Selling the company you built is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make. The difference between a good outcome and a great one usually comes down to process. Our sell-side advisory team works with family and founder-owned businesses to prepare, position, and negotiate your sale so the value, structure, and terms all line up with what your family actually needs.
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What to Expect During the Sell-Side Process
A successful transaction is built long before buyers are contacted. Most of the work happens upfront, aligning expectations, preparing financials, and positioning the business to withstand scrutiny.
Selling Your Business Is a Once-in-a-Lifetime Decision. Get it Right.
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- 100+ Successful Transactions
- $400MM Total Transaction Value
- 40+ Years M&A Experience
The Four Stages of Selling a Business
Exit Planning
- Understand your business, operations, and value drivers
- Define personal and financial transaction goals
- Establish valuation expectations and financial models
- Assemble your transaction team
Marketing
- Prepare offering materials and financial positioning
- Identify and screen strategic and financial buyers
- Execute outreach, Non-disclosure Agreements (NDAs), and buyer communication
- Manage the data room and request IOIs (Indications of Interest)
Negotiating
- Evaluate offers and select qualified buyers
- Coordinate management meetings
- Negotiate and secure the Letter of Intent
- Manage due diligence
Closing
- Finalize the purchase agreement
- Coordinate financing and advisors
- Resolve remaining issues
- Close the transaction
Go to Market With a Process That Creates Competition
We do not “list” your business; we run a structured process designed to create competition and improve both price and terms.
Before going to market, we establish a realistic valuation range and ensure the range of values meets your needs. Financials are prepared to reflect the true earning power of the business and withstand buyer scrutiny.
With your assistance and approval, we then identify a targeted group of qualified buyers and contact them simultaneously. Each receives the same information, and no price is quoted. Buyers determine what they are willing to pay; competition is what drives stronger outcomes.
Protect Confidentiality During the Sale Process
Confidentiality is critical to protecting your employees, customers, and negotiating position.
We act as the sole point of contact with buyers and tightly control all communication. Information is released in stages, beginning with an anonymous teaser, followed by an NDA, and then detailed materials through a confidential information memorandum. Full disclosure occurs only after a Letter of Intent.
Evaluate Offers Based on Structure, Not Just Price
The headline price rarely reflects the full value of an offer. Structure determines what you actually receive and the risk you assume.
We evaluate:
- Cash at closing
- Seller notes and associated risk
- Rollover equity and long-term involvement
- Earnouts and how they are structured
We also assess the buyer, how they operate, how they treat employees, and whether they are the right long-term fit. You are not just accepting an offer; you are choosing who will carry your business forward.
