Deal Mechanics

Financing, Valuation & Legal

Financing & SBA Loans

12 guides

• Business Ownership Transition Financing Options
  Business ownership transition financing options range from SBA loans to seller notes to gifting strategies. Here's how each one actually works.
• Buying a Business With Owner Financing: A Buyer's Guide
  Owner financing makes buying a business more accessible — but you have to know how to find it and ask for it. Here's how to make it work in your favor.
• Buying a Business With Seller Financing: How It Works
  Seller financing lets you buy a business with less cash upfront — and sellers often prefer it. Here's how to structure the deal and negotiate the terms.
• Financial Due Diligence for a Business Acquisition
  What financial due diligence for a business acquisition actually covers, and why it goes deeper than a general due diligence checklist's financial section.
• Financing for Purchasing an Existing Business
  The main financing options for purchasing an existing business, from SBA loans to seller financing, and how buyers typically combine them.
• How Do You Get Financing for a Small Business?
  How to get financing for a small business acquisition, step by step, from pre-qualification through closing on an SBA or conventional loan.
• How Does Small Business Financing Work?
  How small business financing actually works mechanically — underwriting, collateral, repayment structure, and how a lender decides what to approve.
• SBA Loans for Buying a Business: How They Work
  How an SBA loan for buying a business works: down payment, eligibility, and the steps from application to closing on your purchase.
• Small Business Financing Rates: A Comparison
  How small business financing rates compare across SBA loans, conventional bank loans, and seller financing, so you can weigh the real cost of each.
• Small Business Financing With Bad Credit
  Realistic small business financing options with bad credit — what still works, what to expect, and how to improve your position before you apply.
• Small Business Financing: A Worked Example
  A worked example of small business financing for a hypothetical acquisition, showing exactly how the numbers come together from purchase price to monthly payment.
• What Is Small Business Financing?
  What small business financing actually means, and the main types available — SBA loans, conventional loans, seller financing, and equity investment.

Valuation & Pricing

18 guides

• Average Business Sale Price: What Deals Look Like
  Average business sale price by deal size, sourced from industry survey data — why multiples rise with size, and how to use the numbers.
• Business Valuation Multiples by Industry: What Buyers Pay
  See typical business valuation multiples by industry, from retail to healthcare, and what actually pushes your number higher or lower.
• Cost of Buying a Business: Beyond the Purchase Price
  The cost of buying a business is more than the purchase price. Here's the full breakdown of down payment, fees, and cash you'll need after closing.
• Cost of Selling a Small Business: A Full Breakdown
  The cost of selling a small business is more than broker commission. Here's the full breakdown of fees, taxes, and hidden costs to expect.
• EBITDA Valuation Calculator: Do the Math Yourself
  An EBITDA valuation calculator walkthrough with a real worked example — the exact formula, step by step, and where it falls short.
• EBITDA Valuation Formula: How It's Calculated
  The EBITDA valuation formula broken into its two parts — how EBITDA itself is calculated, and how the multiple turns it into a value.
• EBITDA Valuation Multiples by Industry
  EBITDA valuation multiples by industry for businesses large enough to be EBITDA-valued — typical ranges, and what moves you within them.
• EBITDA Valuation: The Complete Guide
  EBITDA valuation explained: what it is, how it's calculated, what multiple to apply, and when it replaces SDE as the right earnings metric.
• EV/EBITDA: What This Valuation Metric Actually Means
  EV/EBITDA is the formal version of an EBITDA multiple. Here's what Enterprise Value actually means and why the distinction matters.
• Getting a Business Valuation Done: What to Expect
  Getting a business valuation done? Here's who actually does it, what it costs, how long it takes, and which type you actually need.
• How Business Valuation Works Across the US
  How business valuation works across the US: the formula stays the same nationally, but your state and metro shape your actual buyer pool.
• How Much Is My Business Worth? A Quick Way to Estimate
  How much is my business worth? Here's the quick math to estimate it yourself, and why it's only a starting point before a real valuation.
• How to Calculate EV/EBITDA: Step by Step
  How to calculate EV/EBITDA step by step, with a worked example showing how debt and cash change the number compared to a simple EBITDA multiple.
• SDE vs. EBITDA: Which Values Your Business Better?
  SDE vs EBITDA: learn which earnings metric buyers use to value your business, why it matters, and how the choice changes your price.
• What Is My Business Worth If I Sell It Today?
  What is my business worth if I sell it today? Here's how an as-is sale price compares to what preparation could add, and how to decide between them.
• What Is a Good EBITDA Multiple?
  What is a good EBITDA multiple? It depends on your industry and what's driving it — here's how to judge your own number against a real range.
• When to Use SDE vs. EBITDA: A Quick Decision Guide
  When to use SDE vs. EBITDA, as a fast checklist rather than a full explanation — the threshold that actually decides which metric applies.
• Why Is EBITDA Used for Valuation?
  Why is EBITDA used for valuation? Because it strips out financing and accounting choices to let buyers compare businesses on operating performance.

