by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business |
The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC aka the ERC) applicable to the Covid-19 pandemic has been evolving from its initial congressional act in March of 2020, was enhanced by the Consolidated Appropriations Act passed in January 2021, updated by the American Rescue Plan in March of 2021, and most recently updated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
If your head is spinning as you try to unravel the ERC rules, you are not alone. The ERC or Employee Retention Credit offers a viable and alternative way to recover payroll costs for any type of employer, except state and local government entities, regardless of their size.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Exit Planning, Sell a Business |
Many business owners are uncertain about how to establish a value for their business, regardless of its stage of development. How to value ideas, start-ups and mature businesses differ greatly. Learn more.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Exit Planning, Sell a Business |
If you intend to grow and sell a valuable business, the Great Resignation that kicked off in mid 2021 means everything. Everything that is if you care about the value of your business.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Exit Planning, Sell a Business |
Learn about the three phases in a business exit plan and why each is important for the business, its employees, the owner and his or her family. This post includes our most popular FAQs on this topic as well. Wondering about the Exit Planning designations for professional advisors? We’ve covered that in this post as well.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Sell a Business, Selling a Business Questions |
When it comes to the sale of a business, there are a number of costs – both expected and unplanned – all business owners should understand before they agree to sell their business. A few of our Featured Advisors have weighed in, offering their expertise and perspective to explain the costs – from business broker fees and legal costs to hidden fees – as they relate to selling a business.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business |
The SBA EIDL Round 2 extended application deadline to 12/31/2021 and introduced the New Targeted EIDL Advance Grants for businesses continuing to suffer from the Covid-19 pandemic. Learn more about the changes to the EIDL program, which businesses can qualify for the EIDL grant and how to apply.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Entities, Start a Business |
Our Comprehensive Starting a Business Checklist includes the steps for Pre-Startup, Business Formation and How to Establish your Startup. It’s your roadmap to launch a new business while protecting your personal assets and income.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business |
On Monday, May 3rd, 2021, the Small Business Administration (SBA) opened its application portal for the Restaurant Revitalization Funding (RRF) to certain restaurants, bars and other similar businesses that serve food and/or drink which have suffered a reduction in revenue in 2020 when compared to 2019 as a result of the pandemic.
Similar to the Paycheck Protection Program Loan (PPPL) program, this federally-funded program is intended to provide cash to businesses which have suffered revenue losses and if spent on the proper types of expenses within a specific period of time (the Covered Period), the loan may be fully-forgiven by the SBA.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business |
Up until now, the PPP Loan proceeds for Schedule C filers was based on the 2019 net profit (referred to as the net earnings from self employment) plus payroll costs if employees worked in the business. The Interim Final Rule (IFR) effective on March 3, 2021 allows a business owner to use either their gross income or net income as the basis to compute its PPP Loan request amount.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Exit Planning, Sell a Business |
What should a business owner do to prepare to sell his or her business some time in the near future?
Aside from right-sizing the business’s overhead costs to line up with its current level of revenue, and looking for opportunities the pandemic may be presenting, there are four things a business owner can do now to prepare to sell. And more importantly, doing these four things will mean that when a Letter of Intent is received from a buyer, the business will be very well-prepared to survive the due diligence stage of the sale.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Exit Planning, Sell a Business |
The Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a Procedural Notice on October 2, 2020 which offers business owners and lenders guidance on how Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans are to be handled when a business has a change in ownership.
This post summarizes the notice and includes an Infographic to assist business owners. It includes the following topic:
When does a Business Sale Require the SBA’s Approval
Does a Business Sale Require the PPP Lender’s Approval or Notification
Required Steps Pre and Post-Closing for PPP Borrowers
SBA Timeframe to Approve a Sale or Merger when a PPP Loan Transfers
Does the EIDL Grant Impose Additional Steps When Selling a Business
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business |
In a previous post, we discussed how a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) company works, its many benefits, and the tax implications you may face if you hire one.
As a recap, a PEO is a service that small or medium-sized businesses may use to outsource some of their human resource, payroll, benefits, taxes, recruiting, and other management tasks. As you might imagine, there are both pros and cons in hiring a PEO.
