Choosing an Advisor

How to Choose an M&A Advisor

The questions that actually distinguish advisors from each other.

Questions to Ask an M&A Advisor

A direct checklist to bring to your first meeting.

Advisor Types

M&A Advisor vs. Business Broker

Where the line actually falls, and why it matters for your deal.

Investment Bank vs. M&A Advisor

What's actually different between the two categories.

Costs

M&A Advisor Fees Explained

Retainers, success fees, and the Lehman formula in plain terms.

How Much Does It Really Cost to Sell a Business?

Every cost category, with a real disclosed breakdown.

Selling

How to Sell a Business

The end-to-end process, from preparation to closing.

Preparing a Business for Sale

A step-by-step checklist, backed by real market data.

Diligence

What Buyers Look for in Due Diligence

The main categories, plus a real cautionary case.

Quality of Earnings & EBITDA Adjustments

What buyers scrutinize, and how it moves your price.

Valuation

Business Valuation Basics

How advisors arrive at a number, and why it's a range.

Reference

M&A Glossary

40 plain-language definitions of common deal terms, linked to the full guides.

Deal Mechanics

Letter of Intent: What to Negotiate

Binding vs. non-binding provisions, with real case law.

Asset Sale vs. Stock Sale

Which structure fits, illustrated by a real, extreme example.

What Is an Earnout, and How Does It Work?

A real earnout dispute, and how to negotiate around it.

Working Capital Adjustments

A real $2 billion dispute over post-closing "true-up" terms.