How Earnouts Drive the Indie M&A Market in 2026

In 2026, earnouts are everywhere — especially in indie M&A. Lucas breaks down a real case: a $40 million software deal where the seller walked away with $52 million because the earnout triggered perfectly. But he also unpacks the ugly side: the buyer-side sabotage, the accounting fights, and why 30% of earnouts pay zero. Luna pushes back on whether earnouts actually align incentives or just create post-close conflict. Packed with specific numbers, a clean framework for thinking about earnout structures, and one rule every seller should know before signing. For operators, founders, and anyone selling a business in the next few years. #Earnout #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessSale #IndieM&A #ExitPlanning #PrivateEquity #StrategicBuyer #Founder #BusinessPodcast #DealStructuring #PostClose #EarnoutStructure #AcquisitionTalk #MADeal #SellerTips #Business #Finance #FexingoBusiness Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo