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December 13, 2024
Get Ready For Roll Over
By Adam Burroughs
Catemer’s Barry Arkles on the complexities of the decision to roll over
December 5, 2024
Value Creation In The Lower Middle Market
424 Capital’s Kyle Stanbro on the firm’s value creation process
December 5, 2024
Maximizing Value
Bloom Engineering’s Dave Boyce on maximizing value and preparing for a deal
November 21, 2024
Sellers Need Grit To Complete A Sale
Knucklehead Properties’ George Lee on becoming the first person to sell a Harley-Davidson dealership to a public company.
November 21, 2024
The Best Deals Have Alignment
Industrial Opportunity Partners’ Craig Korte on the importance of alignment when buying a business.
November 14, 2024
Understanding The LOI As A Seller
Portfolio Creative founder Catherine Lang-Cline on what she learned about LOIs when she sold her business.
October 31, 2024
The Rise Of Earn Outs
Gordon Rees LP’s Craig Heryford on how earn outs are being used in the market and why owners should use caution when negotiating them.
October 24, 2024
Get Your People Ready To Sell
Authentix’s David Brown on preparing yourself, and your team, to tell the company’s story during a sale process.
October 17, 2024
Sellers, Know What You Have
Icon Parking Holdings’ John Smith on the evolution of the business and how he came to own it.
October 10, 2024
Critical Aspects Of Deal Prep, Starting With Why
Baker Tilly’s Bill Chapman on crucial aspect of deal prep for sellers
October 10, 2024
Navigating The Sale Of A 100-Year-Old Business
Bradley Corp. Luis de Leon on the steps take to move a century-old business forward.
October 3, 2024
To Tell A Better Story, Be Prepared
Resolute Capital’s Andy Tatman on what to consider when bringing on an investor
September 12, 2024
The Stress Of A Deal
Former Plastics Distributors and Fabricators Owner Mark Abare on what it feels like to sell a closely held business.
September 12, 2024
Dealing With Increased Rigor In Diligence
Palm Tree’s Nick Fedorchak on managing the sell-side process
August 22, 2024
Dispelling ESOP Myths
MGX Digital’s Charity Brueggemann outlines the process of transitioning to an ESOP.
August 15, 2024
The Thinking That Put Malley's Chocolates On The Market
Malley's Chocolates' Mike Malley on some of the thinking that led he and his siblings to take their family business to market.
August 1, 2024
"Why" Carries More Weight In Today's Deals
Wolverine World Wide's Jim Zwiers on the seller and buyer trend of emphasizing why a business is bought or sold.
August 1, 2024
Learning How To Have A Successful Sale
Coretelligent's Kevin Routhier on the steps he took to prepare his business for multiple processes.
July 25, 2024
Align Your Values To Your Exit Plan
Golterman and Sabo's Herb Golterman on the importance of aligning your values to your exit plan.
July 25, 2024
Ready To Sell? Know What's Next.
Marsh Creek Advisors' John Marsh offers a readiness checklist for those considering the sale of their business.
July 18, 2024
Lessons Learned From Selling His And His Dad's Companies
Blydan Steel's Jonathan Sherrill on what he learned through selling two businesses.
July 18, 2024
How A Conversation About AI Led To A Decision To Merge
Apple Growth Partners' Chuck Mullen and Jeff Brooks on the realization that ultimately led to his firm's merger with Eide Bailly.
July 11, 2024
Finding A Buyer With A Culture Connection
VES LLC's Bryan LeBaron on his thought process when choosing a buyer.
July 2, 2024
Creating Value Before A Sale
Bradford Soap International former CEO Stuart Benton on how the shift he implemented in the company created value in preparation for a sale.
June 27, 2024
Team, Family Drive Selling Decision
ScrapSource's Larry Olschwanger on his motivations for selling.
June 27, 2024
Transparency Is A Critical Element In A Deal Process
LCG Advisors' Jay Clark on the importance of transparency in a process.
June 27, 2024
This Seller’s Checklist Starts With Culture Fit
Sophisticated Systems’ Dwight Smith on what he looked for as he prepared to sell his business.
June 5, 2024
How Listening To The Pros Made Selling Smooth For Nyquist Inc.
Nyquist Inc.'s George Nyquist on the importance of professional advice for business owners.
June 5, 2024
An Unexpected Sale
Samtan Engineering Corp.'s Jon Petromelis on how he worked through the unanticipated sale of the business.
May 22, 2024
What Jeff Kropholler Wishes He Knew Before Selling His Business
Quantum Health Benefits Jeff Kropholler on his experience selling a business.
May 16, 2024
It Takes A Team To Sell A Company
Gateway Dealer Network's John Hopper on what he found important after selling twice in four years.
