Write an Acquisition Brief You Can Act On
Define the practice model, geography, size range and client needs your team can support. Record available capital and where additional financing would be needed. Decide which seller roles you can accommodate and which systems or service models would be difficult to integrate. These criteria prevent an exciting opportunity from quietly becoming a different business plan.
Distinguish Reported Revenue from Durable Economics
Ask how revenue is generated, billed and concentrated. Examine client retention, fee schedules, household concentration, product mix and the costs required to maintain service. Look for expenses that may change after the transaction rather than assuming historical margins will transfer unchanged. Professional financial diligence should explain normalization adjustments and uncertainties.
Test the Financing and the Integration Budget Together
The purchase price is only one use of cash. Add diligence, legal work, systems migration, staffing overlap, working capital and contingencies. Compare debt payments against conservative cash flow. SBA-backed and conventional financing are separate lender processes with eligibility and underwriting requirements; this site’s tools do not establish approval or available terms.
Map Authority, Registration and Client Consent
Use official records to research the exact entities and professionals. Have counsel and compliance assess the transaction structure, assignment or consent requirements, registrations and permitted information sharing. A broad brand name or a seller’s assurance is not a substitute for the documents that govern the relationship.
Agree on the First Hundred Days Before Closing
Assign owners for client communications, service continuity, technology, billing and team onboarding. Define what the seller will do, how progress will be measured and how issues will be escalated. Test whether your current team can absorb the work while serving existing clients. Integration is part of the acquisition plan, not a task to price later.
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These official sources support the concepts and provide current requirements. The practical workflow and questions are our editorial guidance.
General education. Your circumstances, agreements, and applicable rules matter. Review individual decisions with appropriately qualified professionals.