Purchase Agreement: The Four Key Sections Buyers Absolutely Need to Understand

Is your company in the process of buying another company?  If so, you’re going to need a carefully negotiated, well-drafted purchase agreement in place that describes the deal you’ve struck with the Seller. Depending on how your acquisition is structured, the document will likely take the form of an “asset purchase agreement,” “stock purchase agreement,” […]

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How to Prepare Your Business for a Big Sale

If you’ve ever thought about wanting to sell your business, you’re going to want to watch this interview I did for the Wired To Grow Show with Bruce Johnson, a business growth consultant. In this interview, I outline several key drivers that can dramatically increase the value of the sale of your business (and when I say, dramatically, I mean […]

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Earnouts (Part III): Key Negotiation Points

If you’re in the process of buying or selling a company, and you’ve decided or agreed to include an earnout in your deal, your next step is to determine the key terms of the earnout based on the outcome you’d like to achieve.  Being proactive about this (somewhat challenging) task will put you in position to negotiate the […]

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Earnouts (Part II): Good For Your Deal?

If you’re in the process of buying or selling a company, there’s a very good chance you’ll be faced with the decision of whether to include an earnout in your deal.  If you talk to people who have used earnouts in past deals, you just might come away with the conclusion that your “decision” should more […]

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Earnouts (Part I): What is an Earnout? And Why is it Useful?

This post is the first in a series on the subject of earnouts.  In the world of buying and selling companies, earnouts are often used, frequently discussed, often taken for granted, and commonly misunderstood.  But before going any further on those points, let’s be clear on the basics. 1.  What is an Earnout?  An earnout […]

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Venture Capital Outlook 2013 (Part 3 of 3: My Predictions for 2013)

In my prior two posts here and here, we’ve reviewed some important trends from 2012 and put the spotlight on some key 2013 predictions made by CEOs and VCs.  Now it’s my turn to make some predictions about the venture capital industry and funding environment in 2013: 1.  More Dollars and Funding Rounds.  Companies will […]

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Venture Capital Outlook 2013 (Part 2 of 3: CEO and VC Predictions for 2013)

Are you a business owner looking for investment dollars in 2013 to help you grow your business? Or an investor trying to decide whether and where to invest your money this year? If you answered “yes” to either question, then you’re undoubtedly asking yourself one big question:  WILL 2013 BE A GOOD YEAR TO FIND […]

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Venture Capital Outlook 2013 (Part 1 of 3: Recap of 2012)

Are you a business owner looking for investment dollars in 2013 to help you grow your business? Or an investor trying to decide whether and where to invest your money this year? If you answered “yes” to either question, then you’re undoubtedly asking yourself one big question:  WILL 2013 BE A GOOD YEAR TO FIND […]

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Would A Buyer Agree That Your Business Is Truly Great to Own?

Many CEOs and business owners will agree that the benefits of business ownership far outweigh the related struggles and daily challenges – in brief, they think their businesses are great to own.  And here’s a critical point for you business owners who would one day like to sell your business for a high premium:  many […]

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Crowdfunding: What It Is and What It Isn’t

You’ve probably heard of “Crowdfunding” by now, but you may not be sure exactly what it is.  You likely have the general impression that crowdfunding is a way for companies to raise money without many of the costs and compliance burdens associated with more traditional financing methods.  And if you’re a business owner, you may […]

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