When you decide to sell your Tampa business, one of the most critical “forks in the road” isn’t about the price—it’s about the legal structure of the deal. In Florida, the choice between an Asset Sale and a Stock Sale can mean a difference of hundreds of thousands of dollars in your pocket after Uncle Sam takes his cut
cepa
The Silent Exit: How to Sell Your Tampa Business Without Tipping Off Employees or Competitors
As a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and a veteran of over 450 transactions, I’ve refined the art of the “Silent Exit.” We keep the business stable, the employees focused, and the competitors in the dark—right up until the day the keys are handed over.
Is Your Tampa Business Worth More Than the “National Average”?
If you’ve spent any time on the national business-for-sale portals lately, you’ve probably seen the standard “rules of thumb.” You know the ones: “Restaurants sell for 2x SDE,” or “HVAC businesses trade at 3x.” But here’s the reality I see every day on the ground: Tampa isn’t a “national average” market. With 170 people moving […]
Tax Strategy & After-Tax Proceeds: Why What You Keep Matters More Than the Sale Price
One of the biggest mindset shifts business owners go through when preparing to sell is realizing that sale price is not the same as what they take home. Sophisticated sellers focus on after-tax proceeds, not just valuation. Two deals can have the same purchase price and produce dramatically different outcomes once taxes are applied. The […]
Owner Dependence & Transferability: Why Buyers Discount Businesses That Can’t Run Without the Owner
One of the most common value leaks I see when business owners go to market isn’t revenue, margins, or even industry conditions—it’s owner dependence. Owners often believe their deep involvement is a strength. Buyers and lenders see it differently. To them, owner dependence represents execution risk, transition risk, and earnings risk. And risk is always […]