• Idea
• 1. Executive Summary
• 2. Market Analysis
• Why This Creates an Opportunity for “Working Title M+A”
• 3. Business Model & Services
• 4. Go-To-Market Strategy
• 5. Operations & Technology
• 6. Financial Projections & Key Metrics
• 7. Risk Factors & Mitigation
• 8. Roadmap & Next Steps
• Resources

Next Steps

Understand who is already doing this, why don’t platforms like MicroAcquire or Axial do this? (perhaps they do) reach out and set up a call

Idea

1. Executive Summary

Opportunity: Tens of thousands of baby boomer owners are reaching retirement age—many with no succession plan for the businesses they poured their lives into. They want a buyer who values their legacy—company culture, client relationships, team continuity, and community impact—as well as a solid financial outcome at the time of sale.

Solution: At “Working Title M+A,” we partner with retiring small-business owners and their families to ensure a sale to the “right fit” at the “right price” through our proprietary combination of AI-powered buyer matching, strategic pre-sale preparation, and high-touch advisory—all designed to preserve each owner’s legacy while maximizing their business’s value.

Core Differentiator: An AI-powered platform and advisory service that:

1. We Understand each unique business via a robust onboarding that populates a data room and seller materials, including a SWOT analysis to highlight improvement opportunities or “transformation value” for buyers.
2. We Match each seller with “the right fit” buyer (individuals, small PE funds, family offices, or strategic acquirers) based on factors that matter most to the seller—like culture, continuity and community legacy.
3. We Optimize by deploying a “Two Step” exit framework when needed, helping owners strengthen their businesses over 24 months, then orchestrating a full exit at an optimal valuation.

2. Market Analysis

1. Aging Small-Business Owners
• A large cohort of baby boomers is reaching retirement, with many owning profitable yet under-optimized businesses. The exit wave is expected to surge over the next decade.
2. Buyer Landscape
• Search Funds and Independent Sponsors: Looking for stable acquisitions in the sub-$25 million revenue range.
• Small PE Firms & Family Offices: Interested in niche companies with growth potential and loyal customer bases, particularly where they can preserve or cultivate brand goodwill.
• Strategic Buyers: May seek acquisitions that fill a product or geographic gap, but still care about synergy and employee integration.
3. Gap in the Market: Antiquated Small-Shop Business Brokers
• Limited Reach & Buyer Exposure
• Local Rolodex Syndrome: Many small-shop brokers rely on personal networks, word-of-mouth referrals, or local business listings (e.g., physical bulletin boards, minimal online platforms).
• Underutilizing Digital Tools: Rather than leveraging modern software or AI-driven platforms, listings often appear on a handful of basic websites, constraining exposure to a global pool of buyers who may be the “perfect fit.”
• Generic, One-Size-Fits-All Marketing
• No Tailored Story: The marketing materials produced by traditional brokers can be cookie-cutter, focusing on dry financial numbers without emphasizing intangible assets like company culture, brand goodwill, and community relationships.
• Missed Strategic Angles: By not presenting forward-looking opportunities (e.g., “If you invest here, you can open new locations” or “Here’s a growth plan for new product lines”), these listings may look unremarkable to serious buyers.
• Minimal Pre-Sale Optimization
• “List It, Then Leave It” Mentality: Traditional brokers might list a business “as is,” even if the financials are messy or processes are undocumented. They leave it up to the buyer to uncover potential improvements—which often results in lower initial valuations.
• No Two-Step Exit Approach: Rarely do these brokers suggest a phased plan (e.g., 12–24 months) to clean up the books, document processes, or implement simple operational upgrades that would drastically improve a business’s selling price.
• Outdated Technology Stack
• Manual Spreadsheets & Emails: Communication and due diligence often occur via endless email threads, scattered PDFs, and Excel spreadsheets—prone to errors and bottlenecks.
• No Advanced Matching Algorithms: Lacking AI or data-driven tools means brokers typically do not highlight the most strategically aligned buyers—just any buyer on their short contact list.
• Lack of Cultural, Legacy, and Community Considerations
• Purely Transactional Focus: Traditional brokers frequently focus on getting the deal done with minimal regard for cultural compatibility or preserving the seller’s legacy.
• Missing Value-Add: In the eyes of the retiring owner, who’s poured years or decades into building a local reputation and a tightly-knit team, this “numbers only” approach can feel impersonal or dismissive.
• Inadequate Buyer Vetting & Follow-Through
• Low Bar for Qualification: Brokers may forward almost any inbound inquiry to the seller without careful screening, leading to time wasted on unqualified or poorly matched buyers.
• Limited Post-Deal Support: After the sale is finalized, traditional brokers often exit the picture, offering little to no integration help or transition advice—critical to a smooth handover and cultural continuity.

Why This Creates an Opportunity for “Working Title M+A”

• By using data-driven algorithms, you can instantly screen for alignment on culture, strategic interest, and financial capacity—yielding far better buyer-seller matches than any local “Rolodex.”

1. AI-Powered, Quality Matching
2. Holistic Pre-Sale Preparation
• Offering a “Two-Step” approach ensures owners can address weak spots (messy financials, lack of process documentation) before going to market, ultimately fetching higher valuations.
• By highlighting the importance of community ties, brand reputation, and team continuity, you differentiate your service in a way that deeply resonates with retiring owners who want their life’s work preserved.
3. Legacy & Cultural Emphasis
4. Modern Deal Management
• Secure data rooms, streamlined workflow automation, and integrated communication tools reduce friction and confusion, creating a more transparent, professional process for all parties.
5. High-Touch Advisory
• Going beyond mere listings, you offer sellers strategic roadmaps, operational fixes, and negotiation expertise—demonstrating real value that can’t be found in a simple listing service.

