The Seller Journey

No surprises.
Here's exactly how this works.

From your first inquiry to close and beyond — every step, every timeline, every ask. If something's still unclear after reading this, just email us.

Inquiry to close — and what comes after.

1

Inquiry

Day 0

Fill out the seller form. We ask for the basics: business type, revenue, SDE, years operating, reason for selling, and rough timeline. Takes about five minutes.

No NDA to start. No broker required. You don't need a CIM or a polished deck — just answer the questions honestly and we'll take it from there.

  • We don't share your information with brokers, competitors, or anyone else
  • Your team won't find out you're exploring a sale unless you tell them
  • You'll get a confirmation email from us immediately with a summary of next steps
2

Review

Within 2 business days

A real person reads your submission. We're not running it through a scoring algorithm — we're deciding if your business sounds like something we'd want to own and operate for a long time.

If it fits, we'll reply with a request to schedule a call. If it doesn't fit, we'll tell you why — not ghost you. We've been on the receiving end of ghosting and it's disrespectful.

  • We reply to every inquiry — fits and non-fits alike
  • Non-fits get a short explanation, not a form rejection
  • If you're borderline, we'll ask follow-up questions before deciding
3

Intro call

Days 3–10

Thirty to forty-five minutes. We want to understand the business from the inside — how it actually runs, what makes it work, what keeps you up at night, why now. You'll want to understand who we are and how we operate post-acquisition.

No pitch, no hard sell from either side. The goal is mutual: we're trying to figure out if this is worth going deeper on, and so are you.

  • We'll send an agenda beforehand so you know what we're covering
  • You can bring your business partner or advisor — no problem
  • We'll follow up within 48 hours with our read on fit and next steps
4

Letter of Intent

Days 10–21

If we're aligned after the discovery call, we'll issue a soft LOI — a non-binding document with our proposed valuation, deal structure, and key terms. We move here in days, not weeks.

Our valuation methodology: we value businesses on a multiple of SDE (Seller's Discretionary Earnings). Multiples vary by vertical, growth trajectory, and transferability. We don't lowball to retrade later — the LOI number is what we intend to pay.

  • Non-binding — no commitment until the final purchase agreement
  • Includes proposed structure: all-cash vs. seller note vs. earnout (we strongly prefer all-cash)
  • Includes exclusivity period request (typically 45–60 days) while we complete diligence
5

Diligence

Weeks 3–8 after LOI

We dig into the business thoroughly. The goal isn't to find problems and retrade — it's to understand what we're buying so we can operate it confidently on day one. We share findings as we go, not as a last-minute renegotiation tactic.

We'll need access to your financials, contracts, and team. We handle everything with discretion. Most of our requests come in a structured data room — we use a shared folder, not back-and-forth email.

6

Close

30 days target from LOI

Purchase agreement, wire, handoff. We aim to close within 30–45 days of LOI for straightforward deals. Asset purchases are typically faster than stock purchases. Complex structures, earn-outs, or multi-entity situations can take longer — we'll be transparent about timeline upfront.

  • We use standard acquisition documents — no exotic terms
  • Wire on close, not net-30 or deferred
  • We'll introduce you to our integration team before close so day one isn't a surprise
7

Transition

60–90 days post-close

We ask that sellers stay on as an advisor for 60–90 days post-close. Not as an employee, not as management — as a knowledge resource. We'll have questions. Customers will want to hear your voice. The team will appreciate continuity.

After the transition period, most sellers step away entirely. Some choose to stay involved in an advisory capacity because they like what we're building. Both outcomes are fine — we don't lock people in or push people out.

  • Transition arrangement is compensated separately from the purchase price
  • You set the availability expectations — we work around your schedule
  • No operational responsibility during transition — guidance only

The diligence request list.

This is the full list. Nothing hidden, nothing sprung on you at the last minute. Having these organized before we start saves time for everyone.

Financials
  • 3 years of P&L statements
  • Most recent 12 months of bank statements
  • Balance sheet (current)
  • SDE / EBITDA add-back schedule
  • Tax returns (last 2–3 years)
  • Accounts receivable and payable aging
Contracts & Legal
  • Customer contracts (top 10 by revenue)
  • Vendor and supplier agreements
  • Leases (office, equipment)
  • Employee agreements and offer letters
  • IP assignments and ownership documentation
  • Any pending litigation or disputes
Operations
  • Org chart with roles and tenure
  • List of tools and software with costs
  • Customer list with revenue by customer
  • Churn / retention data (last 24 months)
  • Key processes documented or described
  • Any operational dependencies on the owner
For SaaS / Digital
  • MRR/ARR trend (last 24 months)
  • Churn by cohort if available
  • Hosting and infrastructure costs
  • Codebase overview (tech stack, key dependencies)
  • Support volume and average handle time
We do not ask for everything on day one. We'll start with financials and a high-level ops overview, then request the rest in phases based on what we're seeing. Most sellers complete diligence in 3–4 weeks once the data room is set up.

Things sellers ask us.

Will you fire my team?

No. The team is the business. The institutional knowledge, customer relationships, and operational continuity all live with the people who built this with you. We don't come in with a headcount reduction plan. If anything, we look for ways to relieve pressure on the team — by automating the repetitive work so they can focus on what they're actually good at.

Will you keep the business name?

Yes. We don't rebrand things that work. Customers chose you for a reason — the name, the reputation, the trust. Changing it destroys value. We operate businesses under their existing identity. We're the owner behind the curtain, not the face on the marquee.

How do you value the business?

We value on a multiple of SDE (Seller's Discretionary Earnings — net income plus owner's compensation and add-backs). Multiples typically range from 2.5× to 5× depending on the vertical, revenue quality, growth trend, and how dependent the business is on you personally. We'll show our math. No black box.

What if I change my mind during the process?

You can walk away. Until you sign a purchase agreement, nothing is binding. We take the LOI exclusivity period seriously — we'll expect you to pause other conversations during that window — but if your circumstances change or the deal stops making sense, you're free to say no. We'd rather you be honest about that than close a deal you'll regret.

Do I need a broker?

No. We work directly with sellers and with brokers — your call. If you have a broker you trust, bring them. If you don't, working directly with us saves you the commission (typically 10–12% of the deal). We're experienced buyers; we don't take advantage of sellers who come without representation.

How do you fund acquisitions?

We are not dependent on bank financing. We close with our own capital, which means no lender approval delays, no SBA timelines, and no surprise retrading at the last minute because financing fell through. What we agree to in the LOI is what we pay at close.

What happens to my customers after you buy the business?

They get better service. Customers rarely notice an ownership change because we don't disrupt what's working. The team stays, the product stays, the brand stays. The only changes are the ones that make operations smoother — usually behind the scenes. We tell customers about the change in a way you and we agree on together.

Will you ever sell the business after buying it?

We hold forever. We're not building a portfolio to flip to a larger PE roll-up in five years. We have no exit pressure, no fund timeline, no LPs demanding liquidity. Businesses we buy stay in our portfolio indefinitely. That's a feature, not a marketing claim — it means we're not making short-term decisions that undermine long-term value.

Still have questions? Just ask.

Reach out directly or fill out the seller form. We'll get back to you within two business days — no commitment, no broker required.

Submit your business → Read acquisition criteria