How do I know if my company qualifies for M&A instead of traditional brokerage?

Companies typically qualify for M&A when they generate $1M+ EBITDA, have recurring or contract-based revenue, maintain a management team, or offer strategic value to larger acquirers. These factors signal scalability and lower risk for buyers.

What drives valuation multiples in M&A deals?

Valuation multiples are influenced by earnings quality, customer diversification, growth potential, recurring revenue, margin strength, scalability, and industry consolidation trends. The more predictable and defensible your cash flow, the stronger the multiple.

How long does an M&A transaction usually take?

Most M&A transactions take between 9 and 18 months. The exact timeline depends on documentation readiness, buyer type, industry complexity, and the speed of due diligence and negotiations.

How is confidentiality protected throughout the process?

Confidentiality is protected through careful buyer screening, nondisclosure agreements, blind or confidential marketing, staged release of information, and secure data rooms. Only qualified and serious buyers receive access to sensitive details.

Can I sell part of my company and keep equity?

Yes. Partial exits and minority recapitalizations are common in M&A. Many owners choose to take liquidity now while retaining an equity stake that may grow significantly under new capital or leadership.

Do private equity firms buy companies with less than $5M EBITDA?

Yes. Many private equity firms, search funds, and family offices acquire companies with $1M to $5M in EBITDA, especially when those businesses have strong margins, customer retention, and growth potential.

What happens to employees after the sale?

Most buyers prefer to retain existing staff because continuity protects customer relationships, operations, and institutional knowledge. Many transactions include retention plans, integration support, and structured transition periods.

What documents will buyers expect to review?

Buyers typically request at least three years of tax returns, financial statements, add-back schedules, year-to-date performance, payroll summaries, customer concentration reports, contracts, leases, organizational charts, and key standard operating procedures.

How far in advance should I prepare before selling?

Ideally, owners should begin preparing 12 to 36 months before going to market. Early preparation improves valuation, reduces due-diligence friction, and gives you time to correct issues that could affect price or structure.

What are the biggest reasons M&A deals fall apart?

M&A deals most often fail due to inconsistent financials, weak documentation, surprises discovered during due diligence, declining performance during the sale process, or hiring an advisor without sufficient M&A experience. Accurate preparation and a structured process significantly reduce these risks.

Should I tell my team that I am selling the business?

In most cases, owners keep the sale process confidential until late-stage due diligence or closing. Premature disclosure can create anxiety, employee turnover, or customer concerns, so timing and messaging are critical.

What role does debt play in an M&A transaction?

Business debt is usually settled or refinanced at closing. Buyers typically require payoff letters, lien releases, and updated loan statements during due diligence to confirm the company’s obligations.

How important is recurring revenue to valuation?

Recurring and contract-based revenue is highly valuable in M&A. Subscription models, service agreements, and long-term contracts provide predictability that reduces risk and often increases valuation multiples.

Can I stay involved in the company after the sale?

Yes. Many M&A deals include consulting agreements, defined transition periods, or equity rollovers. Remaining involved for a period can increase buyer confidence and help support a higher valuation.

What tax issues should I be aware of in an M&A transaction?

Tax consequences depend on whether the deal is structured as an asset sale or stock sale, your entity type, allocation of purchase price, and depreciation recapture. You should work closely with a CPA to plan effectively.

How does working capital affect the deal price?

Most buyers expect a normalized level of working capital to be included in the sale. If working capital is below expectations, it can reduce the effective price. Strong cash flow and a clean balance sheet can support higher valuations.

How do strategic buyers differ from financial buyers?

Strategic buyers seek synergies such as market share, new capabilities, or operational leverage. Financial buyers, including private equity and family offices, focus on return on investment, scalability, and future exit potential.

Can I sell my business if it depends heavily on me as the owner?

Yes, but valuation may be lower if the business is highly dependent on the owner. Building management depth and delegating key responsibilities before going to market can significantly increase buyer interest and pricing.

How does industry consolidation affect my sale?

In consolidating industries, demand for quality companies can be very strong. Strategic buyers may pay premiums to acquire market share, customer relationships, technology, or regional dominance.

How do I know if now is the right time to sell my business?

The best time to sell is typically when your earnings are stable or growing, your industry shows strong buyer demand, and your personal goals align with an exit. Many owners choose to sell from a position of strength rather than waiting for decline.

Florida M&A Advisor for $1M+ EBITDA Companies —Maximize Your Exit Value

Confidential, strategic guidance for owners preparing for a full sale, recapitalization, or private equity partnership.
As a trusted M&A advisor, I help Florida companies navigate high-value transactions with clarity, discretion, and a proven process designed to protect operations while maximizing value.

Schedule Your Confidential Strategy Call Get Your Sellability Report

Aniss Cherkaoui, P.A. — M&A Advisor 20+ years of Florida deal experience • Trusted by business owners statewide
Serving Miami-Dade • Broward • Palm Beach • Statewide Florida

Why Owners Trust My M&A Process

Confidential & Structured

From the first conversation through closing, every step is designed to protect your information and maintain deal integrity.

Direct Access to Qualified Buyers

You gain access to vetted private equity groups, family offices, search funds, and strategic corporate acquirers.

