Send us a text

Getting an offer is only half the battle. In today’s market, the ground has shifted: while capital is available, scrutiny is at an all-time high. According to the 2025 Dead Deal Report, nearly 50% of broken deals fail during due diligence—after the euphoria of the signed LOI has faded.

In this episode, we perform an "autopsy" on 2025’s failed transactions to show you exactly where deals go to die and how you can professionalize your business years before you list it for sale.

What You’ll Learn:

• The New Deal-Killer: Why financing issues are down, but diligence findings have skyrocketed to 25.3% of deal failures.
• The Math Problem: How EBITDA discrepancies have doubled since 2023, and why a 25% overstatement error can end your exit instantly.
• Hidden Landmines: The non-financial risks—like customer concentration (40%+ from one source) and undisclosed legal issues—that owners try to hide but buyers always find.
• The Price of Failure: Why a dead deal costs more than just money, often wasting 100 to 140+ days of your time.
• The 2-Year Roadmap: A step-by-step strategy to transition from cash-basis to accrual accounting and conduct "Mock Diligence" to uncover your own skeletons first.

Key Timestamps:

0:00 - The Broken LOI: Why getting an offer isn't enough 2:15 - 2023 vs. 2025: The shift from financing problems to diligence problems 5:40 - The "Autopsy": Top 5 reasons deals fail 8:50 - What Lies Beneath: Legal risks and customer concentration 12:10 - The 100-Day Waste: The true cost of a dead deal 15:30 - Solution: Professionalizing your financials for an "Audit-Ready" exit 19:45 - The Best Defense: Your 2-year roadmap to closing

Are You Ready to Sell?

Don't try to "fix the bridge while you're crossing it". Success in 2026 requires investment-grade data and full disclosure. Whether you are a business owner or an advisor, this breakdown of the Dead Deal Report is your survival guide for the 90-day diligence window.

Resources Mentioned:

• Axial 2025 Dead Deal Report 
• Sell-Side Quality of Earnings (QoE) Checklist

#BusinessExit #MergersAndAcquisitions #Entrepreneurship #EBITDA #DueDiligence #BusinessOwner #InvestmentBanking #DeadDealReport

Support the show

Website: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/

Current Listings: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/businesses-for-sale/

Send us a text

Most entrepreneurs spend years architecting their lives around their company, but few are prepared for the emotional fallout that occurs once the deal is signed. In this episode, we dive deep into the sources to uncover why selling a business is often described as an "emotional rollercoaster" and why the "golden ticket" moment can lead to a surprising sense of isolation, grief, and identity crisis.

We explore the core challenges every owner must face, from the bittersweet feeling of a "child leaving the nest" to the daunting question: "Who am I without this business?" Drawing on insights from the sources, we discuss the high stakes of the transition, including:

• The 30% to 40% Reality: Why finding a buyer is never a guarantee and how to beat the odds.

• The Social Impact: Navigating sensitive money conversations and the "fury" that can erupt when stakeholders—from children to employees—are not communicated with early and thoughtfully.

• The Psychological Traps: How fear and defensiveness can lead to "backtracking" or stalling, which ultimately weakens your valuation and kills deals.

• Planning for "Life After": The necessity of a six-month game plan to prevent a sense of drift and how to redefine your purpose beyond the money.

Whether you are in the middle of due diligence or just starting to think about an exit, this episode provides a roadmap for reinventing yourself and protecting both your wealth and your family relationships during one of life's biggest transitions.

Key Topics Covered:

• How to handle the identity crisis and "post-partum depression" after a sale.

• The importance of pre-transaction estate planning to protect your legacy.

• Why perfectionism and emotional roadblocks are the biggest threats to a smooth sale.

• Building a support network of peers and advisors who have walked this path before.

Don't let your success lead to isolation. Subscribe to the podcast today for more insights on mastering your business exit, and share this episode with a fellow founder who needs to hear the truth about life after the sale.

Support the show

Website: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/

Current Listings: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/businesses-for-sale/

Send us a text

Is 2026 the year of the deal? With interest rates dropping and pent-up demand unleashed, the global Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) landscape is heating up. This episode unpacks the major opportunities waiting for buyers and sellers in the coming year.

