The Importance of Succession Planning in Small Business Acquisitions
In small business acquisitions, leadership transitions can make or break the deal. I’ve seen companies unravel when succession planning wasn’t addressed. That’s why I make it a top priority in my due diligence. In this article, I share why succession planning matters, how I evaluate it before buying, and what steps I take to ensure a smooth leadership handoff.
Why I Study Cultural Fit Before Buying a Business
Numbers can close a deal, but culture determines whether it thrives. I’ve learned to study cultural fit before every acquisition because mismatched values and leadership styles often lead to failure. In this article, I explain how I evaluate culture, what signals I watch for, and why it has become one of my top priorities before buying a business.
The Importance of Due Diligence on Employee Roles in Small Business Acquisitions
Employees are the backbone of any small business, but too often buyers overlook their roles during acquisitions. I’ve learned that understanding responsibilities, dependencies, and key-person risks can make or break a deal. In this article, I share why I conduct deep due diligence on employee roles, what I look for, and how it shapes my integration strategy.
The Role of Employee Retention in Acquisition Success
Retaining employees after an acquisition is one of the most important factors in long-term success. I’ve seen great businesses fail simply because key people left during transitions. In this article, I share why employee retention matters so much, how I evaluate retention risks during due diligence, and the steps I take to keep teams engaged after closing a deal.
Why I Believe Culture Is More Important Than Strategy in Acquisitions
I’ve seen great strategies fail because the culture wasn’t aligned. In acquisitions, culture drives whether employees stay, systems work, and customers trust the transition. Strategy sets direction, but culture determines execution. In this article, I share why I prioritize cultural fit over strategy in every deal and how it shapes the long-term success of my acquisitions.
Why I Treat Cash Flow as King in Every Acquisition
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned in acquisitions, it’s this: cash flow is king. Revenue and profit projections mean little without strong, reliable cash flow. I focus heavily on understanding how money actually moves through a business, testing different scenarios, and ensuring liquidity can withstand downturns. In this article, I share why cash flow dominates my acquisition decisions and how it shapes the price I’m willing to pay.
Why I Believe Documentation Is the Hidden Backbone of a Business
The strongest businesses I’ve acquired had one thing in common—great documentation. Systems, SOPs, and processes captured on paper or digitally make transitions smoother, reduce key-person risk, and create true scalability. In this article, I share why documentation is the hidden backbone of a business, how I evaluate it during due diligence, and why it drives long-term acquisition success.
Why I Believe Culture Eats Strategy in Business Acquisitions
I’ve seen flawless strategies fall apart because the culture wasn’t aligned. In acquisitions, culture drives execution, employee engagement, and whether a business thrives after a deal closes. Strategy sets the plan, but culture fuels the people who must carry it out. In this article, I share why I believe culture consistently eats strategy in business acquisitions and why I always make it a top priority in due diligence.
Why Culture and People Often Decide if a Deal Works Long Term
Financials can look perfect, but it’s the culture and people that determine if a deal thrives long term. I’ve seen acquisitions succeed when employees feel valued and culture aligns—and fail when those elements are ignored. In this article, I share why I focus on culture and people during due diligence, how I evaluate them, and why they often decide whether a deal truly works in the long run.