Our specific service offering is tailored and scoped to your specific needs but generally fits into the framework shared on our Approach page. 

First, view our video content on our Owner Resources Page. If you're a business owner, reach out to us and we can provide you a passcode.

Second, schedule a call with us. We constantly speak with owners who are contemplating a transaction or transition. We desire to educate and provide insight on how to think about the entirety of the transition or transaction process so that you ultimately accomplish what's most important to you.

No. We are not investment bankers and do represent ourselves to be such. Investment bankers market the company during a transaction. Instead, we work ahead of investment bankers to enhance the value of the business and express the value in a way which investment bankers may use to market your company.

No. We are not business brokers and do represent ourselves to be such. A business broker is an intermediary who assists in marketing a business for sale, often smaller companies.

Investment bankers market the current value of the company. If you’re wanting to get the most value from the sale of your company, then you need to consider how to enhance your value, separate from marketing the sale of your business.

There are several items to consider. First, in our experience, most investment bankers do not possess the skill set necessary to enhance and express the value of your company in a manner beyond what you present to them. Their job is to receive the information you provide and package that information in the best manner possible for sale. 

If you’re looking to get the most value from the sale of your business, there are problems with this approach. We've found that often investment bankers express value in a standardized manner, which is not often consistent with the "true" economics of your business. We've found this to be problematic when attempting to lead a buyer to an understanding of enhanced value. Furthermore, when investment bankers speak of enhancing value they do so in the context of marketing your company not an actual proactive enhancement process.

Second, investment bankers are incentivized to close deals as quickly and efficiently as possible. This doesn’t always result in you receiving the most value for your business or the right investment partner for you. Their fee structure will incentivize them to sell your business at the highest price, but it will be structured in a way favorable to them based on what they know to be a likely outcome. Additionally, keep in mind, investment bankers strive for efficient processes. Though not specifically stated, like buyers, investment bankers measure success based on an unspoken IRR. Therefore, speed to close is a major consideration and motivation for them. As such, their focus is often how to transact the business and do so most quickly.

Conversely, our focus is on enhancing the value of the business with an eye towards realizing its full value. Given the uniqueness of our skill set, we are able to focus both on the enhancement period and transaction period. For you to maximize the value of the business, these two periods need to sequenced, complementary, and managed well, which is why we often help guide the investment banker selection process and play a key role in how the value of the company is expressed to the market.

To be able to truly enhance the value of your business ahead of a transaction or transition is a unique skill set. We formed T7 Partners because no one we knew was doing this. While buyers certainly are able to enhance the value of the company, they're not incentivized to do so pre-sale. This leaves sell side advisors. We've found those who suggest they do “value enhancement" most of the time simply offer analytical or benchmarking tools to compare your value with other companies and offer high level suggestions on areas you could improve. These tools are generic and are meant to be used by those who don’t have a deep understanding of the value drivers of your business. It’s a standardized way for those with financial backgrounds to represent themselves as being skilled or certified in business transactions or transitions. While those tools may have value for preliminary assessment, they don’t go much further than that. We advise owners to be leery of larger groups who represent value enhancement services as they rarely possess the technical advisory skill set needed to unlock real value. 

We’re typically involved when an owner is first contemplating a transition or transaction. This allows proactive planning regarding both the enhancement and transaction periods. As such, owners involve us ahead of choosing an investment banker. This is important as we have the skill set to oversee and direct the investment banker in the transaction process. In these situations, we help owners in the selection of the most appropriate investment banker, which we often do through a competitive process. On occasion investment bankers involve us in their deals already in progress to help enhance and express value which helps them better market the business or more appropriately express the value of the business to a sophisticated buyer.

We work across industries. See Our Results page for some example projects. The one common attribute of our clients are owners who want to maximize the value of their business ahead of a transition or transaction.

