INSIGHTS

Selling and Buying a Business

Plain-English guidance on what a business is worth, how a sale actually runs, and what buyers look for.

Written for
Topic
hourglass
For Sellers

Your Buyer Has a Clock: What a Private Equity Fund's Age Does to Your Deal

August 30, 2026
Private equity is sitting on 13,325 US companies it already owns, and more than a quarter have been held for seven years or longer. That backlog shapes your deal more than the multiple does. Here is how to read where a buyer's fund sits in its own ten-year clock — and the five questions that surface it before you sign.
Private Equity & Roll-Ups The Sale Process
Business meeting
For Buyers, For Sellers

What SBA Lenders Are Looking for in 2026 — and What Changes on October 1

August 25, 2026
On October 1, 2026, the SBA changes how business acquisitions are underwritten. The coverage floor moves to 1.25x, projections stop counting toward it, and deals at $3 million and above pick up a Quality of Earnings requirement. Here is what it costs a seller — and which buyer it quietly favors.
Financing & SBA The Sale Process
fix sign
For Sellers

5 Signs Your Business Is Not Ready to Sell (And How to Fix Them)

August 24, 2026
"Not ready to sell" almost never means "not profitable enough." It means a buyer can't verify, finance, or take over what you're selling. Here are the five gaps that surface in diligence.
Exit Planning Sale Readiness
Increase business value
For Sellers

How to Increase the Value of Your Business Before You Sell

August 18, 2026
Most advice tells you to grow your earnings. The bigger money is usually in the multiple. Here are the five levers that actually move your number.
Sale Readiness Valuation & Pricing
HVAC
For Sellers

Why Private Equity Is Buying Every HVAC and Plumbing Company It Can Find

August 17, 2026
PE-backed platforms accounted for roughly 41% of HVAC M&A activity in 2026. Here is the multiple-arbitrage math behind the roll-up, and what it means for your number.
Private Equity & Roll-Ups
quiet roll up
For Sellers

The Quiet Roll-Up of B2B Services: What IT, Staffing, and Distribution Owners Should Know

August 17, 2026
Private equity is consolidating MSPs, staffing firms, and specialty distributors just as systematically as home services. Here are the 2026 bolt-on vs. platform multiples, and what they mean for your exit.
Private Equity & Roll-Ups
Due Diligence
For Sellers, For Buyers

Due Diligence Explained: What Buyers Will Ask For (and How to Be Ready)

July 31, 2026
Due diligence is the buyer’s formal investigation of your business: a systematic effort to verify that everything you and your broker represented is true, documented, and defensible.
Due Diligence The Sale Process
Professional reviewing and signing a business contract - Letter of Intent
For Sellers

What Is a Letter of Intent (LOI) and What Should Sellers Watch Out For?

June 22, 2026
A Letter of Intent (LOI) is one of the most important documents in a business sale. Learn what it contains, what's binding vs. non-binding, and the red flags every seller should watch out for before signing.
Confidentiality Deal Structure & Terms
Two business professionals shaking hands over signed documents representing a completed business sale
For Sellers

How Long Does It Take to Sell a Business? A Realistic Timeline

June 20, 2026
Most business owners expect to sell in 3 months. The reality is closer to 9–12. Here's a breakdown of every phase of a business sale — and what drives timelines longer or shorter.
Exit Planning The Sale Process
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Insights

INSIGHTS Selling and Buying a Business Plain-English guidance on what a business is worth, how a sale actually runs, and […]

INSIGHTS

Selling and Buying a Business

Plain-English guidance on what a business is worth, how a sale actually runs, and what buyers look for.

Written for
Topic
hourglass
For Sellers

Your Buyer Has a Clock: What a Private Equity Fund's Age Does to Your Deal

August 30, 2026
Private equity is sitting on 13,325 US companies it already owns, and more than a quarter have been held for seven years or longer. That backlog shapes your deal more than the multiple does. Here is how to read where a buyer's fund sits in its own ten-year clock — and the five questions that surface it before you sign.
Private Equity & Roll-Ups The Sale Process
Business meeting
For Buyers, For Sellers

What SBA Lenders Are Looking for in 2026 — and What Changes on October 1

August 25, 2026
On October 1, 2026, the SBA changes how business acquisitions are underwritten. The coverage floor moves to 1.25x, projections stop counting toward it, and deals at $3 million and above pick up a Quality of Earnings requirement. Here is what it costs a seller — and which buyer it quietly favors.
Financing & SBA The Sale Process
fix sign
For Sellers

5 Signs Your Business Is Not Ready to Sell (And How to Fix Them)

August 24, 2026
"Not ready to sell" almost never means "not profitable enough." It means a buyer can't verify, finance, or take over what you're selling. Here are the five gaps that surface in diligence.
Exit Planning Sale Readiness
Increase business value
For Sellers

How to Increase the Value of Your Business Before You Sell

August 18, 2026
Most advice tells you to grow your earnings. The bigger money is usually in the multiple. Here are the five levers that actually move your number.
Sale Readiness Valuation & Pricing
HVAC
For Sellers

Why Private Equity Is Buying Every HVAC and Plumbing Company It Can Find

August 17, 2026
PE-backed platforms accounted for roughly 41% of HVAC M&A activity in 2026. Here is the multiple-arbitrage math behind the roll-up, and what it means for your number.
Private Equity & Roll-Ups
quiet roll up
For Sellers

The Quiet Roll-Up of B2B Services: What IT, Staffing, and Distribution Owners Should Know

August 17, 2026
Private equity is consolidating MSPs, staffing firms, and specialty distributors just as systematically as home services. Here are the 2026 bolt-on vs. platform multiples, and what they mean for your exit.
Private Equity & Roll-Ups
Due Diligence
For Sellers, For Buyers

Due Diligence Explained: What Buyers Will Ask For (and How to Be Ready)

July 31, 2026
Due diligence is the buyer’s formal investigation of your business: a systematic effort to verify that everything you and your broker represented is true, documented, and defensible.
Due Diligence The Sale Process
Professional reviewing and signing a business contract - Letter of Intent
For Sellers

What Is a Letter of Intent (LOI) and What Should Sellers Watch Out For?

June 22, 2026
A Letter of Intent (LOI) is one of the most important documents in a business sale. Learn what it contains, what's binding vs. non-binding, and the red flags every seller should watch out for before signing.
Confidentiality Deal Structure & Terms
Two business professionals shaking hands over signed documents representing a completed business sale
For Sellers

How Long Does It Take to Sell a Business? A Realistic Timeline

June 20, 2026
Most business owners expect to sell in 3 months. The reality is closer to 9–12. Here's a breakdown of every phase of a business sale — and what drives timelines longer or shorter.
Exit Planning The Sale Process
Load More

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