Owner guides
Practical answers for starting, running, growing and eventually handing over a business.
30 guides on this page
Two ways to market a business for sale — publicly for maximum reach, or confidentially to protect its value. This guide weighs the pros and cons of each, walks through the confidential playbook (blind profile, anonymized financials, NDA gating, staged disclosure), and shows how SMB.co gives you both options.
Brit Karel6 min read
Buyers pay more for businesses with predictable, contracted revenue. This seller's guide breaks down the recurring-revenue premium — predictability, churn, transferable contracts, and expansion revenue — and how to build it in the 12–24 months before a sale.
Brit Karel6 min read
A stage-by-stage playbook for transaction attorneys handling small business acquisition closings — LOI review, the purchase agreement, disclosure schedules, escrow, and the closing checklist — with the SBA-deal nuances that trip up generalists.
Brit Karel7 min read
Most buyers misjudge what they can afford — confusing asking price with cash required and misreading SBA leverage and seller financing. Use our interactive calculator to find your realistic range.
Brit Karel9 min read
The SBA just doubled the cumulative 7(a) + 504 loan limit to $10M and rolled out a package of FY 2026 changes — 90% guarantees for manufacturers and trade-oriented borrowers, tighter underwriting, 100% U.S. citizen ownership requirements, and a stricter compliance climate. A practical breakdown of what each change means for self-funded buyers, small business sellers, advisors, and the broader M&A market.
Brit Karel17 min read
A practical guide for M&A advisors and brokers on using marketplaces to grow — expanded reach to sellers and buyers, faster buyer matching, third-party credibility, data capture that compounds, and a clear-eyed look at what an SMB.co advisor profile actually does for your practice.
Brit Karel10 min read
A practical playbook for CPAs whose clients are heading toward a sale — the tax planning that matters, the financial cleanup buyers actually look at, how to defend legitimate add-backs in diligence, when to bring in an M&A advisor, and how to coordinate with the deal team without losing the client relationship.
Brit Karel11 min read
Most small business owners leave real money behind not because the market was bad, but because they were not ready when a buyer showed up. This is the practical guide to selling a small business well — what your business is actually worth, how to get it ready for a buyer, the financials you need clean, the advisors worth having around you, and what the timeline from listing to close really looks like.
Brit Karel11 min read
Most advisors lose time on buyers who were never going to close. This is the working playbook for qualifying a business buyer before your client gets emotionally invested — proof of funds, lending pre-qualification, acquisition criteria, operating experience, and the seriousness signals that tell you who is actually for real.
Brit Karel6 min read
Most small business deals do not fall apart over price. They fall apart in due diligence, over things the seller could have prepared for. This is the playbook for the trusted advisors around a sale — CPAs, attorneys, wealth managers, business coaches, and the rest of the bench — to walk a client through document gathering, the data room, financial reconciliation, management interviews, and a realistic timeline.
Brit Karel11 min read
Most owners ask the wrong question about their EBITDA multiple. Here is a clear, seller-focused guide to what actually drives multiples up or down, where your business likely sits, and the levers you can pull before you go to market.
Brit Karel12 min read
Most owners are not ready to sell when they think they are. This is a step-by-step playbook for advisors to take a client from rough idea to a defensible exit plan, using a target price, a timeline, and the levers that actually move value.
Mike Hillenmeyer10 min read
A practical, no-fluff guide for first-time acquisition entrepreneurs covering search strategy, deal criteria, financing options, due diligence, and the closing process.
Brit Karel11 min read
2026 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive small business markets in a generation. Here is what is actually happening with buyers, what kills deals today, what private equity wants versus what an independent buyer wants, and how to start preparing now — even if you are not ready to sell.
Brit Karel5 min read
The new season of the Jury Duty franchise drops one real person into a fake company being dismantled by private equity. It is sharp comedy and uncomfortably accurate. Here is what is really happening to small businesses across America, and what SMB.co is doing to give independent buyers a real shot at keeping local businesses local.
Brit Karel7 min read
BofA's latest data shows small business owners are pulling back on hiring, holding cash, and staying profitable — without panicking. Here is what that quiet shift means for the market for small businesses, and how it lines up with what we are seeing at SMB.co.
Joe Brown4 min read
Selling a small business is more than finding a buyer and agreeing on a price. From messy financials to lease landmines to your own post-sale identity crisis, here are seven overlooked realities that trip up even savvy owners, and how to get ahead of them.
Brit Karel8 min read
Our partner SILV=R is bringing their Small Business Economy Tour to NYC, Charlotte, Dallas, and LA. Normally $299, tickets are just $19 thanks to Wells Fargo. Here's why every small business owner should attend.
Brit Karel5 min read
Nearly half of U.S. small business owners are over 55 and heading toward retirement. This massive ownership transition threatens millions of jobs — but it also represents the greatest buying opportunity in a generation. Here is what SMB.co is doing about it.
Joe Brown4 min read
Most buyers struggle not because of lack of opportunity, but because they lack the system, support, and speed professional buyers have. Deal Team brings those pieces together so you can move from searching to owning with confidence.
Brit Karel6 min read
Buyers are more active than ever, but misaligned expectations—especially around valuation—are slowing deals down. The winners in this market will be those who move fast, structure creatively, and stay disciplined on what actually matters.
Brit Karel8 min read
In partnership with SILV=R, SMB.co hosted a webinar to help small business owners understand how buyers evaluate businesses and what drives real value. From cash flow and valuation multiples to seller financing and preparation strategies, the session provides practical insights for owners looking to grow, acquire, or eventually sell their business.
Brit Karel6 min read
A Transition Services Agreement (TSA) outlines how a seller will support a buyer after a small business sale to ensure a smooth transition of operations, relationships, and knowledge. Without a clear TSA, even well-structured deals can stall or fall apart when buyers and sellers can’t agree on how the handoff will work.
Brit Karel6 min read
This partnership between SMB.co and BEAM Collaborative is focused on strengthening the future of every business on Main Street through smarter succession pathways. Together, they are preserving local ownership, protecting jobs, and expanding access to small business acquisition.
Brit Karel2 min readA strong business exit strategy gives owners clarity on valuation, buyers, and timing long before they sell. SMB.co provides the tools, data, and expert support to turn uncertainty into confident exits.
Brit Karel3 min read
SMB.co has partnered with Owners in Honor to create stronger pathways into small business ownership for veteran business owners. By combining readiness training with marketplace access, data insights, and acquisition tools, the partnership helps veterans move from preparation to real ownership opportunities. Together, the organizations aim to preserve Main Street businesses, strengthen local economies, and empower veteran leaders to build lasting impact through entrepreneurship.
Brit Karel3 min read
The SBA’s 2025 Small Business Annual Report highlights a return to disciplined lending, record levels of capital deployment, and increased scrutiny across small business transactions. For buyers and sellers alike, the data confirms that preparation, transparency, and strong fundamentals now matter more than ever.
Brit Karel4 min read
The Silver Tsunami represents one of the largest ownership transitions in U.S. small business history, with millions of owners nearing retirement and few prepared with a formal succession plan. This article explores the risks of unplanned exits and why early planning is essential to preserve businesses, jobs, and local communities.
Brit Karel4 min read
Buying an existing business isn’t a shortcut to passive income, it’s a commitment that requires patience, empathy, and realistic expectations. This post breaks down the myths, the realities, and how SMB.co supports buyers through the toughest parts of the journey.
Brit Karel3 min readFree tools. No spreadsheet needed.
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