by Scott Sylvan Bell | May 31, 2026 | Letter of intent
Published: 2026-04-20 | Last Updated: 2026-04-20 | By: Scott Sylvan Bell | Location: Sacramento, California How Does Expedited Due Diligence Work in an LOI? Direct answer: Expedited due diligence in an LOI is an accelerated review process that compresses a...
by Scott Sylvan Bell | May 30, 2026 | Business Growth
Published: 2026-04-20 | Last Updated: 2026-04-20 | By: Scott Sylvan Bell | Location: Sacramento, California How Does Deal Hygiene and Deal Etiquette Work in Business? Direct answer: Deal hygiene is the standard of conduct business owners maintain around...
by Scott Sylvan Bell | May 29, 2026 | Letter of intent, M&A and Deal Structure, Uncategorized
Published: 2026-05-26 | Last Updated: 2026-05-26 | By: Scott Sylvan Bell | Location: Sacramento, California How Do You Keep Deal Momentum Alive During a Business Sale? Direct answer: Deal momentum is the ability to keep a business sale moving forward through the...
by Scott Sylvan Bell | May 26, 2026 | Letter of intent
The Direct Answer Earnest money historically was not required when buying a business through a Letter of Intent. That changed starting in 2026. Sellers and their advisors are now routinely asking buyers to put earnest money down — either a set amount or a percentage...
by Scott Sylvan Bell | May 25, 2026 | Business Growth
The Direct Answer You test your buyer’s journey and document it by entering your own business from three different perspectives — as an employee, as a member of the management team, and as a client. Each perspective reveals what the other two cannot see. You...
by Scott Sylvan Bell | May 24, 2026 | Business exit strategies
The Direct Answer You must look at your contracts 36 months before selling your business because most owner-drafted contracts are not assignable and will not survive a buyer’s due diligence scrutiny. If your contracts cannot transfer to a new owner, the buyer...
by Scott Sylvan Bell | May 24, 2026 | Business exit strategies
The Direct Answer You build a transferable management team from day one by documenting every key team member’s bios, skills, capabilities, problems they have solved, and strategic initiatives they have led — and locking that documentation behind signed NDAs,...
by Scott Sylvan Bell | May 23, 2026 | Business Growth
The Direct Answer You use a 100-day plan when selling a business to prove success by handing the new owner — private equity, strategic buyer, or private buyer — a written transition document that maps the first 90 to 100 days after close. The document covers the...
by Scott Sylvan Bell | May 22, 2026 | Business exit strategies
The Direct Answer Owner dependency hurts your multiple upon your exit because buyers — private equity, strategic buyers, private buyers — see owner-dependent businesses as transition risks they have to price as discounts. If your business relies on you to make every...
by Scott Sylvan Bell | May 21, 2026 | Business exit strategies
Published: 2026-04-21 | Last Updated: 2026-04-21 | By: Scott Sylvan Bell | Location: Tahiti, French Polynesia Why Should Your Growth Strategy Include an Exit Plan From Day 1? Direct answer: Your growth strategy should include an exit plan from day 1 because...
