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How much does it cost to sell a business? That depends on what resources you need. Research consistently finds that M&A firms lend considerable value to a deal, ultimately fetching higher sale prices and more favorable terms. Yet many sellers remain reluctant to hire an investment banking firm because of concerns about the cost of doing so. The result is a lot of DIY sales that never get off the ground, or that don’t realize their full potential value.

Family is complicated. It can be a source of joy and support but also immense drama and conflict. And while family businesses offer many benefits—a deep commitment to the company's success and often a more personal touch—they also bring many of the same challenging dynamics of family life to the business. So, when families can't agree on how to manage their family business or when to sell it, there's more at stake than just money. As a result, relationships can fracture, and the discord can sow discontent and dysfunction at the office, ultimately undermining the business.

When buyers and sellers can’t agree about the final sale price, your M&A firm may recommend a compromise: an earnout. Earnouts delay some portion of the final sale price contingent on ongoing performance by the business, usually by requiring that the seller/owner meet certain performance benchmarks. If you’re considering selling your Dallas business, know that an earnout is a powerful tool to bring to the negotiating table. But it also poses significant risk, and is not appropriate for all deals.

If you’re planning to sell your business, you might have dreams of retirement—or of moving on to your next venture. No matter what your dreams are for the future, achieving them begins with getting the right support today. Many owners make the mistake of assuming that, because they sell products and services everyday, they also have the necessary skills to sell their business. But you need an investment banking advisory firm for that. Selling a business is an extremely complicated undertaking that can easily become a full time job. Moreover, any buyer worth selling to will have an expert advisory team on their side of the negotiating table. You’ll be at a significant disadvantage if you don’t hire your own M&A firm.

There’s a reason the term family comes first in family businesses: emotional and family considerations loom large, no matter how level-headed the principals aspire to be. M&A decisions about these assets can be tricky, but a few simple questions can help guide you down the right path. If there’s a family dispute, encouraging each family member to thoughtfully answer these queries may bring everyone closer to a meaningful agreement. The right M&A firm can help you as you make your assessment.

Mergers and acquisitions offer exceptional value, as well as a chance for owners to retire or move onto their next venture. They’re also a lot of work, and it’s easy to get bogged down in seemingly endless details, due diligence requests, and negotiations. Don’t let the sunk cost fallacy—which dictates that if you’ve already invested significant time and money in something, it’s better to continue down the same path—convince you to pursue a bad deal. Sometimes the best strategy is to accept your losses and walk away. So how do you know when to do so? Here are some indications that you should consider walking away.

Whether you’re selling or buying a Dallas business, thoughtful management of employees during the M&A process is critical to the success falling. Many deals fall apart because of integration failures and cultural clashes that the c-suite never anticipated. Success begins with the people who oversee daily operations, who have the power to make or break your business—your staff. Learn how to keep them happy and working hard as you pursue your next investment banking deal.

You’ve found a buyer and begun planning for an ownership transition at your company. But then, it all falls apart. It’s a familiar scenario in the world of M&A, with at least 10% of deals failing to make it to closing. Many more face significant delays. Those delays disadvantage owners, destroying momentum and potentially causing the deal to lose value. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to increase the odds that your Dallas M&A deal crosses the finish line.