Common questions,
straight answers.
If you don't see your question here, ask us on the intro call.
Why should I start planning my exit 12 to 24 months in advance?
Most business owners wait too long. They leave money, opportunity, and peace of mind on the table by going to market with a business that wasn't prepared for it.
The strongest exits start 1 to 2 years out, with time to improve valuation, align your personal and financial goals, and prepare both the business and yourself for what's next. We help you build a clear exit strategy before you're in deal mode, so you can move with confidence rather than pressure.
Do you only work with business owners planning to sell?
Not necessarily. We work with owners who are:
- Considering a sale in the next 1 to 2 years
- Exploring internal succession or ESOP options
- Unsure what they want but know they need a plan
- Already getting inquiries from buyers and want to get ahead of the process
If you're asking "what's next for me and my business," that's where we come in.
What industries and deal sizes do you work with?
We typically work with founders doing $500K to $3M in profit, across a range of industries. We've helped owners in manufacturing, services, construction, B2B tech, agencies, and more. Industry matters less than fit. What matters most is that you care about the legacy you're building and how the next chapter unfolds.
I'm not sure I'm ready to sell. Can I still talk to you?
Yes. About half the founders we talk to aren't sure they want to sell. Some explore the idea and decide to wait. Some decide to sell sooner than they thought. Some come in thinking sale and leave thinking succession or ESOP.
The intro call is a thinking session, not a sales call. Bring your questions, and we'll help you sort through them whether or not we end up working together.
How is Missing Capital different from a traditional business broker?
Most business brokers list your company and wait for inbound buyers, then collect a commission when something closes. They're built for speed. We're built for fit.
We don't list. We don't wait. We start working with you 12 to 24 months before the deal, building the value of the business so it sells for more, identifying the strategic buyers most likely to pay a premium, and walking with you through every step until close. The work happens before the listing, not after.
If you want to be on BizBuySell, we are not the right firm. If you want to sell to the right buyer, on your terms, for what your business is actually worth, we should talk.
How do your fees work?
We work on an engagement-plus-success-fee model. There's a modest engagement fee for the discovery and preparation work (Phase One and Phase Two of our process), and a success fee that's a percentage of the deal value at close. The success fee scales with deal size, so when you sell big, we sell big with you.
We walk you through specifics on the intro call, and you'll have a clear number in writing before we ever ask you to commit.
How long does a typical engagement last?
From first conversation to closed deal, most engagements run 12 to 24 months. Some founders move faster because they're already buyer-ready. Others take longer because the value-building phase needs runway. Either way, we give you a realistic timeline in your first session and check in against it every quarter.
If the timeline doesn't fit your goals, we'll say so before you sign.
Do I need to sign anything to have an intro call?
No. The intro call is free, confidential, and obligation-free. You don't sign an engagement letter, an NDA, or a fee agreement to have the first conversation. We treat the call as our chance to learn about your business and yours to learn about us. If neither side feels right, no harm done.
How do you maintain confidentiality during the process?
Confidentiality is the whole point of working with us instead of a listing site. Your business name does not appear on BizBuySell or any public listing. Every buyer we approach signs an NDA before they see anything specific. Your team, customers, and competitors do not learn the business is for sale unless you decide to tell them.
If a deal goes sideways at any point, you walk away with your reputation, your customer relationships, and your team intact. That's the design.
What happens after the deal closes?
The deal closing is the start of the next chapter, not the end. Most engagements include transition support: helping you stay in the business through the transition period (often 6 to 12 months), managing the relationship with the new owner, and handling the handful of things that always come up post-close.
We also help you think through what's next personally. What you do with the proceeds. How the next year of your life looks. What the business meant to you and what's worth carrying forward. The valuation is one number. Your life after the sale is the bigger one.