You move past top-line revenue to look at real EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization). You verify tax returns against bank statements to ensure the profits are real.
A critical question is whether the company survives without the current owner. If the owner is the only one who can bid on projects or manage key client relationships, the business may be worthless without them. buying a construction business
The previous owner keeps some "skin in the game," allowing you to pay them back over time from the company's future profits. 4. Closing the Battle You move past top-line revenue to look at
The real work starts after the ink dries. New owners often find that "speed compresses diligence," and hidden expenses might surface once the previous owner is gone. Success depends on maintaining the company's "backlog" of work, keeping the existing crew’s trust, and ensuring that safety incident rates and project timelines stay on track. If the owner is the only one who
You look for "vague scopes" in existing contracts—phrases like "as necessary" that could lead to massive cost overruns or disputes after you take over. 3. Structuring the Deal
Once a target is found, the process enters a "draining" 10-month period of due diligence. This is where most deals succeed or fail.