Why Every $10M+ Business Needs the Right Deal Team

Introduction:
Let’s talk exits. Not theoretical, “someday-maybe” kind of exits—but real, legacy-defining, life-changing transactions. If your company’s pushing past the $10 million mark, it’s not just a milestone—it’s a magnet. Buyers will circle. Brokers will call. And self-proclaimed “advisors” will line up with pitch decks and buzzwords.

But here’s the truth no one shares until it’s too late: A botched exit doesn’t start with a bad offer. It starts with the wrong team.

The Real Risk Isn’t the Market—It’s Misguided Guidance
When entrepreneurs think about risk, they look outward: economic shifts, buyer financing, industry headwinds. But the most dangerous variable is internal—choosing unqualified, under-experienced M&A advisors.

In this space, credentials are foggy and promises are bold. Many “experts” have never closed a complex deal. Some have never even sat across from a private equity buyer. And yet they’ll happily quarterback the biggest financial event of your life.

How a Weak Team Can Kill a Strong Business

• Valuation Misses: Underprice your company and you leave millions on the table. Overprice it? Buyers walk.

• Due Diligence Pitfalls: Every discrepancy is a bargaining chip—used against you.

• Deal Fatigue: Clunky timelines and poor coordination wear everyone down. Tension rises. Value drops.

And worst of all—bad advisors don’t know what they don’t know.

Build a Transaction Team That Knows the Terrain
Here’s what a real deal team looks like:

• M&A advisor with mid-market experience and verifiable closings

• Tax strategist who understands liquidity events

• Legal counsel fluent in indemnity clauses and reps & warranties

• Financial advisor who maps post-exit wealth dynamics

Together, they do more than protect value—they unlock it.

Conclusion:
An eight-figure exit isn’t just a transaction. It’s a culmination. And whether it becomes a triumphant finale or a cautionary tale depends on who’s standing beside you.