If you want to capitalize on business sales without the complexity of acquiring a company or acting as a broker, exit consulting is the perfect strategy! Instead of managing a business for years, exit consultants step in at the final stage—helping business owners sell quickly and profitably while earning high consulting fees. Unlike business brokers, exit consultants don’t need a license or a long-term contract. Instead, they offer strategic advisory services, earning an upfront fee and a commission-based payout. And by using the Lehman scale fee model, you can ensure substantial profits without taking on the risks of business ownership. In this guide, we’ll break down how to structure an exit consulting deal—using a manufacturing business sale as a real-world case study. 📈 What Is Exit Consulting? Exit consulting is a premium advisory service where you help business owners prepare for and execute a sale. Unlike brokers, you charge for your expertise upfront and earn additional fees when the deal closes. 🔹 No broker’s license required🔹 No risk or capital investment🔹 High-ticket fees for every deal closed Many business owners lack the expertise to properly value their business, negotiate effectively, and structure a sale to their advantage. That’s where you step in! Case Study: Engineering & Manufacturing Exit Deal A recent engineering and manufacturing company in Northern California provides a perfect example of how exit consultants can profit from helping owners sell their businesses. 🔹 The Business: A brother-sister team running an established engineering and manufacturing company🔹 The Situation: Both owners wanted to exit, but they lacked the experience to sell for maximum value🔹 The Opportunity: The consultant structured a fee-based deal to help them find a buyer Rather than acting as a broker, the consultant set up a Lehman Scale fee and charged an upfront consulting retainer to advise

When acquiring a business, the ability to secure business acquisition funding without giving up equity is a key challenge for many entrepreneurs. However, the right financing strategy allows you to close deals, scale operations, and maximize profits—all while retaining full ownership. Therefore, many business buyers mistakenly offer equity in exchange for capital, but with the right approach, you can structure creative financing solutions that keep you in control. In this guide, we’ll explore smart funding options that allow you to close deals without sacrificing equity, using a pest control business acquisition as a case study. The Case Study: Buying a Pest Control Business Let’s examine a real-world example: A buyer is acquiring a pest control company with the following financials: The buyer needs $50,000 for half of the down payment. Rather than offering equity to an investor, they are exploring alternative funding strategies to keep full ownership. Smart Ways to Secure Business Acquisition Funding Without Equity 1. Negotiate Better Seller Financing Terms In many cases, sellers are willing to finance a portion of the deal—especially in industries like home services. Here’s how to negotiate: ✅ Propose a full-price offer with interest-free payments. “I’m offering you the full $450,000 you’re asking for. In exchange, I’d like to structure this as an interest-free deal. Otherwise, we’ll need to renegotiate the purchase price.” ✅ Request a higher seller-financed portion. ✅ Add performance-based earnouts. 2. Use Revenue-Based Financing Since the pest control business is generating $400,000 in revenue, revenue-based financing (RBF) is a solid option. RBF allows you to borrow against future revenue without giving up equity. How it works: This approach ensures flexible repayment terms while avoiding fixed debt obligations. 3. Leverage SBA Loans and Alternative Lenders For acquisitions under $5 million, the Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest, long-term loans. ✔ SBA

Trying to balance multiple business opportunities can be challenging, especially when each option offers distinct potential for growth and profitability. In this article, we explore a real-world scenario of balancing exciting prospects, from rollups to growth partnerships, and identifying the right path forward. Exploring Diverse Opportunities When presented with options, each with its own potential, it’s essential to evaluate based on feasibility, personal strengths, and the ultimate value proposition. In this scenario, the entrepreneur has three distinct opportunities: Strategic Considerations for Success When evaluating opportunities, consider these guiding principles: Choosing the Right Path In this case, the entrepreneur is drawn to the pest control opportunity due to its growth potential and alignment with existing expertise. The next step involves conducting a consultation to evaluate funding needs and capital options while considering vertical acquisitions. Structuring this partnership strategically ensures both scalability and profitability. Takeaway Balancing multiple opportunities requires clear evaluation of your goals, strengths, and the potential impact of each venture. By strategically structuring roles and leveraging resources, you can position yourself for success without overextending your bandwidth. Additional Resources to Balance Multiple Business Opportunities: Ready to explore acquisition strategies that fit your needs? Book a Free Strategy Session with the EPIC Network to discover customized solutions to support your success. 👉 Schedule Your Free Strategy Session Now