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Even as winter settles in, the M&A market is finally starting to thaw. 2025 opened with hesitation baked into every corner of the lower middle market. Deals were getting done, but only for companies that had cleared an unusually high readiness bar. Buyers had record levels of capital yet approached each transaction as if the downside risk...
Read MoreMost business owners assume they will be ready to sell when the time comes. Profitability is strong. The team is capable. Customers are loyal. The number in their head feels reasonable. Generous, even. But in 2025, readiness is not a feeling. It is a discipline. Buyers are no longer rewarding potential; they are rewarding proof. And...
Read MoreRaising capital is often seen as a major milestone and rightly so. But too often, founders and business owners celebrate a successful raise without fully understanding the long-term cost of that capital. The true cost of capital goes far beyond interest rates or equity dilution. Whether you're funding growth, an acquisition, or a runaway...
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