The Exitwise Blog

One of the best ways to learn about M&A is to listen to podcasts from experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and advisors. In this article, we'll highlight some of our favorite M&A podcasts of 2023, covering a range of topics such as M&A strategy, valuation, financing, due diligence, and integration.

In this article, we address the most pressing concerns and frequently asked questions entrepreneurs have about time as it relates to an M&A transaction. By providing insights and actionable tips, we hope to arm business owners with the knowledge necessary to ensure the smooth progression toward a successful exit. From understanding the root causes of timing delays to implementing strategies that prevent them, we aim to equip entrepreneurs with the tools to defuse the M&A time bomb and greatly increase the likelihood of a successful exit.

An unsolicited offer to buy your company can be both thrilling and overwhelming, triggering a variety of emotions and decisions that will shape the future of your business venture. But, as you consider your options and your future, it's essential to remember one thing before all else - slow down. Don't allow the initial excitement or implied pressure of the potential acquirer to drive hasty actions that may not align with your long-term vision. In this article, we will dive into our M&A playbook to offer our best advice for any business owner that has received unexpected acquisition interest.

Bootstrapping is a unique and empowering approach to building a company from the ground up without the help of outside funding. Unlike businesses that seek external funding, bootstrapping involves utilizing your own hard work and creativity to build and grow your new venture. By maintaining complete control and avoiding the need to work with external investors, bootstrapped entrepreneurs can chart their own course and carve a unique path to success.

Embarking on a merger or acquisition (M&A) journey can be both thrilling and overwhelming for founders and entrepreneurs alike. Amidst the intricate M&A landscape, one critical aspect that often raises questions for entrepreneurs is the quality of earnings analysis. As a founder, you may find yourself unfamiliar with this concept and its role in the M&A process. In this Mergers & Acquisitions Explained Q&A deep dive, we aim to address common questions that founders frequently have about quality of earnings.

For founders, business owners, and entrepreneurs contemplating the sale of their business, the variety of exit strategies can be daunting. As the search for the optimal exit strategy ensues, one viable option gaining traction is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

Venture Capital firms have historically provided much-needed capital in exchange for an ownership stake, shouldering the risk associated with investing in promising but risky ventures. Venture capitalists bring not only financial resources but also managerial expertise and industry connections to help these companies thrive. However, despite economic tailwinds seemingly on the horizon, venture capital funds don't seem to be raising or deploying capital as aggressively as we've seen in years prior.

For a business owner looking to sell their company, the world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) offers an enticing opportunity that enables founders to have their cake and eat it to - it's called rollover equity, and if negotiated with the right buyer, can help business owners take chips off the table and ride the wave of future growth and financial success.

Selling a business is a significant decision that requires careful consideration and planning. One crucial (and often misunderstood) factor that both sellers and potential buyers should pay closer attention to is the quality of earnings of the selling entity. In this article, we will explore the theory behind, definition, and significance of a quality of earnings analysis in the process of selling a company.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are an essential aspect of the corporate world, where companies buy and sell each other to expand their business and increase profitability, and/or achieve synergies across the new enterprise - in essence, they are looking to create a new company where the whole is greater than the sum of it parts (1+1=3).

As you think about selling your company, you know that it is likely worth more than the sum of its parts. But how do you go about determining what the value of each part is, and more importantly, what should you be doing to ensure that every piece is setting you up for exit success?

Todd Sullivan, Exitwise's CEO, believes experience is a great teacher in M&A. Especially when gaining insight from mistakes, whether your own or someone else's.

Net Working Capital is a key metric that potential buyers will look at when considering your company, and it can have a major impact on the final sale price.

There's a myriad of reasons why a deal can fall through. Getting the small details right and having a great team on your side is key to late-stage M&A success.

Vision, fit, and future plans are often overlooked aspects of terms that need to be identified in the Negotiation and Buyer Selection phase of a sales process.

By creating this compelling vision, our team gets potential buyers see a vision for the future, generate genuine interest, and kick off the competitive bidding process. Ultimately, getting you in front of the right audience will significantly boost the likelihood of a successful outcome at an elevated price.

The following article details how the Marketing and Offers phase of M&A works, and how Exitwise and its investment banking partners leverage their deep industry and organizational knowledge at each step in the process

The second article in a five-part series about how putting the right team in place helps supercharge the M&A process, providing both sellers and buyers maximum value.

This is the first article in a five-part series about how putting the right team in place helps supercharge the M&A process, providing both sellers and buyers maximum value.

Selling a business is more complicated than just putting a "for sale" sign in the window. It's best to spend time preparing yourself and the business. Are you ready?

Business valuations are important for several reasons, including finding opportunities to increase profits and providing helpful information when selling.

Business strategy consultants provide valuable services to businesses of all sizes by collecting and analyzing business data to help managers develop a plan of action to meet the company’s goals.

When hiring a business broker to sell your business, missing a few red flags can create significant issues during the process leading to a suboptimal experience.

The idea of selling a business can be overwhelming and a bit scary. Understanding the necessary steps early in the M&A process can help you be prepared.

Business consulting services can help improve the strength of a company by offering industry-specific recommendations, quickly implementing agreed-upon solutions, and rapidly evaluating projects against predetermined KPIs.

Selling your business can have many pitfalls. Here are the 6 most common M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) deal killers that catch founders off guard. Don't make the same mistakes!

Calculating your company valuation the right way is critical, but there's not one right answer. Here are the 4 most common valuation methods.

Don't jeopardize your company, your relationships, or your exit by telling the team about the sale of company at the wrong time.

If you’re planning on selling your business, you may want to hire an M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) advisor to help you build out the best team of experts to support you through the sale of your company.