AI productivity gains in 2026 are reshaping small business valuations. How sophisticated buyers underwrite AI-driven margin lift in M&A diligence, the valuation math, and the 2026 seller’s AI-readiness checklist.
If you are thinking about selling your business in 2026, the tax landscape has shifted dramatically, and mostly in your favor. Understanding the tax implications of selling a business right now is more important than ever, because the rules changed in ways that create real planning opportunities for owners who act on them. Here is
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Financing a business acquisition is one of the most important steps in the buying process, and it is also one of the most misunderstood. Many first-time buyers assume they need to pay cash for the entire purchase price, or that financing a business works the same way as getting a mortgage. Neither is true. This
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The impact of tariffs and small business valuations in 2026 has become one of the most urgent topics for business owners considering a sale, merger, or acquisition. At CGK Business Sales, we have watched a year of dramatic tariff reversals create both anxiety and opportunity in the lower and middle market. From the Supreme Court’s
Tariffs and Small Business Valuations in 2026: How Tariff Whiplash Is Reshaping M&A Read More »
The escalating conflict in Iran has driven crude oil prices past $100 per barrel for the first time in years, sending shockwaves through global markets and forcing businesses of every size to reassess their cost structures. For owners of small and lower-middle-market companies, the connection between rising oil prices and small business acquisitions may not
Recent turbulence in technology and software stocks has sparked renewed debate about how artificial intelligence will reshape entire industries. As public investors reassess valuations and risk, the conversation around AI stock market selloff and small business acquisitions is becoming increasingly relevant. When volatility shakes confidence in public equities, some capital begins searching for assets with
AI Stock Market Selloff and Small Business Acquisitions in 2026 Read More »
Understanding buyer priorities in 2026 M&A will be one of the most important factors influencing how, when, and at what value small and lower-middle-market business owners are able to exit. As strategic and financial buyers adjust their acquisition strategies in response to changing economic conditions, sellers who recognize these shifts early will be better positioned
Buyer Priorities in 2026 M&A: Why Strategic and Financial Buyers Are Shifting Read More »
This article examines the key forces expected to shape small and lower-middle-market M&A activity in 2026, from shifting buyer behavior and private equity participation to changes in financing and valuation expectations. It outlines what business owners should anticipate if they are considering a sale and highlights the strategic steps sellers can take now to position
SMB M&A Outlook 2026: What Sellers Should Expect Read More »
Private equity is not just pursuing big deals anymore. The shift toward buying smaller companies has become one of the most important trends shaping the 2026 M&A landscape. For owners of small and lower middle market businesses, understanding private equity interest in small businesses is essential to positioning your company for a successful exit. This
Private Equity Interest in Small Businesses: What It Means for 2026 Read More »
Federal funding gaps, agency furloughs, and delays in government services may seem distant from your day-to-day operations. But when you are preparing to sell your business, the ripple effects of a government shutdown can meaningfully impact financing, buyer confidence, contract timing, and ultimately your valuation. Understanding these effects now gives you the strategic edge. What
Government Shutdown Business Sale Ramification: What Smaller Companies Must Know Read More »
