Phone
(757)364-0303

Email
h.feder@murphybusiness.com

Scheduled
a call

Business Brokers Explained: What They Do and Where They Stop

A business broker serves a specific and well-defined role in the sale of a privately held company. Understanding that role clearly, before you engage one, saves time and sets realistic expectations on both sides of the transaction. The Core Value a Business Broker Provides At the most practical level, a business broker acts as the […]

Business Survival Planning: A 90-Day Action Framework

When business conditions shift unexpectedly, the owners who adapt fastest tend to come out ahead. A structured 90-day plan gives you a defined window to assess what is working, fix what is not, and make deliberate improvements that compound over time. This is not about reacting to pressure. It is about using available time with […]

Fairness Opinions Explained: What They Mean for Your Deal

A fairness opinion is a formal written assessment that evaluates whether the financial terms of a transaction are fair to the parties involved. It is not the same as a business valuation, and understanding the difference matters when you are navigating a sale or acquisition. Fairness Opinion vs. Fair Market Value These two terms are […]

Selling a Business: Mistakes That Kill Deals Before They Close

Deals fall apart for reasons that are often visible long before a buyer ever submits an offer. When you understand what buyers are actually evaluating, you can address weaknesses early and position your business to close at the right price. If you are thinking about selling a business, the time to prepare is well before […]

Selling a Business: Why Most Listings Never Close

Only a fraction of businesses that go to market actually sell. Depending on annual revenue, the probability of closing a deal ranges from roughly 18 percent to just over 30 percent. For the majority of small business owners, the realistic odds are closer to one in five. Understanding Why the Numbers Are So Low The […]

Business Valuation: What Actually Drives the Number

A business valuation is not a single calculation. It is a structured analysis that draws from financial performance, market conditions, workforce quality, and buyer-specific factors to arrive at a defensible number. Understanding what goes into that number is the first step toward influencing it. Why Valuation Is More Than a Financial Snapshot Most business owners […]

Exit Strategy Planning: What Every Business Owner Should Know

Planning an exit strategy is not about expecting failure. It is about building a business that is transferable, valuable, and ready for a transition on your terms rather than someone else’s. The Right Time to Start Planning Most business owners delay exit planning until a trigger forces the conversation. That trigger might be burnout, a […]

Business Valuation Explained: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know

Business valuation is not a single number arrived at through a fixed formula. It is a judgment-driven process shaped by financial data, operational realities, and the specific purpose behind the valuation itself. Whether you are preparing to determine what your business is worth or evaluating a target acquisition, understanding how value is measured changes how […]

Recognizing Business Trouble Early Protects Your Exit Options

A business rarely fails overnight. The warning signs appear gradually, and owners who recognize them early retain far more control over what happens next, including the ability to sell a business at full value rather than under pressure. Strategic Drift and the Cost of Unclear Direction When a company loses its strategic focus, the effects […]

Women Business Owners Are Reshaping the Small Business Market

Women-owned businesses now represent a significant and growing share of the independent business landscape, both in the United States and internationally. The data points to a shift that is structural, not temporary, and it carries real implications for anyone looking to buy a business or evaluate opportunities in today’s market. What the Numbers Actually Show […]