What happens on the first call?
The 30-minute introduction starts with your role, the business, geography, objectives, timing and main question. It is not a completed valuation, engagement or promise of financing or closing.
What should an owner prepare?
Begin with monthly financial statements, tax returns, a broad service-line breakdown, team/owner responsibilities and major operating questions. Use the seller preparation checklist and agree on a controlled process before sharing confidential files.
What is the difference between SDE, EBITDA and cash?
SDE commonly reflects a working owner’s economic benefit. A normalized EBITDA bridge must account for required replacement and operating costs. Maintenance capital spending, working-capital investment, taxes and financing belong in separately defined cash analyses.
Can a contractor license transfer with the sale?
Do not assume it. Authority can depend on a person, entity, classification or municipality. Check the issuing agency and proposed structure, and make lawful day-one coverage a documented condition.
Can SBA financing support an acquisition?
The 7(a) program can support eligible ownership changes, subject to current requirements and lender underwriting. Equity, seller debt, collateral, guarantees, cash flow and management capability are transaction-specific.
How long will a sale take?
There is no reliable universal timetable. Preparation, price, financing, licenses, leases, consents and unresolved issues affect it. Use a dated plan with dependencies rather than a generic promised closing window.
How are fees and representation agreed?
The written engagement identifies the responsible party, representation, scope, fees and duties. Discuss these before retaining an adviser. Verify applicable registration or exemption through the Illinois Secretary of State resources.
How is confidentiality handled?
Design disclosure stages for the assignment using buyer identification, authorization, NDA terms, redaction and need-to-know access. An NDA does not replace access controls or a communication plan.
Do calculators save or send my figures?
The browser calculators run locally. Their figures are not transmitted to the site, added to URLs or saved in browser storage. Downloading a scenario creates a local file that you should keep private. OneCal handles information entered in its booking service separately.
Where can I send corrections?
Email Jason with the page URL, the issue and a supporting source. Legal, tax, accounting, lending and licensing questions for an actual transaction belong with the responsible qualified adviser or authority.
Explore the research library · Illinois business-broker requirements