What a Word Doc Taught Me About Buying Businesses

professional profile

May 09, 2025

by a professional from Duke University in Windermere, FL 34786, USA

We once asked a seller for their financials. They proudly sent a Word document. Not a spreadsheet. A document. It had emojis. “Cash Flow 😎” was the heading. This wasn’t fraud. It wasn’t laziness. It was their normal. And that’s the reality for most small business acquisitions. You’re not stepping into a buttoned-up machine, you’re walking into a house someone built without an architect. Buyers: due diligence is the easy part. Making sense of chaos without insulting the seller? That’s the real work.
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Reply by a professional
in New York, NY, USA
On buyside QoEs. I have found that the faster you work, and sooner you explain the Adjusted EBITDA, the more understanding the seller is.
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