In sum, traditional small-shop brokers largely remain stuck in a low-tech, transactional mindset—leaving a massive opportunity for a modern, AI-enabled, legacy-focused M&A model that truly caters to the needs of retiring business owners.

3. Business Model & Services

1. AI-Powered Deal Sourcing & Matching
• Data Inputs: Owner’s goals (legacy, culture), financials, industry classification, SWOT analysis results.
• Algorithmic Matching: Scores potential buyers based on synergy, financial capacity, and cultural alignment to produce a curated shortlist.
2. Pre-Sale Preparation & Optimization
• Financial Clean-Up: Guidance on organizing financials, standardizing processes, and creating transparent reporting.
• Strategic Roadmap: Implementation of key operational improvements identified in the SWOT.
• Two Step Exit: For owners needing significant optimization, a structured 24-month plan to boost valuation before going to market.
3. High-Touch Advisory & Legacy Protection
• Valuation & Negotiation Support: Work closely with sellers to determine fair market value and negotiate favorable deal terms.
• Cultural Continuity: Encourage transition strategies (e.g., retention plans for key employees, commitments to the local community) as part of the deal structure.
4. Fee Structure
• Primarily success-based fees (a percentage of the transaction value), with minimal or no up-front costs for smaller deals.
• Optional premium services for advanced due diligence and post-sale integration support.

4. Go-To-Market Strategy

1. Regional Rollout
• Begin in markets with a high density of retiring owners (e.g., Texas, Florida, California). Conduct seminars and partner with local Chambers of Commerce.
2. Partnerships & Referrals
• Local Banks and Credit Unions: A source of potential seller leads when owners inquire about transition loans or financial advice.
• CPA Firms and Wealth Managers: Referral relationships for owners starting to consider retirement or estate planning.
• Industry Associations: Present educational material on exit strategies and the importance of cultural fit in M&A.
3. Targeted Marketing
• Content Strategy: Publish guides on “selling your business with legacy in mind,” “two-step exit planning,” etc.
• Social & Digital Advertising: Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google Ads targeting business owners aged 55+ in specific industries.

5. Operations & Technology

1. Platform Architecture
• Data Room & CRM: Secure, cloud-based environment for storing financials, SWOT analyses, and internal checklists.
• AI Matching Engine: Uses machine learning to predict successful cultural and financial pairings between buyers and sellers.
• Workflow Automation: Built-in reminders, e-signature functionality, and compliance checks to streamline the M&A process.
2. Team Structure
• Deal Advisors: M&A professionals who guide sellers through pre-sale, deal structuring, and negotiations.
• Optimization Consultants: Operations specialists or fractional executives who help implement improvements during the 24-month “Two Step” plan.
• Data Scientists: Continually refine matching algorithms and enhance the predictive power of the platform.
3. Security & Compliance
• Adhere to relevant state and federal regulations, potentially licensing as a broker-dealer where required.
• Implement best practices for data privacy and cybersecurity (encrypted storage, role-based access, etc.).

6. Financial Projections & Key Metrics

1. Revenue Model
• Success Fees: Main revenue driver, typically 4–8% of transaction size.
• Advisory/Optimization Fees: If owners opt into the 24-month improvement program, charge a monthly retainer or project fee with success-based bonus at exit.
2. Cost Drivers
• Talent: M&A advisors, fractional ops experts, data scientists.
• Marketing: Targeted ads, event sponsorship, referral commissions.
• Technology: Platform licensing, cloud hosting, ongoing AI development.
3. KPIs
• Deal Conversion Rate: Number of closed deals relative to leads.
• Average Days to Close: Time from onboarding to transaction completion.
• Post-Sale Satisfaction: Seller feedback on cultural/legacy continuity and financial outcomes.
• Repeat/Referral Business: Indicates client trust and brand reputation.

7. Risk Factors & Mitigation

1. Underprepared Sellers
• Mitigation: Intensive pre-sale onboarding, a “Two Step” approach to ensure the business is truly ready.
2. Competition with Traditional Brokers
• Mitigation: Emphasize AI-driven, culture-centric matching and success-based fees that align with sellers’ outcomes.
3. AI Accuracy & Tech Complexity
• Mitigation: Employ a hybrid approach—human advisors review algorithmic matches before final intros.
4. Regulatory Compliance
• Mitigation: Partner with securities attorneys and consider broker-dealer registration where applicable.

8. Roadmap & Next Steps

1. Phase 1 (0–6 Months)
• Launch MVP platform with core AI matching and secure data rooms.
• Acquire pilot clients and refine onboarding/due diligence workflows.
2. Phase 2 (6–18 Months)
• Expand to additional regions with high concentrations of baby boomer owners.
• Develop “Two Step” optimization playbooks for key industries.
• Refine the AI engine for more sophisticated cultural alignment matching.
3. Phase 3 (18–36 Months)
• Roll out nationwide, deepen partnerships with CPAs, banks, industry groups.
• Integrate advanced data analytics for post-close performance tracking.
• Explore strategic alliances or acquisitions to grow market share.

Resources