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- Which is More Important? Timing or Preparation?
Welcome back to the Mid Market Insider!
Today, we’re discussing the topics of timing and preparation as they relate to selling a business and which one matters more.
We’re Building Something New: Come Join Us
The Pre-Sale Prep Community is a private space for business owners getting their companies ready for sale.
It’s still new, we’re growing toward 100 members, and for now it’s completely free to join.
If you want to learn how to make your business more valuable before you sell… this is where to start. Join below:
“What matters more when selling: timing or preparation?”
It’s a question I get a lot from business owners.
Everyone wants to time the market perfectly. They want to sell when valuations are high, buyers are aggressive, and money is cheap.
And yes, timing matters.
The M&A market isn’t static… it moves with interest rates, capital availability, and buyer sentiment.
Right now, higher borrowing costs have made leveraged deals harder. Many buyers are cautious. But others, particularly disciplined private equity firms and well-capitalized strategic buyers, see opportunity in companies with strong fundamentals.
So yes, timing will always play a role. The same business can attract very different offers depending on the market environment.
But here’s the truth most people overlook: preparation matters more.
In tighter markets, only the strongest, cleanest, and most stable businesses stand out. When capital gets expensive, buyers become choosier. They don’t stop buying, they just buy more selectively.
That’s where preparation makes all the difference.
When a buyer sees:
Clean, accurate financials
Documented systems and processes
A leadership team that runs independently of the owner
They see less risk, and less risk drives higher value.
You can’t control the economy. You can’t control interest rates. But you can control how your business shows up.
Good preparation shortens diligence, builds trust, and increases the odds that your deal crosses the finish line… even when the broader market feels uncertain.
So don’t get it confused… selling your business is less about predicting the market perfectly, and more about being ready when the right opportunity comes.
📺 What to Watch This Week
Watch one of our recent videos on YouTube…
Hedge Against Stock Market Crashes: Why I Buy REAL BUSINESSES Instead
Click the link below and check it out:
That’s all for today’s newsletter! Thanks for reading!
📅 Next Week:
Next week, I’ll be diving into the importance of understanding what makes you different as a business. During tougher economic times and higher inflation, it’s crucial that you have a true differentiator that makes customers choose you over your competitors.
Keep building,
Nick