🚨 Flood & fire restoration businesses often show strong earnings—but what’s buried under the rubble? Common risks: Revenue spikes from one-time storm events Owner often handles estimating or field supervision No formal recurring contracts—only job calls Addbacks tied to truck depreciation or unpaid labor 📌 Rule of thumb: If earnings ride on a hurricane or … Continue reading 🧠 Valuation Insight: Restoration Cash Flow Isn’t Always Restorable

📘 Just released: Our Machine Shop Valuation Checklist for SBA 7(a) underwriting of small manufacturers and tool & die businesses. Covers: ✅ Owner labor vs. market replacement✅ Job vs. contract revenue risk✅ Equipment FMV vs. book value✅ Red flags: CapEx gaps, client concentration, asset bloat 📩 Click here to grab your copy.

A machine shop priced at $1M based on $250K EBITDA and $500K in CNC equipment. But: ❌ Owner ran all programming + client quoting❌ No trained operators, SOPs, or process manuals❌ 62% of revenue from one aerospace client❌ No CapEx reserve for aging mill + tooling 📉 True FCF after replacement comp and risk = … Continue reading ⚠️ Red Flag Case Study: The $1M Machine Trap

🛠️ Machine shops often come with heavy equipment—but don’t confuse asset value with business value. Key valuation drivers: Owner is usually the lead machinist or programmer Jobs are project-based, not recurring CapEx requirements often ignored Customer concentration is common 📌 Rule of thumb: If goodwill walks out with the owner, you’re just buying used machines. … Continue reading 🧠 Valuation Insight: The Machines May Be Worth More Than the Business

📋 Now available: Our Pharmacy Valuation Checklist for SBA 7(a) lenders and valuation reviewers. Includes: ✅ Buyer licensing + pharmacist replacement issues✅ PBM, Medicaid, and reimbursement risk✅ Addback traps (consulting, vendor perks, personal benefits)✅ Red flags: inventory bloat, goodwill tied to DEA license, or owner-only ops 💊 Click here to grab your copy.

An independent pharmacy listed for $800K on $200K in SDE. But: ❌ Seller filled 98% of prescriptions❌ No replacement wage or pharmacist transition plan❌ PBM reimbursements declining 3 years straight❌ $60K in addbacks included 'consulting' to his own C-corp ✅ After market comp, buyer pharmacist wage, and normalization, value = ~$370K 📌 No pharmacist, no … Continue reading ⚠️ Red Flag Case Study: The $800K Rx Mirage

💊 Pharmacies can post steady revenue—but valuation pitfalls are everywhere. Common traps: PBM reimbursements below cost Owner is the primary pharmacist No non-compete from departing seller Prescription volume inflated by short-term scripts 📌 Rule of thumb: A buyer without a license can’t step into the seller’s shoes—and value must reflect that. ✅ Normalize cash flow … Continue reading 🧠 Valuation Insight: Don’t Let the Scripts Fool You

🧾 Hot off the server: Our IT MSP Valuation Checklist—built for SBA 7(a) underwriting of tech service providers. Includes: ✅ Owner dependency & tech labor normalization✅ Contract type + termination clauses✅ Software licensing, RMM tools, and CapEx traps✅ Red flags: no SOPs, no backup staff, or vague SLAs 💻 Click here to grab your copy.

A seller priced an MSP at $1.2M based on $325K of “recurring” EBITDA. But: ❌ 83% of contracts were cancel-anytime❌ Owner handled all escalations & major clients❌ Licensing for RMM + security tools not transferrable❌ No backup engineers, SOPs, or client portal 📉 True transferable free cash flow: ~$85K🧮 Revised value: ~$520K 📌 MSPs need … Continue reading ⚠️ Red Flag Case Study: The $1.2M Illusion

🖥️ MSPs often boast “recurring revenue”—but dig deeper. Consider: Are contracts fixed-fee, usage-based, or T&M (time & materials)? Do contracts auto-renew or cancel anytime? Is the owner the primary tech or sales lead? Are software/tools included or personally owned? 📌 Rule of thumb: “Recurring” only matters if it's documented, priced right, and transferable. ✅ Adjust … Continue reading 🧠 Valuation Insight: IT Managed Services Providers (MSPs)-Not All Recurring Revenue Is Created Equal