Phone
(757)364-0303

Email
h.feder@murphybusiness.com

Scheduled
a call

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 […]

Today’s Business Buyer: What Motivates Them and What Sellers Need to Know

Understanding who is actually buying small businesses right now matters more than most sellers realize. The profile of a typical buyer has shifted in recent years, and sellers who recognize these patterns are far better positioned to attract qualified interest and close successfully. What Buyers Are Actually Looking For Contrary to what many sellers assume, […]

Succession Planning: Build a Business That Outlasts You

Succession planning is a structured approach to ensuring your business can continue operating effectively regardless of changes in leadership, ownership, or direction. It is not a one-time event, and it is not the same as selling your business. It is an ongoing strategic discipline that every business owner should treat as a core management responsibility. […]

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 […]

Selling a Family Business: What Every Owner Needs to Know

Family businesses make up the vast majority of privately held companies, yet they are among the least prepared when it comes time to exit. The dynamics that make a family business successful can also make it harder to sell if the right groundwork has not been laid. Why Family Businesses Require a Different Approach Selling […]

Confidentiality in Business Sales: Protect the Deal Before It Starts

Confidentiality is not a formality in a business transaction. It is a structural requirement. When information about a potential sale reaches the wrong people at the wrong time, the consequences can unravel months of preparation and significantly reduce what a seller ultimately receives. Why Information Control Matters More Than Most Sellers Expect When word gets […]

Selling a Business: Common Surprises Owners Face Before Closing

Selling a business is rarely as straightforward as owners expect. Even experienced operators who have navigated complex decisions for years often find the sale process introduces challenges they were not prepared to handle. Understanding what those challenges look like before they arrive is one of the most practical steps any owner can take. The Time […]

Selling a Business: Why Confidentiality Determines Deal Outcomes

Confidentiality is not a formality in the business sale process. It is a structural requirement that directly affects whether a transaction closes at full value, closes at a discount, or falls apart entirely. What Is at Stake When Information Gets Out The moment word spreads that a business is on the market, the dynamics inside […]