Resources

Insights for every phase of
the ownership lifecycle.

Perspectives, frameworks, and real-world insights on how execution drives outcomes — for searchers, operators, and sponsors at every stage of the acquisition journey.

All Phase 01 - Aspiration & Prep Phase 02 - Search & Sourcing Phase 03 - Deal Structure & Financing Phase 04 - Ownership & Value Creation Phase 05 - Succession & Exit Industry guide
Quality of Earnings Explained: What a QoE Report Covers and When to Order One
quality of earnings, QoE report, quality of earnings vs audit, business acquisition due diligence
Quality of Earnings Explained: What a QoE Report Covers and When to Order One
What a quality of earnings (QoE) report actually checks, how it differs from an audit, when to order one, and what it costs, for buyers of small businesses.
20 Jul 2026
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Anatomy of a Search Fund Acquisition: Deal Benchmarks from Stanford's 2026 Study
search fund acquisition, search fund purchase price, EBITDA multiple small business, search fund deal structure, what do search funds buy, SMB acquisition benchmarks, seller note, seller equity rollover, quality of earnings, pre-LOI due diligence, acquisition financing search fund, small business valuation multiples, entrepreneurship through acquisition deals
Anatomy of a Search Fund Acquisition: Deal Benchmarks from Stanford's 2026 Study
What do search funds pay? 2026 benchmarks: $16M median price, 6.2x EBITDA, deal structures linked to returns & a pre-LOI checklist from failure data.
13 Jul 2026
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Preparing Your Company for Sale: The 24-Month Exit Readiness Checklist
exit readiness checklist, preparing a company for sale, sell side due diligence, quality of earnings, search fund exit, selling a small business, exit preparation, working capital peg, management team depth, recurring revenue valuation, data room preparation, sell your business checklist
Preparing Your Company for Sale: The 24-Month Exit Readiness Checklist
A 24-month exit readiness checklist for search fund CEOs: audited financials, recurring revenue, management depth, QoE & data room prep to maximize value.
12 Jul 2026
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What a QoE actually tells you, and what it cannot
quality of earnings, QoE report, business due diligence, EBITDA add-backs, adjusted EBITDA, financial due diligence, small business acquisition diligence
What a QoE actually tells you, and what it cannot
The QoE is diligence’s most misunderstood document. The add-backs to interrogate, the five questions to ask your provider, and what the report cannot see.
7 Jul 2026
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You Paid for the Course. Did You Pay for the Diligence?
quality of earnings report, due diligence small business acquisition, SBA acquisition diligence,QoE report cost, commercial due diligence, acquisition entrepreneurship, buying a small business, SDE seller discretionary earnings, small business acquisition risks
You Paid for the Course. Did You Pay for the Diligence?
Buyers spend $120K on a down payment and skip the $15K QoE report. Here is why that is the most expensive mistake in acquisition entrepreneurship.
17 Mar 2026
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