Multiple Mania: Current Market Multiples & What Your Banker Won’t Tell You

In previous articles, we discussed earnings multiples and their impact on the M&A process. As previously discussed, we tend to view earnings multiples as shortcuts which, when properly applied, can be useful as sanity checks, but we certainly would never recommend acquiring
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Five Biggest Mistakes Made in Hiring and Utilizing Your Attorney

In my most recent article, I discussed the need for building your Dream Team of advisors to help you with buying or selling your business. One of the most critical members of your Deal Dream Team is your attorney. Hiring the proper attorney for your transaction, and utilizing
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Assemble Your Deal Dream Team

With the Rio Olympics just completed, much was made of the USA Men’s and Women’s basketball “Dream Teams” for the caliber of the talent assembled. There was no doubting the quality of each of those teams, groups where the last player on the team was probably as good as or better
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Is Now the Time to Sell? The Best Time to Sell Your Business

In my last two articles, we looked at two factors impacting the timing of the sale of your business: taxes and hockey sticks. In this article, we discuss the basic question: when is the absolute best time to sell your business? Over the years, the question business owners ask us
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Is Now the Time to Sell? Taxes May Be a Factor.

In my last article, I compared hockey sticks with trying to time the sale of your business. In this article, I look at a factor that can have a major impact on your decision to sell now or later: taxes. Our clients often ask us to assist them in determining the best time to sell
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Want To Buy My Hockey Stick?

Continuing our subject of The Right Time To Sell Your Business, in this month’s article, we talk about Hockey Sticks and Selling Your Business. What do hockey sticks have to do with selling businesses? More than you realize. As I have discussed previously, business owners usually
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10 Signs It Is Time to Sell

Continuing our subject of The Right Time To Sell Your Business, I outlined some sure signs. 1. You notice you are attending more funerals than weddings. Getting older or hitting retirement age is probably the leading reason our clients decide to sell their companies. We also hear
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Is Now The Time To Sell?

It is an age-old question for business owners: “Is now the right time to sell my business?” Because the economy has been fairly strong the past four to five years…and just seven years ago we went through the worst financial crisis in 80 years, many business owners are naturally
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Do Your Diligence Before You Go To Market

As discussed in previous articles, there are lots of different factors which can kill a deal, most of which can be easily avoided. Last month, we looked at Working Capital Adjustments. This month, we look at another potential deal killer: due diligence. What exactly is “due
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Potential Deal Killer: Working Capital Adjustments

As discussed in previous articles, there are lots of different factors which can kill a deal, most of which can be easily avoided. One potential deal killer which can always be avoided is the Working Capital Adjustment (“WCA”). What is a WCA? First, we need to define Working
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Do Your Diligence Before You Go To Market

In previous articles, we discussed valuations, buyer types, mistakes buyers and sellers make, and deal killers. Many themes permeate the M&A process, but one of the most misunderstood is Due Diligence. What exactly is “Due Diligence” as it pertains to deals? We hear the term
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The Challenges of Selling to Buyers Outside the USA

As mentioned in last month’s article, we have seen an increase in interest for our seller clients wanting to sell to buyers based outside the USA. We reviewed the characteristics and types of companies foreign buyers would like to acquire in the USA. In this month’s article, we
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Foreign Buyers: Myth or Reality?

Strange as it sounds, a new American dream for many business owners is to sell their companies to foreign buyers. There is just something so exotic and romantic about the idea of selling your company to the highest bidder from France, England or China. However, is it logical or
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5 Biggest Deal Killers

In last month’s article, we concluded the three-part series on the Biggest Mistakes Buyers Make. In this article, we examine the 5 Biggest Deal Killers.  Deal Killer #5: Misunderstanding Risk  Any transaction involves a certain amount of risk for both buyer and the seller. The
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10 Biggest Mistakes Business Buyers Make Part 3 of 3

In previous articles, we discussed mistakes #1 to #6 of the 10 Biggest Mistakes Buyers Make when acquiring businesses. In this article, we examine the final four mistakes buyers make when buying businesses.  Mistake #7: Negotiating too soon  Deals are a lot like courtships. Most
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