Legal & Purchase Agreements

7 guides

• Asset Sale vs. Stock Sale: What's the Difference?
  Asset sale vs stock sale: see how each structure affects your taxes, liability, and payout when you sell your business.
• Business Purchase Agreement Lawyer: Cost and When You Need One
  What a business purchase agreement lawyer costs and when to bring one in, specifically for reviewing or drafting the actual purchase contract.
• Business Purchase Agreement: What It Is and What's In It
  What a business purchase agreement actually covers, section by section — useful as a template outline before you have a lawyer draft the real thing.
• Buying a Business Lawyer: Cost, Timing, and What to Look For
  What a buying a business lawyer actually costs, when to bring one in, and how to pick one who's done small business deals before.
• Lawyer for Buying a Business: What to Know
  A lawyer for buying a business does more than review the purchase agreement. Here's what they actually do, when to hire one, and what it costs.
• Legal Due Diligence for Business Transactions
  What legal due diligence for business transactions actually covers — contracts, licenses, litigation history, and liabilities a financial review alone won't catch.
• Selling a Small Business: Tax Implications to Know
  The tax implications of selling a small business can shape your final payout as much as the sale price. Here's what to plan for early.

Due Diligence

6 guides

• Assessing Cultural Fit During Business Due Diligence
  Why assessing cultural fit during business due diligence matters as much as the financials, and how to actually evaluate it before you buy.
• Due Diligence Checklist for Buying a Business
  A due diligence checklist for buying a business: the financial, legal, and operational records to verify before you sign and pay.
• Due Diligence Checklist for Selling a Business
  A due diligence checklist for selling a business — what buyers will scrutinize, so you can prepare before they ask rather than scramble once they do.
• Due Diligence Questions to Ask When Investing in a Business
  The specific due diligence questions to ask when investing in a business as a passive or minority investor, distinct from a full acquisition buyer's checklist.
• Due Diligence on Business Tax Returns: What It Covers
  What due diligence on business tax returns actually covers when buying a business, and why tax returns and internal financials need to tell a consistent story.
• What's in a Business Due Diligence Report?
  What's actually included in a business due diligence report — the deliverable that summarizes findings after a buyer's review, and how to read one critically.

Brokers & Fees

7 guides

• Top Rated Business Brokers Near Me: How to Read Reviews
  How to actually interpret top-rated business broker reviews near you, and which review sources are worth trusting versus which ones are easy to game.
• Broker Client Agreement for Buying a Business
  A broker client agreement governs your relationship with a business broker before you buy — here's what's in it and what to check before signing.
• Finding a Business Broker Near You: What to Check
  Finding a business broker near you means knowing where to look and how to verify who's legitimate. Here's how to search, whether buying or selling.
• How Much Do Small Business Brokers Charge?
  How much small business brokers actually charge, how commission structures work, and who typically pays the fee in a small business transaction.
• How to Choose the Best Small Business Broker
  How to choose the best small business broker for your specific situation, beyond just proximity — track record, specialization, and communication style.
• Questions to Ask a Broker When Buying a Business
  The questions to ask a broker when buying a business — about their track record, fees, listing vetting, and what a buyer-broker agreement should include.
• Search Fund Business Acquisition: How It Works
  A search fund business acquisition means an investor-backed entrepreneur buys and runs one company. Here's how the model actually works.