May 9, 2024
Sellers Have Opportunities, If They Prepare
Bank of America's Brendan Hanley on what sellers can expect in today's M&A market.
May 2, 2024
Sometimes Deal Success Comes Down To Luck
CPTL Advisors Alan Feldman on the role of luck in a deal
April 18, 2024
Sellers, Be Prepared To Bury Your Business
Forever Bride's Ashley Hawks on how sellers can set themselves up mentally for the sale of their business
April 18, 2024
To Generate Value, Run The Business Like You'll Be There For 100 Years
Schumann Steier's Arthur Steier on generating value for a business
April 10, 2024
Why You Should View A Deal As A Long-Term Relationship
A&R Ironworks John Chesnutt on seeing deals with a long-term view.
April 4, 2024
The Rising Importance Of People In Driving Business Value In A Deal
SolomonEdwardsGroup's Laura Kellers Queen on the rising importance of people in driving business value in a deal.
April 4, 2024
How to Maximize PE Value Creation by Better Assessing Growth Potential in Due Diligence
Chief Outsiders Managing Partner, Private Equity, Slade Kobran outlines and approach to value creation that starts in due diligence.
March 21, 2024
Lessons Learned From A Sale Process
Champions Hydro-Lawn's Shea Walker on lessons learned after going through a sale process
March 21, 2024
When Selling A Business, Get Help But Get Going
Red Hawk Past Owner Gillet Boyce on the advice he'd give to owners selling a business for the first time.
February 29, 2024
Inside The Thought Process Of Sell Or Don't Sell
Osage Venture Partners' Emily Foote on how she came to the decision she made with Practice, a company she co-founded.
February 21, 2024
Sellers, Keep It Simple When Talking With Buyers
Circuit Check's Chris Scorse on the importance of clear communication between sellers and potential buyers.
February 15, 2024
The Unexpected Sale Of A Family Business
Former Birko Corporation Owner Kelly Green on the shift to selling her family business.
February 15, 2024
Doing Right By Your Team In A Deal
Juvare's Robert Watson on the importance of focusing on the team during a transaction.
February 1, 2024
Knowledge Is Power For Sellers
Keith Lipman on the prep work that went into the sale of his company, Prosperoware
February 1, 2024
Know Your Buyer's Intentions When Selling
SupplySide Group's Ansir Junaid on the importance of understanding the different buyer types and what they mean for your business post-sale.
January 25, 2024
Are You Really Ready To Sell?
Big Dot of Happiness Founder and Former CEO Sherri Yukel on how she prepared herself and her business for a sale.
January 18, 2024
Sally Hughes On Letting Go
Sally Hughes founded Caster Connection in 1987 when she started selling chair casters out of the trunk of her car. Over 36 years, she built the business up to include some 3,000 different products,
January 5, 2024
Even With Experience, Selling A Family Business Can Be A Challenge
Recently, Jeff Gershman, Chairman of the Board, of Gershman Mortgage & Gershman Investment Corp., sold Gershman Commercial Real Estate, a brokerage and property management company. Through his law
December 15, 2023
A Tale Of Two Exits
Allie Danziger, SVP and GM at AscentUP and Ascent Funding, on how lessons from her first sale informed how she approached the second.
December 1, 2023
Level Agency's Patrick Patterson Raises The Growth Bar
Level Agency's Patrick Patterson on the management buyout, how he connected with his PE backers and what it took to close the deal, what life is like with a PE partner and the agency's plans for the future.
November 21, 2023
Buyer Honesty Can Mean Greater Seller Buy-In
Tendit Group CEO Alejandra Harvey Oliver on how the seller mindset can affect the deal process.
November 17, 2023
See Your Business Through Buyers' Eyes
The advice to business owners looking to exit is often to get the right advisers and plan well ahead of going to market. But for many, that's not always the reality. "We deal with the business owners
November 17, 2023
How Buyer Type Affects Deal Prep
When running businesses for private equity groups, Kevin Matkin, CEO of Maysteel Industries LLC says what's often important when preparing for a sale depends on the buyer type. For a financial buyer,
October 13, 2023
When Selling, Ask Many Questions
As he was looking into selling Insight Publications, Publisher Brian Rasmussen had a lot to think about. Given his age, energy level, and a sense that, given the nature of his business, he wasn't
October 6, 2023
The Million-Dollar Question When Considering A Sale
Knowing when to sell a business is challenging, says Richard Hamlin, executive vice president of The Reserve Group, a family office and management company. While much depends on the owner's personal
September 29, 2023
The 15-Year Process Of Selling CollabraSpace
CollabraSpace Co-Founder Ray Schwemmer says he would get cold calls all the time from people looking to buy his software company. "We basically just ignored them," he said at the Baltimore Smart
September 29, 2023
Transparency Is Needed When Selling A Family Business
Multigenerational family businesses, says Richard J. Wolkowitz, CEO and Family Advisor at Xylogenesis | Family Office Advisory, are tough. The family working in the business may have a different
September 22, 2023
Selling Sgt. Clean
Two years ago, Brian Krusz, co-founder and director of growth and development at Sgt. Clean Car Wash, brought on a financial partner, Prairie Capital, who he says has helped the decade-old,
September 15, 2023
4 Tips For Preparing To Sell Your Business
Northern Lakes Capital partner Joel Grebenick share what sellers should consider when thinking about an exit.
