minimum, we recommend starting 2–3 years in advance. Two to three years may seem like a long window, but in today’s newsletter, we’ll break down why the window makes sense… […]
Net Working Capital: The Secret to a Smooth Business Sale
By John Marsh While it may sound like an accounting concept, net working capital plays a direct role in how much cash a seller actually takes home at closing. It can lead to unexpected adjustments, last-minute negotiations, or friction between buyer and seller if not properly addressed early in the process. In this article, we’ll […]