Two companies each earn $2 million of EBITDA, and one sells for $8 million while the other sells for $14 million. Using Q2 2026 data from TagniFi, GF Data, PitchBook, and SRS Acquiom, Ed Weeks Jr. explains what sets a private company’s multiple, why the headline price differs from cash at closing, and what owners can do about it this quarter.
Ask a business owner if the company is for sale and you will often get a quick answer. “No.” Fair enough. Now change the question. What if the right buyer showed up? What if they understood the business, valued what you built, had the capital to close, wanted to keep your people, and offered a […]
The SBA acquisition rules are changing. If you are buying or selling a business with SBA-backed financing, October 1, 2026 belongs on your calendar. The U.S. Small Business Administration has published SOP 50 10 8.1, the next version of the operating rules for 7(a) and 504 lenders. The new SOP takes effect October 1, 2026, […]
39 of 77 HVAC deals this year went to private equity HVAC M&A in 2026 is running hot, and here’s a number I can’t shake. Private equity took 39 of the last 77 HVAC deals tracked this year. More than half. The sector’s already at 149 transactions, up almost 13% over last year. If you […]
I got on a call with a founder who turned his single biggest fear, selling to private equity, into his business model. He started a managed services provider in 2010. Grew it to about 75 people and $12 million a year. He is not a finance guy. He is an operator who got tired of […]
The Business Only You Can Run Is Worth Less Than You Think An owner-dependent business is one of the biggest reasons business owners leave money on the table when they sell. A few months ago I got on the phone with the owner of a residential HVAC company here in the Hudson Valley. Good business. […]
Every dollar you pull out in cash is a dollar that quietly lowers your exit price. “I put thirty, forty grand a month in my pocket. Cash.” An owner told me that recently like it was a selling point. I get why he thinks it is. To him, that cash is proof the business prints […]
The timeline for selling a business is one of the biggest surprises for first-time sellers: how long the process actually takes. Most business owners assume they’ll list the business, find a buyer in a few weeks, and close in a couple of months. The reality is different — and understanding the real timeline helps you […]
A seller note is a piece of the price you agree to collect later. You are the lender for that piece. You are not the SBA, and you are not the senior lender. The useful question is what you receive at closing, what you are supposed to receive afterward, and whether you can live with […]
A business acquisition in the $5M–$20M range is active, competitive, and nuanced. Buyers in this range — private equity firms, strategic acquirers, search fund operators, and high-net-worth individuals — have clear criteria. Understanding what they want and positioning your business accordingly is the difference between a smooth sale at a premium price and months of […]