Here, we’ll discuss the disadvantages of using a PEO, along with the associated costs of a PEO.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business |
In our PEO series, we’ve talked about what a PEO company is and who is the employer in a PEO relationship. Here, we’ll discuss PEO for nonprofits, and whether or not using a PEO for your nonprofit might make sense.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business |
On June 15, 2020, the Small Business Administration reopened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications to businesses with no more than 500 employees and non-profit organizations operating and suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the pandemic in all of the U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories.
Independent Contractors, sole-proprietors (with or without employees), gig workers and freelancers are also eligible to apply for the EIDL.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital |
On June 5, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (PPPFA), which is the latest attempt to save struggling businesses from permanent shutdown.
The Flexibility Act offers business owners seven significant changes to the original Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan terms. The House and Senate were driven to make these changes due to the lengthy pandemic and the fact that many PPP Loan recipients have not been able to re-open their doors for business during the required eight-week ‘covered period’ set forth in the original PPP Loan Act.
The PPP Loan Flexibility Act will make it much easier for business owners to achieve full, or nearly full, loan forgiveness.
The new law provides business owners with seven significant changes to the original law and those include:
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business |
Our PEO series is aimed at addressing the common questions about PEOs, and uncovering some of the lesser-known facts about working with a PEO so that you may make the best choices for your business.
So far, we’ve learned about what a PEO company does. Here, we’ll dive into some muddy waters and decipher who is really the employer in a PEO relationship.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business |
If you are wondering what a PEO is and whether or not this type of outsourcing may be a good option for your small or medium-sized business, this first article in our series of four posts will help you decide if it’s the right move for you.
In this post, we cover everything you need to know about a PEO company including:
• What’s the meaning of PEO?
• PEO payroll
• PEO benefits
• PEO tax implications, and more.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital |
The Small Business Administration announced on Thursday, April 16th all federal funds set aside for the Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) Loans have been allocated to those business owners who were persistent (and fortunate) enough to get through the application process and receive an official registration number from the SBA via its bank.
In simple terms, the PPP Loans are out of money to assist business owners.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business |
On Friday, March 27, 2020, the Paycheck Protection (Loan) Program (PPL) for small businesses was approved as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This new law is intended to help small business owners in an unprecedented way.
First, while the Paycheck Protection Program Loan will be initially set up by banks and approved by the SBA under section 7 (a), unlike other SBA loan programs, the PPL is guaranteed 100% by the SBA.
Second, if the proceeds of the loan are used by business owners as Congress, the Senate and President Trump intended, the loan will be forgiven.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Exit Planning, Sell a Business |
When thinking about ways to sell your business, you are likely familiar with the most common strategies proposed by business advisors: selling to a third-party such as a private equity firm or a competitor, or selling to your family. What your business transition advisor may not have discussed with you is instead selling your business to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (an “ESOP”).
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Sell a Business |
If you’re considering the sale of your business, or possibly the acquisition of another competing business, it’s important to understand the selling/buying process.
An often overlooked and important first step during the process of buying or selling a business involves the negotiation of certain terms the buyer and seller will ultimately agree to at the closing table once the due diligence phase of the process is completed.
If either party ignores the importance of the initial terms’ negotiations, they can often end up with a bad deal or no deal at all.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Entities, Start a Business |
In this post, I will be addressing how to pay yourself as a business owner and these related subjects:
Business owner compensation overview
Why does Reasonable Compensation of business owners matter
S-Corp Shareholder Employee compensation
C Corporation Shareholder Employee compensation
Distribution of Property & Cash to Other Shareholders
Taxes Applicable When a Business is Sold to a New S Corp or C Corp owner
Partnerships – Compensation, Distributions & Sale Proceeds Tax Consequences
Sole Proprietorships Compensation,Distributions & Sale Tax Consequences
LLC Member Compensation, Distributions & Sale Tax Consequences
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Exit Planning, Sell a Business, Selling a Business Questions |
One of the greatest risks any buyer faces is what will happen to the business’ best customers post-sale. Will the top customers celebrate the founder’s great accomplishment or maybe decide it’s a good opportunity to negotiate better pricing or payment terms with the new owner? Or worse yet, will they be spooked by the new owners and find an alternative vendor?
Astute buyers measure this risk quickly. Typically, one of the first questions experienced buyers ask the business broker is about the presence or lack of a customer concentration.
