Brokering / M&A Advisory
Selling your business isn’t just a financial event. It’s personal, emotional, and permanent. We guide owners through the entire process, from valuation to close, with clarity, discretion, and steady support so you can maximize value, protect what matters, and exit without regret.
Business Valuations
Clarity, Confidence, and Control. Whether you're looking to sell now or begin improving your business value and salability, the first step is always a detailed and accurate understanding of where your business is today. What it's worth, and why.
For most owners, selling their business is the single biggest financial and emotional decision they will ever make.
Unlike selling a home or commercial property, there are so many moving parts and considerations to selling a business, and there are no do-overs.
With so much at stake and only one shot to get it right, insightful, end-to-end guidance matters.
Not just from a broker who is only after a transaction and commission, but with an experienced, trusted advisor who understands that a successful sale is far more than just "maximum value".
Maximum value, to the right purchaser, at the right terms. Values and goals aligned.
Guidance through the entire process
At Fair Market, we act as your dedicated advisor through the entire lifecycle of a sale.
Not just the transaction, but the thinking, planning, and execution at each stage, all the while paying great attention to the emotional weight that grows throughout the process.
Here is a high-level breakdown of the overall process:
Phase 1: Valuation & Readiness
The first step is to do a deep dive into your business to identify and assess value drivers, risk factors, salability, and potential buyer perception issues.
The goal here is to establish a defensible, market-grounded estimate of the value of your business.
Phase 2: Strategy, Positioning & Preparation
Once we have a deep understanding of your business, the next step is to strategize together our go-to-market strategy.
This involves understanding who the ideal buyer is, crafting the story of your business to attract the right potential purchasers, and creating the materials we will use to market the opportunity.
Phase 3: Market Launch & Confidential Outreach
Once the preparation is complete, the next step is to launch the business for sale. This typically involves both a passive and direct approach, posting the business on relevant buy/sell websites, as well reaching out directly to previously identified and approved targets.
The goal in this phase is to generate interest with as many qualified purchasers as possible. In this case, "qualified" means they see the value of what you've built, they share your values, they have the ability to both execute on a sale and run the business successfully post-acquisition, and they are genuinely interested in the opportunity.
Phase 4: Offer Evaluation & Negotiation
As we continue to build our list of qualified prospects, we will begin to receive offers. This stage consists of assessing and negotiating all meaningful offers to establish the best fit and secure the best offer possible. Similarly, the goal here to maximize interest and secure the highest number of offers possible.
Phase 5: Due Diligence, Deal Management & Closing
Once you have accepted an offer, due diligence begins. This is where a purchaser looks under all the rocks to verify that all claims we have made about the business and opportunity are factual and correct.
Through this phase is also the creation and negotiation of either the Asset or Share Purchase Agreement, as well as the securing of financing by the purchaser.
Our goal through this phase is to manage all information sharing and timelines to ensure the deal stays on track and value is protected through the process, getting to an eventual close.
Phase 6: Transition Support
Once the deal has closed and the business has sold, transition begins. This is where you begin to transition all business relationships, processes, and critical information to the new owner of the business.
It should be noted that timelines and requirements for transition can vary depending on various factors. The details of transition are typically negotiated throughout phases four and five.
Get in Touch About our Brokering / M&A Advisory Services
A good farmer does not plant seeds without first understanding the condition of the soil, and every explorer begins by understanding where they stand on the map.
Both know that a sound plan begins with clarity.
If you’re thinking about selling, or simply planning ahead (wise!), the first step isn’t to rush into action.
It is to understand the reality of your business as it exists today, to understand where it is you’re trying to go, and from there, proactively formulate the plan and path to your goal.
Our Estimate of Value dives into all facets of your business to truly understand what’s driving the value up, what’s holding it back, as well as potential risks and growth opportunities that lie beneath the surface.
Far beyond just “a number”, this is an investment in your business.
Once our work is complete, we sit down together and walk you through a full, in-depth presentation of our findings, providing you with clear, grounded, and actionable insight for selling, for business growth and optimization, and for value acceleration.
Get in Touch About an Estimate of Value
I'm not ready to sell yet. Is this still worth doing?
Absolutely. For anyone who is approximately one to seven years away from selling, it is one of the smartest things you can do. The Estimate of Value provides clear direction on what’s limiting your value, what’s boosting it, and what actions to take now to increase your eventual sale price and salability of your business.
How is this different from a broker's valuation?
Many brokers provide a superficial, "back of the napkin" estimate, sometimes inflating numbers to win your business. We do not and never will. Our Estimate of Value dives deep into each area of your business, and aims to provide a detailed and fully-supported estimate of the value of your business today.
What do I get with the Estimate of Value?
As part of our process, you'll receive:
- A clear and supported estimate of the value of your business (the "Most Probable Selling Price")
- A detailed breakdown of your company's normalized earnings
- A breakdown of all value drivers and value limiters
- Risk areas that could impact your business and a sale
- Growth opportunities, both low-hanging fruit and longer-term strategies
- Strategic next steps tailored to your goals and timeline
- A detailed presentation of our findings so you leave with an informed understanding of the value of your business
How long does it take to complete?
Most estimates take about 3–4 weeks, depending on the availability of your financials and operational insights. We’ll guide you through what we need and keep the process as light-touch as possible.
Is this confidential? I don’t want my team or competitors to find out.
Yes, this is 100% confidential. We understand the sensitive nature of this work, and confidentiality is our top priority. Nothing is shared externally, and your privacy is fully respected throughout the process.
What information do I need to prepare?
We of course will send specifics as part of an official engagement, but you should be prepared to share the following initially:
- External / Accountant-prepared financials (5 years)
- Monthly Balance Sheets (2 full years + Year to Date; in excel format)
- Monthly P&L Statements (2 full years + Year to Date; in excel format)
- Corporate T4s (5 years)
- Employee + Subcontractor Lists
- List of assets owned by the business
- Client list with associated annual revenues (3 years; excel format)
- Confidential Business Profile (we supply this to you to fill out)
