Deal Insights

A Confidential Information Memorandum, or CIM, is the document a seller uses to present their business to potential buyers. It is part marketing document and part financial summary, and learning to read one critically is one of the most valuable skills a first-time acquirer can develop. The goal is to see past the polish and…

If you are preparing to sell your business, the first number every buyer will ask about is your earnings. But earnings means different things at different sizes, and using the wrong metric can cost you real money at the negotiating table. The two that matter most are SDE and EBITDA. SDE: the owner-operator number Seller’s…

Most small-business acquisitions are financed with an SBA 7(a) loan, and the quality of your lender package has a direct effect on whether you get approved and how fast. Lenders see hundreds of requests, and a clean, complete package signals a serious, low-risk borrower. Lead with debt service coverage The single number an SBA lender…

The months before you list your business for sale are the highest-leverage time in the entire process. Buyers pay for certainty, and the work you do now to remove risk and clean up the story translates almost directly into a higher price and a smoother close. Here are five things worth fixing first. Clean up…

For first-time buyers, due diligence is the part of the process that separates a good idea from a real acquisition. It is where you confirm that the business you are buying is the business you were shown. Knowing what to expect keeps it from becoming overwhelming. Financial diligence comes first You will verify the earnings…

Very few small business acquisitions are paid entirely in cash at closing. Most combine a bank loan, a buyer’s equity, and some form of seller participation. Understanding how the pieces fit together helps both sides structure a deal that actually closes. Why sellers carry paper A seller note, where the seller finances part of the…