For the business owner considering the sale of his business in the near future, having a clear understanding if a customer concentration exists is vitally important. In fact, the lack of a customer concentration is a great selling point.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Exit Planning, Sell a Business, Selling a Business Questions |
For the business owner who desires a great outcome, including the business owner’s family in the exit planning process, as well as the decision to sell, is vital.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Exit Planning, Sell a Business, Selling a Business Questions |
Our Featured Advisors, Attorney Mark Fazio and Business Broker Neal Isaacs, answer a few questions to help business owners learn how to prepare for due diligence when selling a business.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Start a Business |
In this post we will be addressing how to protect your business name and whether filing for a DBA, registering a trademark or copyright, creating a URL, filing a patent application, and registering your business in your state of operation is appropriate, and most importantly why.
Understanding the differences between the various methods used to protect your intellectual property allows you to be prepared to make the best decisions possible for your new business. By doing so, the fence around your valuable business will be strengthened!
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Entities, Start a Business |
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. A business entity is the separate legal business structure under which a business operates which is distinct from the individual or individuals who own the business. In the eyes of the... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Sell a Business |
Speaker: Holly A. Magister, CPA and Certified Financial Planner® This post is intended to help those who either own a business or advise business owners in the lower-middle market — defined as a business with gross revenue between $5MM and $50MM — and is... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Grow a Business, Trepopedia |
v Have a Question? Add it to the bottom of this post! For many entrepreneurs, launching a new business often means walking a fine line between pursuing earnings growth and growing the top-line revenue. A business can’t be successful in the long-term without earning a... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Exit Planning, Grow a Business, Trepopedia |
Contribution margin is an important method of not only understanding how profitable a business is, but also how its products and services contribute to the bottom line. It’s important to understand that contribution margin is different from profit margin, since profit... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
v Have a Question? Add it to the bottom of this post! When a business is sold, sometimes an adjustment to the purchase price is needed to make up any difference between available working capital at the time of closing, and the working capital needed to maintain... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Sell a Business |
There are many ways to compute the value of a business, and an equal number of differing opinions regarding a particular methodology’s relevance to an entrepreneur who starts and grows a viable business. But what seems to truly matter most to the entrepreneur who has... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business, Trepopedia |
Without cash flow, a business cannot pay its employees, make debt payments, or invest in its future growth – making cash flow a critical focal point in every business, regardless of size. Yet searching for the correct small business financing can be overwhelming,... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business, Start a Business, Trepopedia |
Business debt and equity are central to the operations of any company. The amount of debt and equity a business carries has a major impact on how the business operates, and on how it is positioned for success. Business capital is the money a company uses to purchase... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business |
v Have a Question? Add it to the bottom of this post! Business Lending from Banks Whether you’re a Main Street small business, an Entrepreneur growing a business from start-up, or a Middle Market Business about to embark on an Initial Public Offering (IPO),... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business |
Sufficient cash, otherwise known as business capital, is necessary for any business to pay vendors and employees on time and to invest in real and intangible assets that enable growth. That’s why, as a business owner, it’s critical to understand what business... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business |
Whether you’re growing a business organically or searching for ways to jump start business growth with a large cash infusion, don’t allow the large number of capital sources for your business become overwhelming. This post identifies several... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business, Trepopedia |
v Have a Question? Add it to the bottom of this post! What Are Loan Covenants? A covenant is simply a fancy term for the word ‘promise’. Banks include covenants in their loan agreements to preserve their position as the lender and to improve the likelihood a loan... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business |
Entrepreneurship offers the most even-tempered humans many challenges. One such challenge is managing difficult employees who are forever causing havoc. You know who they are. And so does your spouse! One of my favorite clients refers to her difficult employees as... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Start a Business, Trepopedia |
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. Understanding the differences between a sole proprietorship and an LLC (Limited Liability Company) is essential for any business owner – but especially important for a business owner... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Start a Business |
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. Your business’s corporate structure will significantly impact a number of issues – including exposure to liability, financing and growth, the number of shareholders, the rate and manner in... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Sell a Business |
EBITDA Margin and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are similar measurements used by business owners and others who value businesses for sale. Let’s break down the two terms to help your understand which measurement of profit and cash flow are most relevant for your... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Trepopedia |
Business bad debt refers to any debt created or acquired in a trade or business (or closely related to a trade or business) that becomes partially or completely worthless and can not be collected. Business bad debt is the result of a customer, another business, or an... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Sell a Business |