Evidence-Based Valuation

Your valuation is grounded in Florida market data and risk-adjusted financial modeling, giving you accuracy, credibility, and confidence.

This approach creates deal stability, minimizes risk, and positions your company for the strongest possible outcome.

Is Your Company a Strong M&A Candidate?

Not every business qualifies for M&A, but companies that meet these criteria often attract premium multiples and competitive buyers.

$1M+ EBITDA or strong SDE equivalents
$5M–$75M in annual revenue
Recurring or contract-based revenue
Management depth and operational infrastructure
Proprietary advantages or strong competitive position
Growth exceeding available capital
Interest in a full or partial exit

If you check several of these boxes, your business may qualify for strategic, private equity, or financial acquisition opportunities.

Get Your Free Sellability Report

Instant clarity on your company’s M&A readiness.

The Five Pillars of a Successful M&A Exit

A high-value exit isn’t about luck, it’s about structure. These five pillars are the foundation of every successful M&A engagement.

Clarity

Before valuation begins, we define your objectives:

Ideal timeline
Full exit vs. partial liquidity
Post-sale involvement
Priorities around team, culture, and legacy
Personal and financial goals

Readiness

Buyers pay premiums for companies they understand and trust. We evaluate:

Financial accuracy and normalized earnings
Customer diversification and revenue consistency
Organizational structure and key roles
Contracts, leases, and documentation
Systems, processes, and scalability

Positioning

Even excellent companies need the right narrative. We create:

A clear, defensible value story
A confidential offering memorandum (CIM)
Proof of stability, margins, and maturity
A growth case aligned with buyer expectations

Negotiation

Negotiation is precision, not pressure. Our process includes:

Multiple qualified buyers to increase leverage
Price and terms supported by market data
Creative solutions for taxes, structure, and transition
Alignment between your goals and the final deal

Transition

A strong transition plan supports:

Buyer confidence
Employee stability
Customer retention
Long-term continuity

Market-Based M&A Valuation

Before entering the market, you receive a clear, evidence-based valuation prepared by Aniss Cherkaoui, P.A.
Your valuation includes:

Closed Florida M&A transactions
Industry-specific multiples and buyer benchmarks
Buyer behavior patterns and risk scoring
Lender and finance ability requirements
Growth potential and scalability indicators
Normalized earnings and working-capital review

This Florida-aligned valuation gives you the clarity, confidence, and realistic understanding you need before speaking with any buyer.

Get Your Free Sellability Report

Our Proven 9-Step M&A Process

Business Analysis

Pricing Strategy (Most Probable Selling Price)

Confidential Buyer Targeting

Private Advertising

Buyer Qualification

Offer & Deal Structure Strategy

Negotiation

Due Diligence Support

Closing & Transition Management

You stay protected, informed, and supported through the entire process.

Florida M&A

The 20 Essential Questions Every Business Owner Must Ask Before Selling

Companies with $1M+ EBITDA, recurring revenue, a management team, or strategic value typically qualify. These indicators show scalability and reduce buyer risk.

Earnings quality, customer diversification, growth potential, strong margins, recurring revenue, and industry consolidation trends all impact multiples.

Most deals take 9–18 months depending on preparation, buyer type, and due-diligence speed.

Buyer vetting, NDAs, blind marketing, staged information release, and secure data rooms ensure your information stays private.

Yes. Partial exits and minority recapitalizations allow owners to take liquidity now and keep equity upside for later.

Yes. Many pursue companies with $1M–$5M EBITDA, especially those with retention, growth, and strong margins.

Most buyers retain staff to protect continuity and ensure operational stability.

Three years of tax returns, P&Ls, add-back schedules, YTD reports, payroll summaries, contracts, leases, customer data, org charts, and SOPs.

Ideally 12–36 months. Early preparation improves valuation and reduces due-diligence friction.

Inconsistent financials, poor documentation, surprises during diligence, declining performance — and hiring the wrong advisor. Some intermediaries overpromise, lack experience, or lose control of deadlines. Experience reduces these risks.

Not early. Most owners wait until closing or late-stage diligence to avoid uncertainty or turnover.

Debt is normally settled or refinanced at closing after payoff letters and lien verification.

Very. Predictable revenue significantly increases valuation and reduces buyer hesitation.

Yes. Many deals include transition agreements, consulting roles, or equity rollovers.

Tax treatment varies based on structure (asset vs. stock), entity type, and allocation. A CPA should be engaged early.

Most buyers expect normalized working capital included in the price. Shortfalls may reduce valuation.

Strategic buyers seek synergy and market share. Financial buyers focus on ROI and future exit value.

It can still sell, but valuation may be lower. Building management depth increases value.

If your industry is consolidating, demand can be extremely strong and premiums are common.

The best time is when earnings are stable, and your personal goals align with an exit. Owners who sell from strength achieve higher valuations.

Serving Mid-Market Business Owners Across Florida

Supporting business owners across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Naples, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and statewide Florida.

Your location stays confidential.
Your strategy stays personalized.
Your outcome stays protected.

Ready for what comes next?

Schedule Your Confidential Strategy Call Get Your Sellability Report