Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions every business owner asks before selling or buying a company. What to expect, what it costs, and what it really takes to get a deal across the finish line.
How can we help you?
Most deals take six to twelve months from start to finish. The first two to three months focus on preparation, cleaning up financials, recasting earnings, and building the buyer file. Marketing and buyer outreach usually run another two to four months. Once an offer is accepted, due diligence and closing typically take sixty to ninety days. Some smaller, cleaner deals can move faster, but owners who rush the early stages almost always pay for it later.
We use a hybrid model that combines a fixed work fee, monthly retainers, and a final success fee. Both the work fee and the retainers apply toward the success fee when your deal closes. This approach keeps our incentives aligned with yours and ensures we stay focused on getting the right deal across the finish line.
Commission-only brokers sound good on the surface, but their motivation fades fast. A few months in, a low offer shows up, and the only way they get paid is if they convince you to take it. That’s how owners end up settling for bad deals. Our model rewards results, not shortcuts, so you get a fair price and a clean close.
We work with privately held, founder-led businesses that have consistent earnings, stable operations, and owners who want a clean exit rather than chaos. Industry isn’t a limiter. Mindset is. We’re not the right fit for distressed companies, startups without revenue, or owners who refuse to prepare their business for scrutiny. If you’re willing to do the work to protect value, you’ll fit right in.
Our process has three stages: Prepare, Match, and Mechanics.
During preparation, we align personal goals with the sale, use our Value Mountains Framework to assess value, and build a detailed TrailMap for your exit. Then we match you with vetted buyers, manage negotiation, and guide you through diligence and closing. Every step has structure so you’re never guessing what comes next.
We don’t blast listings across the internet. We build targeted buyer lists based on your business type, deal size, and goals. Buyers are vetted for financial capacity, experience, and seriousness before they ever see confidential details. That filters out the tire kickers and focuses our energy on buyers who can actually close.
Due diligence is where most deals die. We get ahead of it by preparing your data room early with financials, contracts, tax records, and key operational data. Our job is to anticipate questions before the buyer asks them. We also manage the flow of information to prevent deal fatigue and protect your negotiating leverage. The cleaner your preparation, the faster diligence moves.
Buyers focus on financial accuracy, customer concentration, recurring revenue, and the strength of your management systems. They’ll want three years of financials, tax returns, key contracts, and any lease or equipment schedules. If you can show stable margins, transferable processes, and clean books, you’ll command stronger terms and fewer headaches later.
Yes, as long as it’s profitable and transferable. Some owners assume a smaller business can’t sell, but most of the companies that change hands in America are under a few million in annual revenue. The key is clean records, realistic expectations, and a buyer who sees upside. We’ll help you price and package the deal so it attracts the right kind of buyer, not just any buy
For qualified buyers, we offer a concierge-level service that goes beyond listed deals. We identify off-market opportunities, approach owners directly, and vet businesses before you waste time or money on them. We handle outreach, nondisclosures, and initial screening so you only review serious opportunities. It’s ideal for buyers who know what they want but don’t have the bandwidth to hunt for it.
You’re ready when your personal goals, financial position, and business condition line up. If you need the sale to fund retirement but haven’t planned your tax position, you’re not ready. If your business depends entirely on you, you’re not ready. The best way to find out is through an exit readiness assessment. We’ll tell you what’s solid and what still needs work before you go to market.