We discuss the game-changing One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and how its tax benefits—like the return of 100% bonus depreciation—are fueling a new era of aggressive portfolio optimization. We also tackle the "elephant in the room": the Baby Boomer retirement wave. With a flood of businesses entering the market, we reveal how to spot the best opportunities and avoid common valuation traps. Whether you are eyeing AI infrastructure or looking to acquire a legacy business, this is your roadmap to the 2026 market.

Tune in to learn:

• How monetary policy easing is reviving the deal market.
• Why AI infrastructure spending is the new gold rush.
• Strategies for leveraging QSBS exclusions under the OBBBA.
• Tips for navigating the supply dynamics of the "Silver Tsunami."

Support the show

Website: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/

Current Listings: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/businesses-for-sale/

Send us a text

Are you wrestling with high overhead, confusing branding, or staff turnover? You're not alone. The story of failed NJ restaurant, Bacarosa, is a harsh lesson in the dangers of operational confusion and market saturation.

In our latest podcast episode, we dive deep into the specific challenges—from a rapid-fire identity crisis to crushing financial pressure—that led to Bacarosa's demise.

But we don't just dwell on failure. We also break down actionable success roadmaps from industry leaders like Mei Mei and Dirt Candy! Learn how they stabilized wages and achieved cost-saving financial transparency with models like Open Book Management.

Inside the Episode:

• 📉 The common operational, financial, and market-related hurdles crippling new US restaurants.
• 💡 How stable wage models can dramatically reduce costly staff turnover.
• 💰 Practical strategies for mitigating high costs and achieving brand differentiation.

Don't wait for your restaurant to become a cautionary tale. Tune in and get the blueprint for long-term viability!

#RestaurantIndustry #FoodService #RestaurantOwner #SmallBusinessOwner #HospitalityManagement #RestaurantLife #BusinessStrategy #OpenBookManagement #StaffRetention #NJFood

Support the show

Website: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/

Current Listings: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/businesses-for-sale/

Send us a text

In this podcast, we break down the crucial issues you need to consider to ensure you hire the right expert for your business:

• Experience & Specialization: Do they have a proven track record specifically in your industry or for your type of transaction (M&A, tax, litigation)?
• Credentials: Are they properly accredited (e.g., ASA, ABV, CVA)? Credentials matter!
• Independence & Objectivity: Is there any potential conflict of interest that could compromise their unbiased opinion?
• Methodology & Reporting: Understand the valuation approaches they plan to use and ensure their report will meet your specific legal or financial requirements.
• Fees & Engagement Scope: Get clarity on the fee structure and exactly what is included (and excluded) from the valuation engagement.

Hiring the wrong professional can lead to inaccurate valuations, legal headaches, and costly delays. Tune in to get the full deep dive on making this critical decision!

Want to ensure your valuation process is airtight? Reach out today to learn more about selecting the perfect valuation partner for your business needs!

#BusinessValuation #PodcastSummary #HiringTips #FinanceExpert #DueDiligence #BusinessFinance #SmallBusiness #M&A

Support the show

Website: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/

Current Listings: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/businesses-for-sale/

Send us a text

The Silver Tsunami: Will the Greatest Wealth Transfer Become the Greatest Missed Opportunity?

Baby Boomer owners control millions of companies and trillions of dollars in wealth. Everyone has been talking about the “Silver Tsunami” and the Great Wealth Transfer. By 2048, an estimated $124 trillion is expected to pass into new hands. The future of American business is about to change.

Yet the expected flood of business sales has not arrived.

Many owners are holding on longer than planned. Emotional ties. Unclear succession plans. Fear of taxes and uncertainty. Meanwhile, investors are pursuing the most attractive companies first, leaving others at risk of simply… disappearing.

This disconnect creates a clear question:
 Who will step up to preserve these businesses, jobs, and legacies?

In this week’s episode of Deep Dive – Business Sale, we explore:

• Why small business transitions are stalling, even as owners age
 • The risks to communities and employees if succession continues to be delayed
 • The growing opportunity for capital-backed operators and strategic buyers
 • What owners can do now to protect their wealth and control their exit

If you are a business owner thinking about your future or an investor searching for long-term value, this conversation will help you see the landscape with sharper clarity.

