Michael Thompson’s Post

M&A From the plane…What’s the reason this plane cannot get airborne? One of the biggest misconceptions I see from business owners is the sense their business is a valuable asset and there are numerous acquirers who are ready, willing, and able to buy the Company. Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth. Most of the current research shows that small businesses with sales of $10 million or less, fewer than 25% will transition to a new owner. That failure rate is shocking, and all too accurate. A lot of factors drive down the 25% success rate, but here are five that I often hear about: 1. For Sale by Owner 2. Expectations Too High 3. Seller Goals Too High 4. Inflexible Deal Structure 5. Seller Burnout 6. Wrong Advisors In reality, there are probably a thousand reasons why deals don't get done, but I'd be willing to bet the above six noted issues are at the heart of most deal failures. Let’s look into each one a bit more⬇️ #MergersandAcquisitions #MandAFromThePlane #sellingyourbusiness ============== 🆘 When is the right time to sell your business? DM me to discuss 🔔 To see more M&A content ring the bell on my profile

Many founders interested in selling their business think it's all about timing. And timing can matter—to a degree. But you know what matters a lot more? 👉 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 Here's what savvy selling founders do: ➡️ 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴 - Buyers want to see predictable earnings, not wild fluctuations. ➡️ 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 - One buyer, their terms. More buyers, your terms. Make the competition work for you. ➡️ 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 - Buyers aren't just buying your present—they want your future revenue too. Selling your company isn't just another business transaction—it's a strategic play you need to be ready to execute if you want maximum value. #founders #exits #sellerreadiness

A common mistake I see business sellers make is 𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔. They think they've found the perfect buyer and rush to close the deal, often starting with an unsolicited inquiry or offer from someone they know. But here's the cold, hard truth: 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. Competition is key to getting the best deal. It’s not just about the highest price—it's about optimal price structure, terms, and closing time. A little rivalry among buyers does wonders: ➡ 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐲: They stay motivated, focused, and ready to offer their best. ➡ 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫: With multiple offers on the table, the negotiating power shifts to you. ➡ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐬: If one deal stalls, you've got backup options ready to go. So, don’t shortchange yourself. Create that professional rivalry and watch how the tables turn in your favor. In the game of selling your most valuable asset, competition isn’t just healthy—𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭. #competition #mergersandacquisitions #founders #businesssales

The Secret to Great Deals in Business? It’s Not What You Think. Most founders believe that negotiating is all about playing hardball. But the best deals? They’re built on strategy, relationships, and timing. Here’s how successful founders consistently lock in game-changing deals: Understand your counterpart’s pain points. Research their business. What keeps them up at night? Solve that, and you’re no longer negotiating you’re partnering. Frame it as a win-win. A deal is only great if both sides feel good walking away. Show them how working with you is a long-term investment, not a short-term expense. Leverage timing to your advantage. Is their fiscal year-end approaching? Are they launching a new product? Timing your pitch to align with their priorities gives you leverage. Add value before asking. Before even discussing terms, offer something upfront: an insight, a lead, or a solution to a small problem. It builds trust and sets the tone. Know when to walk away. The strongest negotiators know their worth and aren’t afraid to say no. A bad deal costs more than no deal at all. When we started applying these principles, we didn’t just close more deals—we built partnerships that took our business to the next level. What’s one strategy you’ve used to close a great deal? Share it below.

the key difference between selling a service and selling a result: when you sell a service, there is a limit to how much you can charge. you are essentially selling your time, whether you are a beginner or an expert. scaling becomes nearly impossible unless you start delegating, which then shifts your focus to managing others. but selling a result? that’s where the real potential lies. when you sell a result, you can price your work based on the value you bring to the client. for example, if you generate $10,000 in extra revenue for a business each month, you could charge $4,000 to $7,000—no matter how long the work actually takes. as long as you’re providing a positive return on their investment, clients are happy to pay. and the better the results you deliver, the higher you can charge. see you tomorrow, Dylan

I am not a person that ever thinks things or let people get to me But can I ask the question? When did the thrill and true respect that has always been afforded to those, companies, competitors and people we all regularly compete with for business gone? To be replaced by far fetched, unreliable, unbelievable rumours being generated and circulated that impresses nobody other than the person responsible who as a Very Senior Company Officer delivering it is sadde still. All in a vein effort to discredit and win, maintain and secure business at all costs. 42Gears are not selling, offering, or in negotiation with any prospective buyers or suitors to sell the business. full stop. 42Gears and it's brand are just getting stronger and stronger globally, with more deployments, more Sales more products and more partners growing with us. Please don't get me wrong as the free advertising, the reach outs ,and new contacts gained, and the many new doors it has opened is very much appreciated and a plus. So keep up the good work, as you, and now the whole Industries we work in know who you are and why you felt the need to lie ? Though it is not the approach personally I would take to air my desperation in order to win or hang on to existing business, I must say it has been highlighted by those lied too, of the business acumen, trust, and skill set you have shown and will provide to everyone in business going forward.

4 Reasons Why your first seller meeting isn’t going as planned. Everyone struggles with meeting a seller/owner for the first time - it's easy to get lost in the deal and forget that every business is built on people. People need more than just facts and figures. Here’s why most acquisition searchers struggle: ↠ Overloading with details—less is more. ↠ Lack of listening—understand their needs first. ↠ Premature proposals—build trust before pitching. ↠ Neglecting relationship building—focus on connection, not just transactions. Focus on the people first and the questions will be easy to answer, the numbers will be easy to confirm, and the deal will be easier to close. #BusinessAcquisition #RelationshipBuilding #Acquisition #ETA

𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 Before jumping into an acquisition, ask yourself these critical questions: Is this the right type of business for my expertise? What’s the real reason the owner is selling? Can this business generate sufficient cash flow? Answering these questions can make the difference between a successful acquisition and a costly mistake. Thoroughly vetting a business before buying is non-negotiable for success. Get in touch📞 857-250-0735 Schedule a meeting 📅 https://lnkd.in/evzEYse5

Why Buyers Walk Away “The #1 Deal Killer in Business Sales” Do you know what makes buyers walk away from a deal? It’s not always the price—it’s uncertainty. Unclear financials, dependency on the founder, or unstable operations are red flags that can scare off even the most interested buyer. At Exit IQ, we specialize in removing these red flags by helping founders: • Build transferable systems • Strengthen teams • Clarify financials Your business shouldn’t just be valuable—it should be buyer-ready. Want to know if your business is truly ready to sell?