FAQs

FAQs

Questions owners ask me.

Straight answers on selling, buying, and financing businesses — from someone who used to sit on the bank’s side of the table.

Selling your business

How do I know what my business is worth?
Value comes down to normalized cash flow, growth, risk, and what comparable deals actually closed for — not a multiple someone quoted you. I start every sell-side mandate with a realistic, defensible valuation range.

How is confidentiality protected?
Your business is never advertised. Buyers are approached discreetly under NDA, and your identity is revealed only to qualified, financially screened buyers — late in the process, never early.

How long does it take to sell?
For small and mid-sized businesses, typically 6–12 months from going to market. Good preparation shortens it; the work you do 1–3 years before selling matters most.

What size businesses do you work with?
Businesses valued between $500K and $25M, across Canada and the US.

Buying a business

How do I find businesses to buy?
The best ones never reach public listings. Tell me your criteria — industry, size, geography — and I’ll bring you off-market and curated opportunities that fit.

Can you help finance the purchase?
Yes — that’s my specialty. I structure CSBFL loans, bank term debt, and vendor take-backs into a capital stack a lender will approve, before you commit to a price.

What should I watch out for as a buyer?
Cash-flow quality, owner dependency, customer concentration, and lease terms. I flag these before you spend on diligence, not after.

Financing

What is a CSBFL loan?
The Canada Small Business Financing Loan is a government-backed program that helps lenders say yes to small business borrowing. Structuring it correctly the first time is most of the battle — that’s what I do.

My bank already declined me. Can you help?
Often, yes. Most declines come down to structure or packaging, not the business itself. I’ll review your file and tell you honestly whether a second, better-structured attempt can work.

How fast can funding close?
It varies by lender, program, and file complexity. I’ll give you a realistic timeline on our first call — not a sales pitch.

Working together

Where are you based, and who do you serve?
I’m in Oshawa, Ontario, and I work with clients across Canada and the US.

Is our first conversation confidential?
Completely. Nothing you share goes anywhere without your permission.

How do your fees work?
Every engagement starts with a free, confidential conversation. Fee structures depend on the mandate — sell-side, buy-side, or financing — and I lay them out transparently before any commitment.

Still have questions? Book a 30-minute call — I’ll answer them directly.