Selling a Family-Owned or Founder-Led Business: The Complete
Selling your business is likely the single most consequential financial decision of your life. For most founders and family owners, it’s a decision you’ll only make once. But buyers and their advisors have often been through dozens of transactions. That experience gap can be expensive if you go into the process unprepared.
This guide distills what Keene Advisors’ team has learned advising on over $45 billion in successful mergers & acquisitions, capital raising, leveraged buyouts, and restructuring transactions over the past 25 years. It’s built specifically for founders, CEOs, CFOs, and family business owners preparing for a sale.
M&A Guidance for Owners & Founders
At Keene Advisors, we combine deep investment banking and strategy experience with a lifetime of family business and entrepreneurial experience. Over the last 25 years, our team has advised on over 200 investment banking and strategy engagements, including over $45 billion in M&A, Capital Raising, and Restructuring Advisory transactions.
This in-depth series is to help family-owned and founder-led businesses prepare for a sale and navigate a successful exit.
Most family business owners only sell their company once. Whether the motivation is retirement, family shareholder pressure, or the need to raise growth capital, your impetus as a seller should determine the right deal structure, buyer type, and timing.
Global M&A activity topped $1.3 trillion in Q2 2026, yet deal counts barely moved, private equity retreated, and LBOs slumped to a 5-year low. We break down what's really driving the numbers, why PE firms are sitting on record dry powder, and why the outlook for family-owned business sellers hasn't changed.
Choosing the correct buyer is the most critical decision when deciding to sell your business. We detail the types of M&A buyers–strategic vs financial - and how business owners can best navigate the sale process.
For many founders and family-owned businesses, a sale, recapitalization, or other liquidity event for their company is one of the most significant decisions they will ever make.
Before hiring an investment bank to help guide your process, make sure you review these key considerations.
Deal structure is just as important as the headline price when selling your business. Asset sale, stock sale or merger - what you ultimately decide impacts your final net proceeds.
Business owners and founders - are you thinking about selling your company? The Keene Advisors team of investment bankers has compiled our top advice into a free whitepaper to provide you with for a roadmap to a successful exit. Prepare now to maximize your outcome.
The closing phase of a business sale is one of the most underestimated stages in the M&A process. Executive leadership and M&A advisors work diligently to ensure a smooth, timely close by managing key stakeholders and verifying legal and financial conditions. This helps sellers minimize liability and achieve an optimal outcome.
The right M&A deal team drives results that help business owners meet their M&A goals. Who should be on your M&A team?
Selling your business is a complex process - early preparation is key to success. We cover the most impactful 3 steps to take today, including internal business reviews, key performance metrics, and adjusted EBITDA.
EBITDA addbacks can maximize your company’s valuation and sale price. Discover key strategies to boost valuation and attract top buyers for your company’s M&A transaction. Learn more about EBITDA addbacks today.
Is a Leveraged Buyout (LBO) a good strategy for business growth? Leveraged buyouts rely on debt and can enhance equity returns for investors and provide companies with additional access to capital for value creation. But they are not without risk. Disciplined execution is key to success.
Thinking of selling your business? Learn the 5 essential M&A steps every owner should take to maximize value, avoid mistakes, and close with confidence.
Get your business in order, measure your KPIs, position your company for maximize valuation, understand the tax implications for the business owners, and select the right M&A advisor to help you sell your business.
Ready to talk through your situation?
Schedule a confidential, no-obligation consultation with our M&A team. We work with founders at every stage - whether you’re ready to move now or are just starting to think it through.