Articles

When Was Your Last Independent Business Insurance Review? Bill Goddard, CPCU, Principal, Insurance Advisory Services Business owners, CEOs and CFOs have enough on their plates – being experts about their business insurance policy is rarely at the top of their list. Coverage often goes unchallenged and unexamined for years until something prompts a closer look. […]

For buyers seeking acquisition financing, an SBA 7(a) loan can be a fantastic tool.  Relative to conventional loans that typically require down payments of 30% or more, buyers utilizing SBA loans can make a down payment of 10-25% (more on this later), and obtain a low fixed rate (a small amount above WSJ prime rate) […]

When talking about selling a business, we talk a lot about a buyer doing their due diligence. What does that mean for the seller? What will the buyer be looking for? The answer is actually contained in a long and thorough checklist. As a seller, it means you must be prepared to present paperwork or […]

Takeaway: We all have to exit our companies someday, but whether we do it well or poorly can be decided by some good planning. We understand that business owners are so busy addressing today’s economic challenges that they can overlook the critical task of exit planning. We also understand that, at some point, all owners exit their businesses. When […]

Ten Tips for Aspiring M&A advisors When I decided to get into this business at the old age of 28, my only advantage was a full head of brown hair, a youthful charisma, a sharp analytical mind and a strong desire to succeed.  I had spent the prior 10 years in academia in undergraduate and […]

Takeaway: A trust advisory committee provides ongoing support, guidance and education for trustees and beneficiaries. It is very common for family enterprises to have a family trust in place. On a very basic level, someone (the settlor) transfers assets to the trustee (often one or both parents) to hold legal title to the trust’s assets for the benefit […]

Avoid Leaving Money on the Table Key Steps to Simplify M&A Working Capital Bryan Graiff, Transaction Advisory Partner, Brown Smith Wallace Dan Schoenleber Transaction Advisory Principal, Brown Smith Wallace Working capital is one of the most complex areas of transactions. Other than a rep and warranty claim, it tends to be one of the most […]

 A Priceless Self-Development Course Filled with Insights & Fun Sometimes I joke that I measure my work as a Dealmaker in dog years. And like most, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Admittedly, I’m captivated by the allure of accomplishing something complex and challenging. Each transaction journey provides me an opportunity for learning something […]

By Kevin Dempsey, CBI, CMEA Takeaway: Several reasons you may want to (re)consider working with a Search Fund: Over the past five years we have been getting more calls from a special set of buyers known as Search Funds. About three years ago, after working very hard through due diligence and MBA level discovery, and three unsuccessful deals, we gave […]

Many business owners are jumping on the bandwagon to sell their companies, trying to take advantage of the current hot market and frothy multiples being paid by buyers. With the impending Baby Boomer tsunami, more businesses are and will be for sale over the next few years than at any other point in history. This […]