Financial normalization
Review owner compensation, discretionary expenses, nonrecurring items, related-party arrangements and other adjustments.
Valuation insight and owner transition planning
Understand what your business may be worth today, which factors are shaping value and what can be improved before a sale. Northeastern Advisors helps owners connect valuation analysis with a practical exit-readiness plan.
Value is not a single multiple
Two companies with similar earnings can command very different outcomes. Buyers evaluate sustainability, customer concentration, management depth, recurring revenue, growth, capital requirements, financial reporting and the risks involved in transferring ownership.
We analyze normalized financial performance and market evidence to develop a reasoned valuation range. Just as important, we identify the assumptions, strengths and risks that may influence how buyers underwrite the business.
Exit planning converts those findings into priorities. An owner may have twelve months, several years or only weeks after receiving an unsolicited approach. The plan should fit the available time and focus on changes that can realistically improve value, terms or closing certainty.
Valuation and exit-planning services
Engagements can address a specific valuation question, a multi-year transition plan or preparation for a near-term sale.
Review owner compensation, discretionary expenses, nonrecurring items, related-party arrangements and other adjustments.
Consider earnings and revenue multiples, comparable transactions, public data, growth and company-specific risk.
Evaluate recurring revenue, concentration, margins, management, customer retention, growth and competitive differentiation.
Identify gaps in financial reporting, contracts, documentation, management, compliance and operational transferability.
Prioritize actions by impact, difficulty, responsibility and the owner’s anticipated transaction timing.
Assess unsolicited indications of interest or offers against market value, structure, risk and credible alternatives.
Client and transaction fit
“What is my company worth?” Establish a defensible market range.
“Am I ready to sell?” Identify issues before buyers do.
“How can I increase value?” Focus on changes the market will reward.
“When should I go to market?” Weigh readiness, performance and market conditions.
“Is this offer fair?” Compare price, terms and execution risk.
Exit planning is most effective when business, financial and personal objectives are considered together.
We focus on the company and transaction strategy while coordinating, as appropriate, with the owner’s tax, legal, estate-planning and wealth-management professionals. Certain legal, tax, regulatory, fairness-opinion or formal appraisal purposes may require a specifically credentialed specialist; when they do, we help define the need and coordinate the relevant work rather than overstating the scope of an M&A market valuation.
A disciplined engagement
Clarify whether the analysis supports planning, a potential sale, an offer review, ownership discussions or another decision.
Review financial statements, tax returns, operating data and adjustments needed to understand maintainable earnings.
Apply appropriate valuation methods and consider sector conditions, comparable evidence and strategic buyer logic.
Identify the company-specific strengths and risks most likely to affect buyer interest, diligence and terms.
Prioritize financial, operational, commercial and documentation improvements against the owner’s timeline.
Update performance, track readiness and decide when the business is positioned to approach the market.
What clients receive
The output is designed to support decisions—not merely provide a headline estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Not necessarily. Our work is generally designed for M&A planning and market decision-making. Legal, tax, estate, litigation or regulatory purposes may require a formal appraisal by an appropriately credentialed valuation professional.
Typical materials include three to five years of financial statements and tax returns, current interim results, revenue and margin detail, customer concentration, owner compensation, recurring revenue and information about management and operations.
Adjusted EBITDA seeks to estimate maintainable operating earnings by considering owner compensation, discretionary expenses, nonrecurring items and other legitimate adjustments. Buyers test every adjustment, so support and credibility matter.
Two or three years can create meaningful flexibility, but even several months may allow an owner to improve reporting, document key relationships and prepare for diligence. It is rarely too early to understand value drivers.
Common factors include customer concentration, owner dependence, inconsistent financial reporting, weak management depth, declining margins, high capital needs, legal or compliance issues and earnings that are difficult to verify.
Yes. We can compare the proposed price and structure with market evidence, identify material terms and risks, and assess whether a broader process or direct negotiation is more likely to serve the owner’s objectives.
No. A valuation is an informed range based on available facts and market evidence. Actual outcomes depend on buyer demand, diligence, financing, negotiation, structure and company performance during the process.
A confidential first conversation
A confidential valuation and readiness discussion can clarify where the business stands today and which steps may improve the owner’s future options.