Introduction There are three gaps that SME owners have to consider: the wealth gap; the income gap; and the value gap. In this article, we will take a look at why managing and eliminating such gaps is important to business owners on their road to… Read More »Mind the Gap
Overview In this article, we explored the reasons why an SME owner should start performing financial forecasts that specifically target discretionary cash flow. However, a few questions remain. What time frame should a forecast encompass? How often should forecasts be updated? In this article, we… Read More »Roll Up Your Forecast to Win
Objectives Why is it important for an SME owner to get a grip on their cash flows through forecasting? What are the common definitions of cash flow? What is forecasting and how can it help an SME owner? Why Get A Grip on Cash Flows?… Read More »Get a Grip on Your Cash Flows
In early January, the American Mergers & Acquisitions Association (“AM&AA”) issued the M&A Access 2021 Q1 Report. The AM&AA is an organization that focuses on the Middle Market. I’ve summarize the key findings below and provided my overall final thoughts at the end. Overview While… Read More »Grow Your Business With an Exit In Mind
In early January, the American Mergers & Acquisitions Association (“AM&AA”) issued the M&A Access 2021 Q1 Report. The AM&AA is an organization that focuses on the Middle Market. I’ve summarize the key findings below and provided my overall final thoughts at the end. Overview While… Read More »Middle Market M&A-A Summary of 2020 and Outlook for 2021
As 2020 winds down, it’s a great time to start planning ahead for 2021. In our earlier articles, we spoke about why value creation was a worthwhile goal for entrepreneurs. In short, a value creation mindset can i) increase an owner’s options when it comes… Read More »What are the Five Things You Should do Next Year to Improve Value
Key Takeaways Capital allocation decisions involve funding business operations either through debt or equity (or some hybrid of these two). Capital allocation decisions are made to maximize return on equity (related to equity value) while value creation activities are performed to maximize return on invested… Read More »A Holistic Approach to Owner Management Part III: Equity Value
Key Takeaways As part of a value creation mindset, SME owners should concentrate on activities that increase enterprise value. Such activities can either focus on providing or supporting sustainable growth or de-risking the company’s cash flows. Attempting to make giant improvements all at once will… Read More »A Holistic Approach to Owner Management Part II: Enterprise Value
Key Takeaways SME owners should understand the difference between Enterprise Value, Equity Value, and Net Proceeds because each metric has a different meaning and importance. When undertaking a value creation mindset, owners should focus on managing their businesses’ enterprise value and equity value. Understanding these… Read More »A Holistic Approach to Owner Management Part I
Key Takeaways The 2013 (and 2016) State of Owner Readiness indicated that by numerous metrics many business owners have not adequately planned their business exit. Comprehensive and holistic exit planning has many moving parts that requires a dedicated exit advisory team. Exit planning is a… Read More »What We Can Learn About the State of Owner Readiness