Many business owners believe timing a transition is about waiting for the perfect moment. One more strong year. One more contract renewal. One more good season. But in our experience, the greatest risk isn’t moving too early, it’s waiting too long. Business Decline Can Be Sudden Value rarely disappears all at once. It erodes quietly:...
A new year has a way of bringing clarity. For many business owners in 2026, the best question to ask is: What would make my business stronger now and my future clearer? Step Back and Look at the Big Picture How resilient is the business?How dependent is it on you?How attractive would it be to...
When a buyer shows interest, it’s easy to feel relieved and confident: “Great, someone wants to buy my business, I’m all set.” But here’s what we’ve found: Interest doesn’t equal ability. And excitement doesn’t equal alignment. One wrong buyer can cost you months of time, deal momentum, and potential value. Buyer Red Flags to Watch...
Many business owners will, at some point, be approached by a familiar face about buying the business. A loyal employee. A family member. A friendly competitor. An investor who “heard you might be thinking about selling.” These incumbent buyers can be fantastic options. They know the business, appreciate the culture, and often want continuity. But...
Minnesota’s new Paid Leave laws go into effect January 1, 2026, and employer notice requirements will begin in the coming days on December 1st. For many small business owners, compliance with new laws like this is hard to keep track of and could lead to undiscovered liability and a potential risk to exit value. Here’s...
We recently shared with you how owners can control their exit and not let their exit control them. We highlighted the foreword to the book Poised for Exit by Julie Keyes, which was written by Sunbelt Business Advisors and True North Mergers and Acquisitions CEO Chris Jones. If that sparked your interest, here is the...
Most business owners don’t want to think about exit planning. You spend years focused on growth, not on selling. It feels distant, uncomfortable, or even unnecessary, and you’ll get to it “someday.” But as Chris Jones, CEO of Sunbelt Business Advisors and True North Mergers and Acquisitions, writes in his foreword to Poised for Exit...
You may have seen the recent news: Minnesota Rusco, as their well-known jingle states, has been a strong and respected company in our community since 1955. Without warning, it was shut down after recently being acquired by an out-of-state private equity group. What Went Wrong? In full disclosure, we were not a part of this...
You’ve poured years into your business, and you’ve built something valuable. Getting something for all your hard work sounds great, but maybe you’re not ready to walk away. You still love the work, the people, the impact, but maybe you just don’t want all your wealth tied up in your business anymore, or you feel...
