Selling A Business

Guides and analysis on selling a business: preparation, valuation, timing, deal structure, and closing, from the CGK Business Sales team.

Tax implications of selling a business in 2026 are vast.

Tax Implications of Selling a Business in 2026

Updated July 2026. Selling a business triggers federal and often state taxes shaped by three decisions: whether the deal is an asset sale or a stock sale, how the purchase price is allocated, and how proceeds are timed. The gap between a well-structured and a poorly structured sale routinely reaches six figures, so plan with

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tariffs and small business valuations in 2026

Tariffs and Small Business Valuations in 2026: How Tariff Whiplash Is Reshaping M&A

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

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rising-oil-prices-small-business-acquisitions

Rising Oil Prices and Small Business Acquisitions: How the Iran Conflict Is Reshaping M&A in 2026

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

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AI stock market selloff and small business acquisitions

AI Stock Market Selloff and Small Business Acquisitions in 2026

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

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buyer priorities in 2026 M&A

Buyer Priorities in 2026 M&A: Why Strategic and Financial Buyers Are Shifting

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

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private equity interest in small businesses

Private Equity Interest in Small Businesses: What It Means for 2026

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

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business sale preparation

Business Sale Preparation: How Readiness Drives Multiple Offers

Selling a business is rarely just about timing or finding the right buyer. It is about being ready for the moment when opportunity appears. For small and lower middle market business owners, proper business sale preparation is the single most reliable way to increase buyer interest, shorten the deal cycle, and create true competition among

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strategic vs financial buyers

Strategic vs Financial Buyers: Understanding the Difference

Updated July 2026. Strategic buyers are companies acquiring for synergy: customers, capabilities, or geography. Financial buyers, from individual operators to private equity, acquire for cash flow and return on investment. Strategics can sometimes pay more; financial buyers often move faster and close more predictably. The right process puts both types at the same table. When

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first-buyer-offer-when-selling-a-business

Why the First Buyer Isn’t Always the Best Buyer

Updated July 2026. The first buyer to make an offer is not always the best buyer. Early offers often arrive before competition exists, price against your uncertainty, and carry terms that shift risk onto you. Sometimes the first offer really is the right one, but you only know that once qualified alternatives are at the

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