Retirement Planning

18 guides

• Small Business Retirement Plans: The Complete Overview
  A complete overview of small business retirement plans — SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Solo 401(k), and traditional 401(k) — and who each one actually fits.
• Which Small Business Retirement Plan Should You Choose?
  A decision framework for which small business retirement plan actually fits your situation, based on headcount, budget, and how much admin work you want.
• Small Business Retirement Plans Comparison Chart
  A side-by-side comparison chart of small business retirement plans — SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Solo 401(k), and traditional 401(k) — contribution limits and admin.
• Small Business Retirement Planning: Where to Start
  Where to actually start with small business retirement planning, from the first practical decisions through setting up your first plan.
• Small Business Retirement Plans for Employees
  What small business retirement plans for employees actually require, from mandatory matches to eligibility rules, and what happens if you get them wrong.
• Small Business Retirement Plan Comparison: Pros and Cons by Type
  A pros-and-cons comparison of small business retirement plan types, going beyond a bare feature chart into what actually trips owners up with each one.
• Fidelity Small Business Retirement Plans: What to Know
  What to know before setting up small business retirement plans through Fidelity, and the questions worth asking regardless of which provider you choose.
• Retirement Options for Small Business Owners Personally
  Retirement options for small business owners personally, distinct from employee benefit plans, including how business proceeds factor into the equation.
• Small Business Retirement: What Owners Need to Know
  What small business owners actually need to know about retirement — for themselves and their employees — distilled into the decisions that matter most.
• Vanguard Small Business Retirement Plans: What to Know
  What to know before setting up small business retirement plans through Vanguard, and how to evaluate any low-cost index-focused provider for this purpose.
• Small Business Retirement Plan Tax Credit: What You Can Claim
  What the small business retirement plan tax credit actually covers, who qualifies, and how much it can offset the cost of starting a new plan.
• Small Business Retirement Plan Solutions: Working With a Provider
  How to think about small business retirement plan solutions and services — what a provider or planning service actually does, and how to choose one.
• Small Business Retirement Accounts: How the Investment Vehicle Works
  How small business retirement accounts actually work as investment vehicles — contribution mechanics, tax treatment, and what happens to the money over time.
• How to Set Up a Retirement Plan for Your Small Business
  The actual steps to set up a retirement plan for your small business, from choosing a plan type through your first funded contribution.
• How to Save for Retirement as a Small Business Owner
  How to actually save for retirement as a small business owner, balancing personal contributions against reinvesting in the business itself.
• What Retirement Plan Is Best for Your Small Business?
  What retirement plan is actually best for your small business depends on headcount and budget — a direct recommendation framework, not a generic answer.
• Why Individual IRAs Aren't Attractive for Small Business Owners
  Why individually managed traditional or Roth IRAs alone often aren't attractive for small business owners, and what employer-sponsored plans offer instead.
• Small Business Retirement Planning Services: How to Choose One
  How to choose small business retirement planning services, from fee structures to the specific credentials worth looking for before committing.

