Insights by Candor Advisors

When a founder receives an unsolicited offer to buy a business, the headline valuation may not reflect the amount the seller will receive at closing. Earn-outs, seller notes, escrow requirements, lender priority, and...

Many founders focus on negotiating the purchase price, but the structure of the transaction can be just as important. Whether your business is sold as a stock sale or an asset sale may affect both your tax bill and the...

You’ve probably heard the term “silver tsunami” before. While it’s often associated with retirement and wealth transfer, there’s another side of the story that’s especially important for business owners. Over the next...

When business owners think about selling their company, most of their attention goes to valuation and purchase price. But one overlooked deal term can create surprises after closing. In this short video, Kirk Michie...

<p >Taxes can dramatically change what founders actually keep after selling a business. In this video, Kirk Michie introduces Section 1202, also known as the Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) exemption, and explains...

<p >Many founders are surprised to learn that part of their sale proceeds may be tied up after closing. In this video, Kirk Michie explains how Rep & Warranty Insurance can sometimes reduce escrow requirements and help...

<p >Most founders spend the majority of a sale process focused on valuation, deal terms, and due diligence. But many transactions also include a lesser-known component called a Transition Services Agreement, or TSA. In...

<p >When founders begin talking with investment bankers or private equity buyers, they often hear terminology that has little to do with how they actually operate their business. One of the most important examples is...

<p >The M&A market in early 2026 is not closed, but it is becoming more selective. In this update, Kirk Michie explains what Candor Advisors is seeing across founder-led transactions, private equity activity, buyer...

<p >Selling a business is not just a valuation exercise. It is also a tax planning event that can dramatically affect how much money a founder actually keeps after closing. In this episode, Kirk Michie walks through the...

<p >Figuring out what your company is worth is one of the first steps in exit planning, but acquiring that number shouldn't break the bank. Many founders mistakenly believe they must hire a professional appraiser right...

<p ></p><p >The Reality: You Don’t Fully Control the Outcome</p><p ></p><p ></p><p >The first hard truth is this: once you sell your business, you no longer control most personnel decisions unless you are willing to...

<p >In many straightforward transactions—such as the sale of a pass-through entity like an LLC or S-corp—proceeds are typically taxed as capital gains at the federal level. Depending on where you live, state capital...

<p >Once you reach the bottom of the funnel, the process becomes less theoretical and far more practical. At this stage, you’re no longer asking whether to sell or how the process works—you’re evaluating real offers...

<p >Once you reach the bottom of the funnel, the conversation shifts from whether you’ll sell to how the deal will actually be structured. This is where specific deal terms start to matter—sometimes more than headline...