Most “online calculators” give you a multiple of your net profit. That’s theory. In reality, we use SDE (Seller’s Discretionary Earnings).
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Red Flags: Spotting Warning Signs in Buyers Approaching to Acquire Your Business
Buyers with pie-in-the-sky ideas about your business’s potential (ignoring market realities) or who nitpick every detail to drive the price down endlessly are trouble. Constant lowballing, changing terms mid-negotiation, or demanding concessions without justification shows a lack of respect and could signal they’re not serious—or they’re trying to wear you down.
How to Enhance Your Business Valuation Before Selling: A Strategic Guide
In the competitive 2026 M&A market, simply having a profitable business isn’t enough to secure a premium exit. If you’re looking to sell your company in Tampa Bay, Sarasota, or beyond, your goal shouldn’t just be to find a buyer—it should be to maximize the multiple they are willing to pay. Research shows that owners […]
The “Working Capital” Peg: How Cash and Inventory Are Negotiated at Closing—and How Sellers Can Improve It to Their Advantage
By Michael Shea, Transworld Business Advisors of Tampa Many business owners focus almost exclusively on sale price. But seasoned sellers know that working capital—how much cash, inventory, and short-term assets stay in the business at closing—can quietly swing deal economics by hundreds of thousands of dollars. In lower middle market transactions especially, the working capital […]
How to Value Your Small Business Before Selling: A Step-by-Step Guide
Gather Financials
Collect three years of profit-and-loss statements, balance sheets, and tax returns. Buyers want clean, organized data to assess profitability.