How We Help

Maximize Your Value

Buyers pay more for a company that runs without its owner, earns predictable revenue and isn’t reliant on a small number of large customers. Improving those areas before a sale raises what your company is worth and lowers the risk from a buyer’s perspective.

The earlier you start, the more you can change before buyers start their review.

Build a management team that can run the company without you

A strong, motivated management team demonstrates to buyers that your company’s future doesn’t depend on you. Ask whether your team could continue growing the business after you leave. Buyers want businesses that can.

If your company still relies on you for key decisions, customer relationships or daily operations, start delegating those responsibilities to your team now.

Make your earnings predictable

Buyers value predictability in the form of future earnings. Two things help most:

Multiple revenue streams. The more ways your business earns money, the less risk a buyer is taking on.
Recurring, stable revenue. Contracts, subscriptions and repeat customers give buyers confidence in the next year’s results.

Reduce your dependence on any one customer

Consider what would happen to your business if your largest customer left. If a crisis would ensue, it’s a red flag for buyers, who see that risk and will lower their price accordingly. A diverse customer base attracts more buyers.

As a guideline, we recommend that no single customer account for 10% or more of your revenue.

Show buyers where your growth will come from

Buyers are interested in your company’s future more than its past. Show them the new products or services in your pipeline, and outline your vision of how the business can scale into new markets.

A company with a credible growth plan is more valuable to a buyer. Our guide to increasing business value before a sale covers additional ways to strengthen that case.

Prepare for due diligence

Expect buyers to examine your company in great detail. They’ll check your performance, review your books and test the claims you’ve made about the business. Organize your financial records and documentation before you go to market, so the diligence process confirms your value instead of raising doubts.

How Oaklyn Consulting helps you maximize value

We help owners understand what their company is worth today, identify the changes that will raise its value most, and prepare for interacting with buyers and going through due diligence. We bill for time and charge no success fee, so we can help you prepare years before a sale without pressure to sell. Our step-by-step guide to business valuations explains how buyers decide on a price.

Frequently asked questions

How do I increase the value of my business before selling?

Build a management team that can run the company without you, make your revenue predictable and recurring to the greatest extent possible, and reduce your dependence on any single customer. Then show buyers a credible plan for future growth and prepare your records for due diligence.

How much customer concentration is too much?

As a guideline, no single customer should account for 10% or more of your revenue. Losing a customer above that level is a significant risk that will cause buyers to adjust their price.

How early should I start preparing my company for a sale?

Start two to three years before you plan to sell. This window gives you time to strengthen your management team, diversify your customer base and build a track record of predictable results.

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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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