How We Help

Buy a Business

Buying a business can add revenue, customers and capabilities faster than growing them organically. Successful acquisitions start with a clear view of what you’re buying, what it will take to combine the two companies and which risks could surface after closing.

Work through the questions below before you commit.

Decide whether you’re buying the assets or the stock

If the seller is an LLC or a corporation, you can buy the company’s assets or its stock. Our general advice is to buy the assets. Buying the stock means you also take on the company’s liabilities, which can include legal problems no one has found yet.

If buying a company’s stock is the only way to get the deal done, negotiate with a clear understanding of what you might be inheriting, and involve your attorney early to navigate any potential legal issues.

Plan how you’ll combine the two companies

Combining two businesses takes more work than most buyers expect. Before you sign, settle on a plan for communicating with:

Customers. Decide what you’ll tell them and when, and confirm whether their contracts can transfer to you.
Employees. Decide which roles you need and which you don’t, and what you’ll say to both teams.
Vendors and the lease. Plan the vendor conversations and how you’ll renegotiate the lease with the seller.

Look for hidden risks after closing

Some risks go unnoticed in early conversations and appear after the deal closes. Thorough due diligence is your best chance to root them out.

Company culture is often overlooked, but deserves the same attention. Ask whether the two companies’ cultures fit and whether anyone on either team may resent the change. Simultaneously, decide who will run your existing business and serve your clients while you’re focused on the acquisition.

Buying a competitor may not remove the competition

Acquiring a competitor can bring you its customers, but with one caveat. In markets where contracts go out to bid, customers are still required to seek a set number of proposals, so you’ll keep competing for the work.

How Oaklyn Consulting helps buyers

We help buyers evaluate targets, test the risks, structure the purchase and negotiate terms. We bill for time and charge no success fee, so we have no stake in any particular outcome.

Smaller acquisitions often fall below a traditional bank’s threshold. We cover what that means, and the alternatives, in is my company too small for an investment bank?

Janet Elkin, CEO of IMN Enterprises, had no in-house corporate development team when she set out to make two acquisitions. We took on that role and helped complete both deals; she describes the process from her perspective.

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy a company’s assets or its stock?

Our general advice is to buy the assets, because buying the stock means taking on the company’s liabilities, including ones that may not have been discovered yet. If the seller will only sell stock, negotiate with that risk in mind and involve your attorney at every step.

How do I find the right business to buy?

Start by setting clear criteria for the size, market and capabilities you want, then look for companies that fit. Our guide to acquiring your first small business walks through the steps.

What should I plan for before buying a competitor?

Plan how you’ll communicate with customers, employees and vendors, determine if customer contracts can transfer, and examine how the two cultures will fit. In bid-based markets, expect customers to keep requesting competing proposals.

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Experience the Oaklyn Consulting Difference

Oaklyn Consulting brought senior-level attention and analytical rigor to every stage of the process. They understood my business, ran a thoughtful and disciplined sale process and helped me make sound decisions when it mattered. I couldn't have asked for a better team in my corner.”

Jarod BuschFounder, 911 Custom LLC

(If) you've never been through this before, you've never done it before, frankly you're out of your depth and you're lost, you need someone that's going to pilot this through with you, as sort of the copilot, and your mentor and advisor. I absolutely feel very strongly that that's the role that Oaklyn Consulting played for me, and I would always recommend them.”

Eric FulmerCEO, ShotFlow

Oaklyn Consulting did a great job for us on Axial. The unfortunate outcome there had everything to do with the company's situation and the market environment. The board and investors all agree on what a thorough, professional, top-notch job Oaklyn Consulting did for us. I wouldn't hesitate to work with them again and in fact will look for opportunities to do so.”

Board MemberAxial Exchange

That was the real value of Oaklyn Consulting, being able to add them to the deal midstream. If you’re in that situation, I think Oaklyn Consulting is a great fit.”

Mike WalshCEO, Essco Calibration Laboratory

If you’re on the fence, I would say meet Frank and his team. I would recommend him to anyone who is considering selling their company, even if they’re just exploring their options.”

Al HemondCEO, Professional Disability Associates

Without him, I wouldn’t have gotten these deals done. There’s no question in my mind.”

Janet ElkinCEO, IMN Enterprises

Eighty years of family history does not get sold in a hurry. Oaklyn Consulting understood that from the first conversation.”

Jamie SemprebonCalmont Beverage

Oaklyn Consulting told us to pause when everything in me wanted to keep moving. Six weeks later, we closed clean. That advice was worth more than the process itself.”

Jeremy GrenierCEO, Calmont Beverage

I know they had other clients, but we felt almost like we were their only one at the time just by how much attention they paid to us. They’ve got a good team that can walk you through the process step by step, and they’re going to give you the attention you deserve.”

Devan WelchSenior VP and General Manager, Powell Construction

We really appreciated your willingness to adapt to the unique nature of our engagement — i.e., advising both sides — rather than forcing us into a typical approach.”

It was a very helpful professional experience. You are very knowledgeable and explained how you work transparently, even offering that you were probably not a good match. That is rare. Most people try to force-fit their model to every opportunity.”

As I stated many times during our conversations, I so appreciate you and your team for interceding throughout this transaction. It made such an incredible difference!”

Excellent setup and organization of data as well as business-level guidance for transactions.”

Candidly — I appreciated that you were thoughtful about when and where to engage knowing that we had sensitivities to fees. It often felt like you’d give us tools we could use to work through things on our own and then jump back in as needed to add value where you uniquely could.”

You continue to be my go-to for business owners thinking about their business options. I appreciate your approach and everyone I have sent you has said good things.”

We Help Clients Succeed At Their Most Complex Transactions

When running a business, making the right and crucial capital decisions can be the difference between success and failure. With Oaklyn Consulting by your side, you can confidently make the decisions that will shape the future of your business.

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