M&A Readiness
Industry Guides
Vertical-specific M&A guides covering the diligence issues, valuation drivers, licensing mechanics, and deal structure considerations unique to each industry — written for founders preparing to sell.
23 articles
Selling a Pool Service Company: Route Economics, Licensing, and What Buyers Evaluate
Recurring maintenance revenue per route, the construction vs. maintenance revenue split, licensed contractor work, chemical inventory compliance.
Selling a Lawn Care or Turf Treatment Business: Route Economics and What Buyers Evaluate
Recurring route revenue, mowing vs. treatment mix, applicator licensing, and seasonal working capital shape lawn care and turf treatment valuation.
Selling a Commercial Printing or Signage Business: Equipment, Customer Concentration, and M&A Issues
Equipment appraisal, obsolescence, digital vs. offset mix, account concentration, and managed services transition drive printing and signage…
Selling a Septic and Drain Service Business: Route Economics, Licensing, and What Buyers Evaluate
Recurring pump-out schedules, hauler licensing, environmental compliance, and service vs. installation mix drive septic and drain service valuation.
Selling a Food Manufacturing or Specialty Food Business: What Buyers Evaluate
Retailer customer concentration, FDA/FSMA compliance, co-packer vs. own-facility distinction, branded vs. private label multiple gap.
Selling a Packaging Company: Customer Concentration, Equipment, and What Buyers Evaluate
Customer concentration among large CPG accounts, equipment capital intensity, material pass-through pricing mechanics, proprietary vs.
Selling an Industrial Automation or Robotics Systems Integrator: What Buyers Evaluate
Project revenue vs. recurring service contract mix, OEM integrator authorization, key engineer dependency, and IP ownership in custom automation…
Selling a Trucking or Freight Carrier Business: What Buyers Evaluate
DOT operating authority, CSA safety rating, driver workforce and owner-operator vs. employee classification, customer concentration.
Selling a Moving and Storage Company: Operating Authority, Tariff Structures, and What Buyers Evaluate
FMCSA household goods carrier authority, tariff and binding estimate compliance, storage revenue vs.
Selling a Restoration Company: Insurance, Certifications, and Buyers
Insurance carrier relationships and TPA program access, IICRC certification, revenue mix across water, fire, and mold, accounts receivable quality…
Selling a Chimney and Dryer Vent Service Business: Route Economics and What Buyers Evaluate
Annual inspection program revenue, CSIA certification, the inspection-to-repair conversion rate, and route density are the defining valuation issues…
Selling a Veterinary Practice or Animal Care Business: What Buyers Evaluate
DVM key-person dependency, companion animal vs. specialty/emergency multiple spread, real property mechanics, revenue per doctor.
Selling a Salon, Barbershop, or Personal Care Business: What Buyers Evaluate
Employee vs. booth renter workforce classification, four-wall EBITDA by location, stylist key-person risk, brand vs. franchise distinction.
Selling a Specialty Retail Business: Inventory, Lease Portfolio, and What Buyers Evaluate
Inventory valuation and obsolescence, lease portfolio economics and landlord consent, omnichannel revenue mix, vendor concentration, and the branded…
Selling a Precision Machining or Metal Fabrication Business: What Buyers Evaluate
OEM concentration, equipment appraisal, ISO/AS9100 transferability, and tooling classification are the issues that most often reprice machining deals.
Selling an Electrical or Plumbing Contractor: M&A Issues Unique to Licensed Trades
License holder dependency, prevailing wage exposure, permit liability, and service vs. project revenue are core valuation issues for trade…
Selling an Auto Repair or Collision Center Group: What Buyers Evaluate
Insurance concentration, environmental liability, DRP relationships, and the franchise vs. independent gap drive auto repair and collision center…
Selling a Car Wash Business: Membership Economics, Real Estate, and What PE Buyers Evaluate
Membership count, monthly EFT revenue, real estate structure, and capex normalization drive car wash valuation for PE platforms and strategic buyers.
Selling a Dental Practice or DSO: What Buyers Evaluate and How to Maximize Value
Dental practice M&A is one of the most active rollup verticals in healthcare, driven by DSO consolidation.
Selling a Medical Practice: How Healthcare Buyers Evaluate Value
Physician practice M&A has accelerated dramatically with hospital system consolidation, PE-backed physician group rollups, and the MSO/management…
Selling a Behavioral Health Practice: What Healthcare Buyers Evaluate
Behavioral health M&A has surged as private equity aggressively consolidates mental health, substance use, and integrated behavioral health practices.
Selling a Security Services or Alarm Monitoring Business: How RMR and Attrition Drive Valuation
Security services and alarm monitoring businesses are valued on a multiple of Recurring Monthly Revenue (RMR), not EBITDA, making them unique among…
Selling a Roofing Business: How PE Rollups and Strategic Buyers Evaluate Roofing Contractors
Roofing is one of the most active PE rollup verticals in the trades, with dozens of platforms consolidating residential and commercial roofing…