Phone
(757)364-0303

Email
h.feder@murphybusiness.com

Scheduled
a call

Exit Planning Starts on Day One of Building Your Business

The decision to sell a business rarely happens overnight, but the groundwork for a successful exit is laid long before any transaction begins. Founders who treat exit planning as a future problem consistently leave value on the table. Those who build with the end in mind tend to attract stronger buyers, negotiate better terms, and […]

Buyer Motivations in Business Sales: What Sellers Need to Know

Knowing what a buyer actually wants from a transaction gives sellers a measurable advantage. Buyer motivation shapes how negotiations unfold, what concerns surface during due diligence, and whether a deal closes at all. Sellers who take the time to understand this dynamic are far better positioned than those who treat every buyer the same way. […]

EBITDA Accuracy: How Sellers Maximize Business Value

The number that drives your business sale price is not revenue, not gross profit, and not cash in the bank. It is your adjusted EBITDA, and how accurately it is calculated will determine how much money you walk away with at closing. Why EBITDA Is the Foundation of Your Sale Price When buyers and their […]

Understanding Deal Breakdowns in Business Sales

A signed letter of intent does not mean a deal is done. In business sales, the gap between agreement in principle and a closed transaction is where most deals quietly unravel. Understanding what causes that breakdown is the first step toward preventing it. Agreement on Price Is Just the Beginning Buyers and sellers often assume […]

Business Valuation Factors Every Owner Should Grade Themselves On

Buyers evaluate businesses through a specific lens, and most owners never see it until they are already in a deal. Understanding what drives perceived value before you reach that point gives you a measurable advantage. A practical way to approach this is to treat your business like a report card. Assign honest grades across the […]

Buying or Selling a Business: Seven Factors That Shape the Outcome

The gap between a successful business transaction and a failed one often comes down to preparation. Buyers who skip critical analysis and sellers who underestimate what drives value both tend to leave money on the table or walk away from deals that should have closed. Understanding what actually matters before entering a transaction changes the […]

Failure as a Business Tool: What Smart Entrepreneurs Know

Failure does not disqualify an entrepreneur. In most cases, it prepares one. The business owners who build lasting value and execute successful exits are rarely those who avoided every mistake. They are the ones who learned from setbacks faster than their competition. The Real Cost of Avoiding Failure There is a common pattern among business […]

Selling a Business: Questions Every Owner Must Answer First

Selling a business requires more preparation than most owners expect. Before a deal can move forward, buyers will probe your motivations, your operations, and your numbers. How you answer those questions shapes how buyers perceive risk and ultimately determines what they are willing to pay. What Buyers Want to Know Before They Commit Qualified buyers […]

Brand Strategy Basics: Build a Business Buyers Will Value

Brand strategy is not about logos or color palettes. It is the foundation that determines how customers perceive your business, why they choose you over competitors, and ultimately, how much your company is worth when it comes time to sell. What Brand Strategy Actually Means At its core, brand strategy is the deliberate effort to […]

Boost Business Deals with Smart Questions Asked First

Every business transaction hinges on the quality of questions asked before any agreement is signed. Buyers who skip this step overpay or inherit problems. Sellers who ignore these same questions walk into negotiations unprepared and often leave value on the table. Start With What’s Actually Being Sold Before evaluating financials or growth potential, both parties […]