🎧 Subscribe and listen as we uncover the real stories behind generational transitions and business sales.

Your legacy deserves a plan. Your capital deserves a strategy. Let’s get prepared.

Support the show

Website: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/

Current Listings: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/businesses-for-sale/

Send us a text

One of the biggest dilemmas business owners and investors face during a potential sale is this:
 How do you share the information a buyer needs without giving away your competitive advantage… especially when that buyer is a direct competitor?

This is exactly where Clean Teams come in.

Clean Teams allow both sides to collaborate on necessary due diligence and even begin integration planning, while protecting the most sensitive business information. Competitively Sensitive Information, like customer lists, pricing strategies, specific market data, and supplier agreements, is kept behind a controlled firewall. Raw data stays protected. Risk stays manageable.

For sellers, that means confidence that your business stays strong if the deal doesn’t close.
 For buyers, that means faster post-close execution and synergy planning that actually works on Day 1.

Clean Team Agreements set the rules: who can see what, how data is handled, what outputs can be shared, and how everyone stays on the right side of the law. No antitrust issues. No gun-jumping. No competitive leakage.

If you have ever felt torn between transparency and protection during a transaction, this conversation is for you.

Support the show

Website: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/

Current Listings: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/businesses-for-sale/

Send us a text

The podcast on Lower Middle Market (LMM) M&A is based on an analysis published by Kaitlinn Thatcher at Axial, tracking Small and Midsize Business (SMB) merger and acquisition (M&A) activity on the M&A platform. This quarterly report breaks down aggregated metrics, including quarterly deal volumes, financial characteristics, and pursuit rates across various industry categories. 

The analysis highlights that 3,320 deals came to market in Q3 2025, marking a 7.93% year-over-year increase, with Healthcare posting the largest growth at +27.3%. 

The data also examines the supply-demand alignment between deal volume and buyer interest (pursuit rate), noting that Industrials ranked first in both categories. At the same time, sectors like Technology showed a clear mismatch, suggesting high competition for limited opportunities.

Support the show

Website: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/

Current Listings: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/businesses-for-sale/

Send us a text

New Episode Drop: Investor GPS on the podcast Deep Dive – Business Sale

What do top investors really look for when evaluating a business?
 It’s rarely just about numbers — it’s about strategy, leadership, and positioning for growth.

In this episode of Deep Dive – Business Sale, we unpack what truly guides investor decisions — the unspoken criteria, the red flags they notice first, and how business owners can align their story to attract serious buyers and investors.

💡 Tune in to Investor GPS to discover:

• What top investors prioritize when assessing a business sale
• How to build credibility and investor confidence early
• Practical steps to position your business for maximum value

🎙️ Listen to Deep Dive – Business Sale for more conversations that help business owners plan successful exits, attract capital, and navigate complex deal dynamics.

🔔 Subscribe and follow for regular insights — because understanding what investors really want can change the outcome of your next big decision.

#DeepDiveBusinessSale #InvestorGPS #BusinessPodcast #BusinessSale #MergersAndAcquisitions #Entrepreneurship #InvestorInsights #BusinessGrowth

Support the show

Website: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/

Current Listings: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/businesses-for-sale/

Send us a text

The podcast offers an overview of the lower-middle-market M&A landscape, highlighting significant shifts in buyer types and deal dynamics. One source, an article from Axial, emphasizes the increasing diversity of buyers beyond traditional private equity and corporations, noting the rise of independent sponsors, family offices, and search funds, particularly for businesses with EBITDA between $ 1 million and $3 million. The second source, focusing on M&A trends for 2024-2025, corroborates the diversification of buyers and provides detailed insights into sector-specific deal activity and valuation trends, while also offering strategic recommendations for sellers to maximize their company's value. Both sources collectively paint a picture of a dynamic and evolving market, where understanding buyer motivations and preparing thoroughly are crucial for successful transactions.

Support the show

Website: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/

Current Listings: https://murphybusiness.com/edison/businesses-for-sale/