September 14, 2023
For A Successful Sale, Know What You Want
With early-stage tech companies, it's important to figure out what the entrepreneur wants because often the entrepreneur is near burnout, says Sig Mosley, managing partner of Mosley Ventures.
September 14, 2023
Candid Reasons Not To Pass Your Business To The Next Generation
How — and why — Thomas J. Young sold Arrowhead Systems, a business he had no intention of selling.
August 25, 2023
From Sell To Sell And Buy
General Die Casters has been in business since 1957 making high-pressure aluminum die castings of parts for everything from automobiles to chainsaws. About a year ago, CEO Brian Lennon says the
August 25, 2023
Take The Stigma Out Of The Exit Talk
CEOs are often hesitant to talk about exits because there's a stigma attached to it, says MATH Venture Partners Managing Director Mark Achler. "There's a concern that if you start to talk about an
August 4, 2023
Deal Close Is Not The End Of The Marathon
Rendia, founded by an eye doctor and his three children to help doctors and patients understand each other better, was sold to a strategic buyer, PatientPoint, this past October. To personally prepare
July 21, 2023
Lessons Learned From Selling A Business ... Twice
Bruce Milen, Chairman of the Board of Jax Kar Wash, first sold his business back in 1998 during a period of consolidation and roll ups. He had and took the opportunity to buy it back three years later
June 29, 2023
Prepare At The Beginning For The Best End
Harold Green launched Chamberlain Contractors, an asphalt paving company, back in 1975, and sold it to Pavement Partners, a portfolio company of Shoreline Equity Partners, in January 2022. While he
June 23, 2023
Exiting Is A Juggling Act For Owners
After a stint practicing law, Ron Cundy decided, during the depths of the Great Recession, to start a company. He and a partner launched recteq, a business that made grills, but couldn't get a product
June 16, 2023
Authenticity, Transparency Key In Deal Negotiations
When preparing to sell a business, Womble Bond Dickinson LLP Partner Scott Anderson says it's best not to hide anything because the buyer, through diligence, is going to find it. "So, you might as
June 16, 2023
Life After Selling
Jai Shekhawat founded Fieldglass, a cloud-based VMS platform, in 1999, grew it to be the largest vendor management software firm in the world, then sold it in 2014 for $1 billion. He's raised capital,
June 9, 2023
Selling To Make The Business Better
Having sold his business, the once-high-growth startup focused on high-acuity homecare programs, Contessa Health, Co-Founder Travis Messina says when they ran their process, they used an investment
June 9, 2023
To Enhance Value, Start Early
When it comes to building the right team around a family business to help create value, not every company has the right people in their family tree to do that. That, says Messerli Kramer Attorney and
May 19, 2023
Sellers Should Be Clear About What They Want In A Deal
Gridiron Capital Managing Director Joe Saldutti says, as a private equity investor, what attracts him to businesses and helps him prioritize investing in one company versus another is when it's a
May 12, 2023
Best Practices in Preparing for a Sale
As business owners begin preparing their company for sale, something to consider is how much time it would take to fix a problem if one is found. "The way we thought about it is, what are the things
May 5, 2023
Facing Economic Headwinds, Deal Math Changes
Several area dealmakers chimed in on how they see the current market; how buyers, sellers and entrepreneurs are faring; and their expectations for how the remainder of the deal year plays out. Check out what they have to say.
April 6, 2023
Hugh Slater on Buying, Building And Selling EGC Enterprises
Slater Capital Managing Partner Hugh Slater on buying, building and growing EGC Enterprises.
March 24, 2023
Working Capital’s Vital Role in M&A
Tony Montanaro, partner in the forensic, litigation & valuation department at Louis Plung & Company, on working capital’s role in an M&A transaction.
March 24, 2023
How Buyers Leverage Weaknesses In A Deal
Guardian Capital Partners Managing Partner Peter Haabestad on the ways buyers pick apart deals and how business owners can maximize the opportunity of a sale.
