Buying a Business Without Traditional Collateral: What Do Buyers Need to Know
If you’ve ever applied for a mortgage or loan, you’re likely already quite familiar with the concept of collateral. Collateral is an asset that is pledged to secure a loan. It offers lenders a way to recover losses when borrowers default. When it comes to buying a business, prospective buyers typically assume that they will need substantial personal assets to qualify for financing. While...Read More
What Helps a Business Sale Actually Reach the Closing Table?
Receiving an offer on your business is a major milestone, but experienced buyers, sellers, and advisors know that an accepted offer is only one step in the transaction process. The real challenge is navigating the weeks (or sometimes months) between an agreement and a successful closing. While some deals are derailed by unforeseen events, most transactions succeed or fail based on...Read More
Is Owning a Business Right for You? 3 Questions That Bring Clarity
For some people, owning a business is a clear “no.” For others, it’s a persistent idea they can’t quite shake: the appeal of building something on their own terms, having more control over their income, and shaping the direction of their work and life. But business ownership is not just an aspiration. It’s a tradeoff. And before taking the leap, it helps to get honest about whether it...Read More
The Business Was Worth More Three Years Ago
We’ve had this conversation more times than we can count: an owner is finally ready to sell, but the business they’re bringing to market is no longer the business buyers would have paid a premium for three years earlier. The business has been good to them. They’ve built something real. But when we dig into the financials, the picture is softer than it used to be. Revenue has plateaued. A...Read More
Nothing Happens Until Money Changes Hands. That Includes You.
Most business owners have done this: Stood at the door, coffee in hand, and sent a salesman out into the morning with the old battle cry: Get back out there. Nothing happens until money changes hands. It’s a good line. It’s a true line. The whole enterprise — the operations desk, the books, the crew on the floor — every one of them is funded by the moment a customer says...Read More
The Rabbit, the Falling Tree, and the Man Who Reads the Woods
Why timing changes everything A guy told me this story the other day, and I haven’t been able to shake it. He and his brother were fishing a shoreline, standing under a tall tree. Out of nowhere, a rabbit blew up out of its hole and shot right between them — middle of the day, full sun. These were woods-wise men. They knew a rabbit doesn’t come out of the ground like that...Read More
A $5M Offer Isn’t Always Worth $5M: Why Deal Structure Decides What You Actually Keep
Ask a business owner what their company sold for and they’ll give you one number. Ask them what they actually walked away with — after debt payoff, taxes, the working capital adjustment, and the seller note that’s still being paid down — and you’ll get a very different answer, usually accompanied by a story. Here’s the uncomfortable truth from the intermediary’s side of the table: two...Read More
How Long Does It Really Take to Sell a Business?
One of the most common questions business owners ask is, “How long will it take to sell my business?” Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Some businesses sell within a few months, while others may take a year or longer. The timeline depends on several factors, including the type of business, market conditions, buyer demand, and how prepared the owner is...Read More
Why Lease Terms Can Make or Break a Business Sale
When a business changes hands, the lease attached to it can be just as important as the business itself. This is especially true for restaurants, retail stores, salons, and other companies that rely heavily on location and customer traffic. A strong location can add value to a business. However, the downside of the equation is that a problematic lease can create unexpected...Read More
