Business Values Up In 2021

Business values increased in 2021 despite ongoing challenges from the pandemic, talent shortages, and supply chain disruption. Deal activity continued at an intense pace, with advisors across the country reporting increases in both incoming deal flow and completed engagements. More advisors characterized this as a seller’s market than nearly any other time in the last […]

M&A In 2022: Is This The Year To Sell?

If you’re a business owner, you’ve probably had a rough couple of years – and the challenges aren’t over. While COVID-19 may be weakening its grip, talent shortages, supply chain issues, and inflation are still very much at play. And yet, the economy is surging. Many of the business owners we talk to have all […]

Tracking Your Business Perks

Business owners take any number of perks from their business, from the more standard items like auto expenses, memberships, and insurance plans to extras like entertainment, vacations, or an additional family member on the books. Perks are a way for owners to be further compensated for their hard work. However, these perks can also complicate […]

Should a Buyer Overpay to Close a Deal?

As a valuation expert I often get asked, ‘should I overpay in order to close the deal?’ One of the main things I ask anyone asking this question is to consider the opportunity cost of not closing the deal. Being an expert in valuation I never want to say that valuation is not always the […]

When is the Right Time to Plan the Sale of Your Business

If you are a business owner, at some point you have likely asked yourself, “I wonder how much my business is worth.” Perhaps you’re considering selling, thinking about estate planning, or maybe you’re just curious if your business strategy is adding value. We’re seeing that many sellers start reaching out to their trusted advisors such […]

Buyers Like Big Fish In Small Ponds

Some business owners worry that a niche will limit their opportunities and they’ll miss sales. But a niche can often be the key to growth. What’s more, it can increase your overall business value.   Niches are attractive because it’s much easier to be #1 or #2 in a smaller, niche market. Being number one has […]

Entrepreneurs Really Do Think Of Business As Their Baby

Many business owners say selling their business feels like giving a child up for adoption. As it turns out, that’s not just a metaphor. Research shows entrepreneurs really do think of their business as a kid. Researchers found parallel brain activity between owners thinking about their business and parents thinking about their kids. In either case, similar areas of […]

Buyer’s Top Focus Is Employee Team

Employees. Finding them. Keeping them. It’s on everyone’s mind right now. And for the company or person who buys your business, it just may be their number one concern.    In the latest IBBA and M&A Source Market Pulse Report, a quarterly survey of M&A advisors, respondents indicated that employees were buyers’ number one due diligence […]

Retention Raises Business Value, Especially Now

“To win in the marketplace, you must first win in the workplace.” Those words of Doug Conant, business leader and former CEO of Campbell Soup Company, ring particularly true today. The talent market was tight before the pandemic, but now we’re in a critical state. Finding employees, and keeping them, is a challenge for everyone. […]