Welcome back to the Mid Market Insider!
Today, I’m breaking down why buyers often walk away from deals without ever discussing price—and how hidden red flags can quietly kill a deal long before you realize anything is wrong.
Thinking About Selling Your Business?
I’ve spent nearly 20 years buying, growing, and evaluating companies.
If you’re considering a sale or just want to understand more about my role and what we do, feel free to grab 30min on my calendar below:
I once worked with an owner who was convinced his business was perfectly positioned to sell.
He had strong revenue...
Healthy margins…
And plenty of inbound buyer interest.
But six months later?
Zero offers.
How come?
Well, most business owners believe buyers walk away from deals because of price…
But after watching buyers lose interest in deals worth tens of millions, I can reveal something most owners never realize until it’s too late:
Buyers often walk away long before price is even negotiated… for reasons that the owner never even realized were red flags
Here’s the part that confuses most owners:
The buyers don’t educate you.
They don’t argue.
They disengage.
No feedback. No counter. No back-and-forth.
Just… silence.
And by the time you feel something is “off,” the buyer is already long gone.
I break down the 3 most common ones in a short YouTube video.
You will discover:
What almost every business owner wants from a deal… but almost no buyers are willing to give (This is the #1 reason buyers quietly ghost owners)…
The strange reason why having big customers can lower your business’s market value…
How owner dependence kills deals, even when owners agree to stay on.
But here’s the good news…
In the video, I also explain what sophisticated sellers do differently – before they ever talk to a banker or buyer – so these red flags never surface at the wrong time.
So if you’re even thinking about selling in the next few years, watching this short video could potentially stop you from losing out on a strong exit.
That’s all for today’s newsletter! Thanks for reading!
📅 Next Week:
In next week, I’ll break down the private equity playbook for exiting at a premium—and why strong financials alone aren’t what drive the highest valuations.
And how you can start applying these principles today to increase your multiple, reduce risk, and position your business the way top buyers want to see it.
Keep building,
Nick
In Case You Missed It: Must-Watch Video
Business Exit Strategies: The 3 Red Flags That Make Buyers Walk Away Immediately
Click the link below and check it out:
