Category: M&A Strategy and Planning
-
M&A Strategy When Your Business Is Plateauing
•
Introduction No one starts a business expecting it to plateau. We launch with bold visions, fueled by growth curves and scaling stories. But at some point, many founders hit that invisible ceiling — revenue flatlines, market share stalls, and the flywheel loses momentum. Now comes the hard question:Is this the…
-
Contingency Planning: What If a Deal Falls Through?
•
Introduction It’s the nightmare founders don’t talk about publicly. The deal is lined up. LOI is signed. The buyer is excited. You’re imagining life post-close — wealth, legacy, maybe your next big move. Then it happens. ❌ The buyer pulls out.❌ Diligence exposes a red flag.❌ Markets shift.❌ The board…
-
Planning for an Unexpected Buyout Offer
•
Introduction Most founders dream of the day a buyer knocks on the door. But when that day actually comes — especially unexpectedly — it doesn’t feel like a dream. It feels like a test. The clock starts ticking. Emotions run high. You start asking:“Am I ready?”“Is this real?”“What should I…
-
Exit Planning During Economic Uncertainty: Best Practices
•
Economic uncertainty can make even the most confident founders second-guess their timing. Do I sell now?Should I wait for the market to rebound?Will buyers pull back entirely? These questions are natural. I had them myself when I exited Pepperjam in 2009 — right after the financial collapse. And yet, the…
-
The Influence of Interest Rates on M&A Strategy
•
If you want to understand what’s happening in M&A, follow the money. And few forces shape the cost — and availability — of money more than interest rates. Over the past two decades, I’ve watched deals surge and stall based on one key lever: the cost of capital. When rates…
-
How Market Positioning Changes During Different Deal Cycles
•
There’s no such thing as “static” market positioning. Especially not in the world of M&A. One of the biggest mistakes founders make when preparing for an exit is assuming that what worked last quarter — or last year — will work again. But buyer psychology doesn’t sit still. It moves…
-
Strategic Timing: Should You Exit Before or After a Major Product Launch?
•
Timing your exit is hard enough. Add a major product launch into the mix, and it becomes even more complex. As founders, we’re wired to believe that the next big release — that feature set, integration, or new vertical — will unlock exponential value. But in M&A? Timing isn’t just…
-
Preparing to Sell Before a Recession: Risk or Opportunity?
•
You’ve built something real. Revenue is up, your team is humming, and your customers are locked in. But then… headlines start to shift. Inflation rises. Interest rates follow. Capital markets tighten. Whispered warnings of a coming recession turn into front-page forecasts. What now? Do you hit the gas and take…
-
How Economic Cycles Impact Exit Strategy
•
If you’re building toward a successful exit, one thing is certain: The economy won’t wait for you to be ready. Markets expand. Markets contract. Buyer sentiment shifts. Capital availability changes. And all of it directly affects how — and when — you should sell your business. Having been through multiple…
-
Riding Industry Trends to Boost M&A Appeal
•
Buyers don’t just invest in your numbers — they invest in your story. And one of the most compelling story arcs in M&A? “We’re riding a massive trend — and we’ve figured out how to win.” When I sold Pepperjam, affiliate marketing was on the rise. Major retailers were waking…