Business Growth

15 guides

• Small Business Growth: A Practical Guide
  A practical guide to small business growth — the real levers that move revenue, and the traps that stall growth even in a genuinely good business.
• Small Business Growth Strategies
  Real small business growth strategies organized by the lever they actually pull — customer acquisition, retention, and operational capacity.
• Your Small Business Growth Strategy: Building One Cohesive Plan
  How to build one cohesive small business growth strategy instead of a scattered list of tactics, and why focus matters more than breadth.
• Top Tools for Small Business Growth
  The main categories of tools for small business growth — CRM, marketing automation, and analytics — and how to choose without over-investing too early.
• Growth Strategies You Can Start With Just $5,000
  Real small business growth strategies you can start with a $5,000 budget, prioritized by expected return rather than how much they cost.
• Best ATS for Small Business Growth: What to Look For
  What to actually look for in an ATS (applicant tracking system) for small business growth, since hiring capacity is often what limits scaling.
• Hiring a Small Business Growth Consultant: Is It Worth It?
  Whether hiring a small business growth consultant is actually worth it, what they typically do, and how to evaluate one before committing.
• Funding Options for Small Business Growth
  The real funding options for small business growth — debt, equity, and revenue-based financing — and how they differ from acquisition financing.
• Small Business Growth Statistics
  Real small business growth statistics from Census and BLS data — survival rates, growth patterns, and what they actually mean for your own business.
• What Is a Small Business Growth Fund?
  What a small business growth fund actually is — a source of growth-stage capital distinct from acquisition financing or early startup investment.
• AI Tools for Small Business Growth
  How AI tools for small business growth actually help right now — customer service, content, and operations — without over-hyping what they can do.
• Small Business Growth Hacking: What It Actually Means
  What small business growth hacking actually means as a methodology, and how it differs from traditional growth strategy and marketing.
• Quick Small Business Growth Tips
  Quick, actionable small business growth tips you can actually implement this week, organized by how much time and money each one requires.
• Challenges of Small Business Growth
  The real challenges of small business growth that catch owners off guard — cash flow strain, culture dilution, and operational overload.
• Regulatory Barriers to Small Business Growth
  The real regulatory barriers to small business growth — licensing thresholds, employment law changes, and compliance costs that scale with size.

Raising Capital

15 guides

• I Need Working Capital for My Business: What to Do First
  If you need working capital for your business right now, here's what to actually do first — the fastest realistic options and what to avoid.
• How Do I Get Working Capital for My Business?
  The actual steps to get working capital for your business — from choosing the right source to what documentation lenders will want to see.
• Can You Actually Raise Capital for Your Business?
  A realistic, honest assessment of whether you can actually raise capital for your business right now, based on what lenders and investors really look at.
• How to Raise Capital for Your Business, Step by Step
  How to raise capital for your business step by step, from assessing your needs through closing on financing, across the main funding types.
• Working Capital for Your Business: What It Is and Why It Matters
  What working capital actually is for a business, how it's calculated, and why it's genuinely different from growth or acquisition capital.
• How Do You Raise Capital? Comparing the Main Methods
  A side-by-side comparison of the main methods to raise capital for a business — debt, equity, grants, and revenue-based financing.
• Raising Capital for Your Business: A Complete Overview
  A complete narrative overview of raising capital for your business — the landscape of options and how owners actually navigate the decision.
• What Is Business Capital, and How Much Do You Actually Need?
  What business capital actually means, and a practical framework for calculating how much your specific business actually needs before you raise any.
• Where Can You Get Capital for Your Business?
  The actual places you can get capital for your business — banks, SBA lenders, online lenders, investors, and grants — and how to choose among them.
• How Do You Get Capital? What Lenders Actually Require
  What lenders actually require before they'll approve capital for your business — the specific documentation and thresholds that determine approval.
• Can't Get Capital for Your Business? What to Do Next
  If you've been declined trying to get capital for your business, here's what to actually do next — diagnosing the real reason and alternative paths.
• Raising Capital From Investors for Your Business
  How raising capital from investors actually works for a small business — angel investors, equity terms, and whether it's the right fit for you.
• Grants for Raising Capital for Your Business
  A realistic look at grants for raising capital — what's actually available, how to avoid scams, and why grants rarely work as a primary funding strategy.
• How to Obtain Capital for Your Business: The Formal Process
  The formal process to obtain capital for your business, from preparing a proper application package through what happens after approval.
• How to Get Capital for Your Business: The Complete Guide
  The complete guide to getting capital for your business — every major option in one place, and how to actually choose and pursue the right one.