Buying a business is one of the most important - and rewarding - investments an entrepreneur or investor can make. A successful acquisition can offer financial freedom, control over your professional destiny, and the opportunity to build lasting wealth; however, the stakes are truly high. Many buyers take on significant personal risk, including signing SBA personal guarantees, pledging personal assets, and assuming responsibility for a business they did not build. Without pro

Considering buying a small or mid-sized business? A Quality of Earnings (QoE) report is one of the most important tools to validate what you're really getting — before you write the check. In this article, we’ll break down what a buy-side QoE actually is, what it includes, and why it’s critical to protect your investment. What Is a Buy-Side Quality of Earnings Report? A buy-side QoE report is a deep financial analysis commissioned by the buyer during due diligence. Unlike a

Think a small deal means limited risk? Think again. When it comes to buying a business, size doesn’t eliminate risk. In fact, smaller deals often come with fewer systems, less formal financial oversight, and more reliance on trust - which is exactly why due diligence isn’t just for large acquisitions. This case study shows how a targeted QoE Lite engagement with a focused Proof of Cash helped a buyer recalibrate expectations, renegotiate price, and ultimately protect both the

Due diligence shouldn’t be a deal killer. Done right, it should be a deal closer . In the world of small business M&A, emotions run high,...

Getting your SBA loan approved feels like a win. It’s the green light you’ve been waiting for. But here’s a common misconception that...

If you own real estate, another business, or have substantial personal assets, you may find it easier than most to get SBA financing for...

Most small business owners don’t think about exit planning until they’re already ready to exit. But by then, the best time to start was...

Most business owners assume that when it’s time to sell, the numbers will speak for themselves. But in lower middle market and main...

When it’s time to sell your business, one of the biggest obstacles to a smooth, high-value exit isn’t financials—it’s you. Buyers pay...

In the lower middle market, private equity firms wear a lot of hats. You’re sourcing deals, negotiating terms, raising capital, managing...

In lower middle market private equity, diligence can make or break a deal — not because the numbers don’t work, but because the process...

For private equity firms buying lower middle market companies, the real work often begins after the close. That’s when the financial...

After the close of a lower middle market acquisition, private equity firms often look to “professionalize” the business. And one of the...

Every private equity deal starts with a thesis. You’ve spotted an inefficiency. A growth opportunity. A fragmented market ready for...

Private equity value creation depends on two critical ingredients: accuracy and trust . You need to know the real numbers — but you also...

From Owner-Operators to PE Firms, Here’s How Each Group Gets Deals Done (and What You Can Learn from Them) When most business owners or...

In middle-market and lower-middle-market M&A, investment bankers do more than run a process—they preserve relationships, manage egos, and...

For boutique investment banks and business brokers, nothing derails momentum faster than a seller’s financials that just aren’t ready. ...

In M&A, not every deal is ready when it first hits your desk. Maybe the founder is compelling, the business has potential, and the story...

Buyers want clean numbers.Sellers want to preserve their narrative.And M&A advisors? You just want the deal to close—with your reputation...