March 17, 2023
Selling means more than just money
Marcum LLP Senior Partner Greg Skoda on why money might not be the most important part of a deal.
March 17, 2023
Andrew Bennett on Provide's Sale To Fifth Third Bank
Provide Chief Business Officer Andrew Bennett spoke on the Smart Business Dealmakers Podcast about Provide's sale to Fifth Third.
March 17, 2023
How preparing to sell your company is like a bike ride with friends
Justine E. Tobin, founder and managing partner of Tobin & Company Investment Banking Group, on how starting with the end in mind can maximize a sale opportunity and speed up the process.
March 10, 2023
Data, Transparency Play Large Roles In A Deal
Highwood USA CEO and Founder John Quarmley talks through the company's recent sale process.
February 24, 2023
Sellers Be Ready
Summit Fire & Security Regional VP Steve DeJohn on the signs that a company is ready for a sale.
February 24, 2023
Earn Out Can Be A Dirty Word
Paul Stillmank, former CEO of 7Summits, on earn outs — when they're useful and when they should be avoided.
February 17, 2023
Are You Emotionally Prepared To Sell?
Windsor Advisory Group Partner Jon Eesley on the personal toll an M&A sales process can take, how to emotionally prepare for an event, and where to get objective advice.
February 3, 2023
Tom Goodmanson On Calabrio's Two Transactions
Tom Goodmanson, former CEO of Calabrio, spoke on the Smart Business Dealmakers Podcast about the KKR transaction and the Thoma Bravo transaction that would follow, what each was like, how he prepared and what the future holds for the business.
January 13, 2023
Preparing For A Sale When You're A Social Entrepreneur
Founder and former CEO of Union Packaging Michael K. Pearson on selling his company and preparing for life after a sale.
January 13, 2023
With SmartWitness, Business Liability Tool Turns Into $200M Return For Nick Merchef
Nick Mirchef and his son-in-law, Chris Pflanz, went through the trails and tribulations of early-stage capital raises with their company SmartWitness and found a big payday at the end of it all. Today, they’re offering others advice using their experience as a guide.
December 16, 2022
The Importance To Buyers Of High Probability Of Close
Mereo Capital Partners Co-Founder Leo Helmers on the indicators of a high probability to close and why those matter to buyers.
December 9, 2022
Chris Whelan On Selling Health Express Urgent Care
Health Express Urgent Care Owner Chris Whelan on selling his business to South Shore Health System.
December 9, 2022
Value Proposition Tops List In Battery Solutions' Deal Prep
Battery Solutions CFO Craig Fishel on preparing for his company's sale earlier this year to Retriev Technologies.
December 9, 2022
Reasons To Consider A Family Office
Walnut Ridge CEO and Managing Partner Mike Moran on the pros and cons for sellers partnering with a family office, how family offices differ from other options, and what life is like for owners post-transaction.
December 9, 2022
Plenty Of Prep Helps Updox Accelerate Sale Timeline
Former Updox CEO Mike Morgan on building up Updox, the process of selling to EverCommerce, and why he chose to leave the company after the sale.
November 18, 2022
Revolutionary Security's Race To The Finish Line
Former Revolutionary Security CEO Rich Mahler on the sale of the company to Accenture — the period leading up to the deal, COVID's effect and more.
November 4, 2022
The Value Of Preparation Before Liquidity Events
JBC Technologies' Joseph Bliss, Proformex's Lou Schneeberger, BNY Mellon Wealth Management's Ronald Ambrogio and BDO's Robert Berdanier on the value of preparation before liquidity events.
October 21, 2022
Begin With The End In Mind
MATH Venture Partners' Mert Hilmi Iseri and Mark Achler, along with UBS's James Jack and Michael R. Gatewood, share valuable personal lessons learned over several successful M&A exits.
September 15, 2022
Value Creation In The M&A Lifecycle
Congruity 360's Mark Shirman, ARK Behavioral Health’s Peter McLoughlin and Twelve Points Wealth Management’s David Clayman on value creation in the M&A lifecycle.
September 15, 2022
Finding alignment in a family business
AchieveNEXT's Christin Cardone McClave, and UBS’s Bianca Benedetti-Fang and Julie Fox on how McClave’s family managed through being business partners over the years, why they ultimately decided a full sale was a path they wanted to pursue, and how they have adjusted back to being a family, after the transaction.
September 9, 2022
What to consider when considering minority investments
Broadview Group Holdings' Clay Hunter, LoanNEX's Eloise Schmitz, Lewis & Clark AgriFood's Tim Hassler, PNC's Tim Brady and BDO USA's Meg Kellogg on what minority control sales look like, and how planning in advance can lead to multiple bites at the apple.
