Insights by Candor Advisors

Many founders focus on negotiating the purchase price, but the structure of the transaction can be just as important. Whether your business is sold as a stock sale or an asset sale may affect both your tax bill and the buyer’s economics. In this video, Kirk Michie explains why these conversations should begin before the Letter of Intent is signed and how the right planning can create a better outcome for both parties. Watch the video below to learn why this often-overlooked topic deserves your attention.

You’ve probably heard the term “silver tsunami” before. While it’s often associated with retirement and wealth transfer, there’s another side of the story that’s especially important for business owners.Over the next decade, millions of founders will look to sell their businesses as they transition into retirement. In this short video, Kirk explains what that trend means for business owners and why waiting until you’re ready to retire can be a costly mistake.Watch the video to learn why exit planning should start years before a sale.

When business owners think about selling their company, most of their attention goes to valuation and purchase price. But one overlooked deal term can create surprises after closing.In this short video, Kirk Michie explains what a net working capital peg is, why buyers require it, and how it can affect the amount of money you ultimately receive from a sale.Before you sign a letter of intent, make sure you understand how this provision works and what it could mean for your transaction.

Taxes can dramatically change what founders actually keep after selling a business. In this video, Kirk Michie introduces Section 1202, also known as the Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) exemption, and explains why founders should understand these rules long before going to market.

Many founders are surprised to learn that part of their sale proceeds may be tied up after closing. In this video, Kirk Michie explains how Rep & Warranty Insurance can sometimes reduce escrow requirements and help sellers keep more cash upfront.

Most founders spend the majority of a sale process focused on valuation, deal terms, and due diligence. But many transactions also include a lesser-known component called a Transition Services Agreement, or TSA. In this video, Kirk Michie explains what a TSA is, why buyers use them, and how they can affect a founder’s responsibilities after closing.

When founders begin talking with investment bankers or private equity buyers, they often hear terminology that has little to do with how they actually operate their business. One of the most important examples is whether a company is viewed as a “platform” investment or an “add-on” acquisition. In this episode, Kirk Michie breaks down what those categories mean, how buyers use them, and why the distinction can materially affect valuation, deal structure, and buyer interest during an M&A process.

The M&A market in early 2026 is not closed, but it is becoming more selective. In this update, Kirk Michie explains what Candor Advisors is seeing across founder-led transactions, private equity activity, buyer behavior, valuation expectations, and market timing. For strong companies in favored sectors, the market may still support strong valuations and favorable terms. For others, buyers may be quicker to pass, which means founders need better data before deciding whether to go to market.

Selling a business is not just a valuation exercise. It is also a tax planning event that can dramatically affect how much money a founder actually keeps after closing. In this episode, Kirk Michie walks through the role CPAs, investment bankers, and estate planning professionals play during founder-led exits. The discussion covers capital gains taxes, rollover equity, transaction timing, state tax exposure, and why founders should avoid making assumptions too early in the process.