Frequently asked questions
Do I have to sell now to work together?
No. Many owners start with a confidential plan and readiness roadmap. If the right answer is 1–5 years out, we can help upgrade reporting, record-keeping, and targeted growth initiatives. If there’s no planned transaction (and therefore no capital partner to compensate us at close), we may agree to a retainer or fixed fee depending on the desired engagement.
What’s the catch?
There isn’t a hidden owner fee. The tradeoff is selectivity: we only engage when there’s a realistic path to strong terms with a partner who can execute.
If I don’t pay you, how do I know you’re loyal to me?
We run an owner-led process: your objectives and non-negotiables drive outreach, screening, and terms. If a transaction closes, the capital partner typically pays us—but we disclose economics upfront, and we select partners based on your fit and terms, not ours.
How do you prevent tire-kickers and wasted management time?
We pre-screen for fit, decision speed, and ability to transact before you spend heavy time. The goal is a small set of credible parties—not a parade of meetings. Worth noting: auctions optimize for volume; we optimize for fit + executable terms.
Do you share my information broadly? I don’t want competitors or employees to find out.
No. We keep outreach tight and staged: a short, screened list; NDA-first sharing; controlled disclosure; and clear rules on what can be shared and when. Worth noting: we don’t run auctions, which are the biggest driver of leakage and “too many eyes.”
Will you invest in my business—and does that create a conflict?
Sometimes—but only when it improves alignment and outcomes. Any co-investment is optional, fully disclosed, and never a condition of our counsel to you.
How do you protect my employees and leadership team?
We screen for partners with a track record of investing in people, and we negotiate protections (retention packages, role clarity, compensation alignment, and severance). Worth noting: no one can guarantee “no one ever gets fired,” but partner selection + written terms materially improves outcomes.
Can I keep the company name and brand I built?
Often, yes. We treat name/brand as a front-end term and build it into the structure and buyer screen. Worth noting: broad processes invite parties who won’t respect this; targeted outreach makes it a real constraint.
What does “total value” mean beyond headline price?
It means optimizing the full outcome: tax structure, rollover/retained equity, earnouts that are actually achievable, working capital, reps/warranties, indemnities/escrow, and certainty to close. Worth noting: because we avoid templated “lowest common denominator” structures, we can craft bespoke terms that match your constraints—and then find the capital partner built for them.
I don’t want to retire or quit, but I’m open to liquidity—what does that look like?
Common paths include minority capital, preferred equity, or a majority deal with control & approval rights. Put simply: who controls which decisions after a deal? We define that upfront and only approach partners who can deliver that structure. Worth noting: we’re not bound to a single fund mandate, so we design what fits you first—then match the right capital.
Can I keep ownership for my family / kids?
Often—through retained equity (minority stake), rollover equity, or other retained interests. We start with your target liquidity vs. how much ownership/control you want to keep, then design around it. Worth noting: different investors have different constraints—our job is to find the ones aligned to your structure.
I want a full exit and no ongoing responsibilities—can you do that?
Yes. We can pursue buyers who want to run the business without you post-close and support a clean transition plan (customers, employees, continuity). Worth noting: the right buyer profile matters more than the loudest headline number.
How quickly can you tell me what the economics could look like?
- 1–2 weeks: a directional range based on key drivers and business quality
- 1–3 months: credible, executable terms from a small set of fit-screened partners
Worth noting: speed depends on data readiness—we’ll help tighten inputs fast.
We help owners understand value and options, reduce risk, and secure the best-fit outcome—quietly and efficiently.