You can reach out to us at any point in your process. However, we're usually one of the first advisors owners speak with. That's because we can speak to the entirety of the process, which we define as both enhancement and transaction. In the end, this is missional for us. We want to see that your ultimate objective, whatever that may be, is achieved.

Our services are tailored to your timeline, but generally we define the enhancement period between 6 months and 2 years ahead of a transition or transaction.

There are are three main considerations when considering to sell. First, consider your reason for selling. This is personal and requires self-reflection. Second, determine how much time you are willing to give to the process, both to enhance value and transact the business. Third, look beyond the transaction to your personal continuity plan. What will do after the sale of the business? 

You may find our book The Heart of the Deal helpful in thinking through some of these questions. You can purchase a copy on our Book page.

The first step is to make sure you're ready. This requires having an overall and thorough understanding of the entire process. Next, you should begin to understand the market value of your business and what the value drivers of your business are, as understood by potential buyers, whose attributes can vary. This does not need to be a formal business valuation. Instead, you are better served initially by speaking with those who are knowledgeable of the market and can walk you through the entirety of the process. 

We pride ourselves on educating owners on all aspects of a transaction. We believe knowledge is power, and what you need to know is not often shared with you ahead of a transaction.

There are many aspects to preparing to sell a business. We believe in a proactive approach which begins by understanding yourself and your business. This is important because in the end selling a business is about being able to express the value of your business in way a buyer can understand. We've found many can advise on certain technical elements of a transaction, but few can advise on the end-to-end process, especially how to enhance value as part of the transaction planning process.

For high quality companies, there's never a bad time to sell  your business. High quality companies are always in demand. 

That said, the current interest rate environment has slowed down the number of transactions. Valuation multiples have also come down as buyers are factoring in higher interest rates in their growth projections. Consequently, it is more important than ever to be proactive in considering how you enhance value before you transact value.

Understand that unsolicited offers are not uncommon. So be flattered, but don’t misinterpret.

Many owners receive unsolicited offers to purchase their businesses. The reasons will vary and may relate to your business possessing a unique value add, being part of a growing or fragmented market, or the acquisition allows the buyer to enter a new market or product category. 

Buyers use the unsolicited offer to preempt a market sale process which in turn often allows them to avoid market competition and negotiate with you a lower purchase price. When you receive an unsolicited offer, use it as an opportunity to understand why the buyer is interested in your business. Ask them to share with you their view of the market and how they understand your value add. There is no reason to disclose any financial information. Instead, use the unsolicited offer to take a proactive approach for you to understand your own value in the market and potential growth opportunities. 

To receive the maximum value for your business, you’ll need to be able to express your value and accompanying growth opportunities with underlying data in a way you’ve not needed to do so before. This isn’t the time to “go it alone.” And don’t be confused. The process of leading a sophisticated buyer to a congruence of perceived value using underlying data is not the goal of the investment banker or broker. Their goal is to sell your company with the existing financial information you provide them. However, if you want to maximize the value of your business you’ll need to prepare differently and take a more proactive approach to the sale of your business.  That’s why we formed T7 Partners. 

If you received an unsolicited offer and you’d like to discuss how you respond or what steps you should take to enhance the value of your business, reach out. We speak regularly with owners who receive unsolicited offers and help them think through their own goals and objectives and how they can be more proactive and less reactive in the sale or transition of their business.

We believe five steps need to be followed in order to maximize your sale price. See our Approach page for a high level description of each or reach out to discuss your unique situation. 

The enhancement process begins with understanding what factors are necessary for achieving a premium valuation. Then you must assess yourself honestly in these areas and develop the right strategy and plan for growth. Next, you'll need to execute on this strategy recognizing certain limitations. Embedded in this process is re-thinking the "true" economics of your business in such a way that you ultimately integrate this understanding within the operations and managment of the business. Doing this will help you best express enhanced value to a buyer.

EBITDA stands for Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation Amortization (EBITDA). EBITDA is an approximation of operating cash flow and is most frequently used when determining the value of a business.