Seven questions to assess how prepared your business is for a sale, merger, or succession — and identify the critical gaps that reduce your value before you go to market.
QuickBooks 2026: 67% of SME sale processes are delayed or devalued by poor financial record quality — the single most common reason buyers discount or walk away.
Owner-dependent businesses typically sell at 30–50% less than comparable businesses with strong management teams. Buyers pay for a business, not just a job.
Recurring, diversified revenue commands a premium of 1–3× EBITDA multiples compared to transactional, concentrated revenue. Buyers price uncertainty heavily.
Legal issues discovered during due diligence cause 23% of SME deal failures. Contracts without assignment clauses, unregistered IP, and employee agreement gaps are the top culprits.
A business that runs on documented systems is easier to transition, less risky to buy, and more resilient — buyers pay significantly more for systems-driven businesses.
Buyers pay for momentum. A business with consistent 15% EBITDA growth over 3 years can command a multiple 2× higher than a flat business with the same current earnings.
OECD 2026: 78% of SME owners have not completed formal exit planning — yet owners who plan 3+ years ahead achieve exits at 40–60% higher multiples on average.
Noventum Advisory AI is calculating your exit readiness…
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Our Exit Advisory team can build your value maximisation plan, prepare your business for sale, identify buyers, and manage the entire transaction — protecting your price and your legacy.
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