How could there be risks in your business relationships? For most business owners who’ve started a business from scratch, the notion of regarding as risky the many positive relationships they’ve built over the years with customers, vendors, and even employees is... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Trepopedia |
A business debt schedule is a tool that helps businesses review, assess, and visualize debts. A debt schedule allows businesses to make strategic decisions about paying off debt, acquiring new debt, or creating long-term projections for investors and creditors. It... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business, Trepopedia |
Business debt consolidation refers to the practice of taking out a new loan to pay off any number of other business debts (generally unsecured debts). Multiple separate debts are combined into one new loan, often with more favorable loan terms and conditions.... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
Book Value is defined as the total value of a company if it were to liquidate its assets and pay back its liabilities, or the value of the company according to the financial statement. Book value (BV) is also sometimes referred to as “shareholder’s equity.” Business... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. What is Invested Capital? MVIC (Market Value of Invested Capital) is the amount of money raised by issuing securities to shareholders and bondholders, and typically includes total debt and... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
v Have a Question? Add it to the bottom of this post! Net equity value is the fair market value of a business’s assets minus its liabilities. This measured value is used to determine a business’s net worth – or the funds that would be left over and available to... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
The discount rate can be defined in several ways. For purposes of this post, the discount rate will be defined as it relates to small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) and the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) valuation method. As it applies to a business investment... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business, Trepopedia |
Once you’ve successfully assessed your financial needs for a business loan, you’ll want to follow these guidelines to determine what, if any capital funding you may need, and the best type of business loan for your business. What are the best reasons for a small... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business, Trepopedia |
v Have a Question? Add it to the bottom of this post! As a small business, it is imperative that you understand your financial needs. Knowing your projected annual expenses, having a business plan in place, and assessing your need for funding sets the foundation for a... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business, Start a Business |
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business |
Busy entrepreneurs need to be aware of several important changes in federal 2017 Business Tax Filing Deadlines for the calendar year ending 12/31/2016. Most notably is now employers have one month less to file Forms W-2 and 1099 MISC with the Federal Government. In... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Trepopedia |
The American Stock Exchange (AMEX) is the third-largest stock exchange by trading volume in the United States. AMEX was acquired by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Euronext in 2008, at which time its name was changed to NYSE Alternext US. In 2009 it became the NYSE... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Trepopedia |
The payback period for buying a business is defined as the amount of time it takes to recuperate an investment, or to reach a break even point. Generally, the payback period is expressed in years. All other factors held equal, a shorter payback period is more... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Exit Planning, Sell a Business |
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. The Discount for Lack of Marketability, or DLOM, is a discount applied to a company’s value when an ownership interest cannot be converted to cash quickly, and free of excessive expenses.... ![How to Protect Your Business Intellectual Property [Infographic]](https://b226520.smushcdn.com/226520/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Screen-Shot-2016-12-01-at-2.34.09-PM.png?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Entities, Grow a Business, Start a Business |
Protect Business Intellectual Property when you start your business and as you are growing your business! Learn about DBAs, patents, trademarks, copyrights and more in our business intellectual property infographic. Protecting the IP you develop in your business is... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Start a Business, Trepopedia |
The effective annual rate – also called the effective interest rate, the effective rate, or the annual equivalent rate – describes the amount of interest paid or earned on an investment or loan as the result of compounding over the period of a year or some... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Exit Planning, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. A seller’s note receivable is an alternative form of business capital. This type of debt financing is often used in small business acquisitions, where the seller agrees to accept a... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital |
One of the hardest parts about starting a new business is finances. How do you get the business financing you need? Which option is the best for your business? How do you handle those finances responsibly? What’s a P&L statement? If you’re thinking of... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Sell a Business |
Business goodwill is defined as an intangible asset that increases a business’s value above and beyond its current market value. Business goodwill arises when one company is acquired by another at a premium, above market or book value price. Goodwill can be attributed... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Sell a Business |
v Have a Question? Add it to the bottom of this post! In any business acquisition, a deal structure must be formed to specify the financial terms, conditions, and process for successfully completing the transaction. The deal structure outlines a set of terms that... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Grow a Business, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
The term business value is a broad term that refers to any form of business valuation which determines the financial health and potential of a company. While a purchase or selling price is simply an amount that may be asked to be paid for a 100% ownership of a given... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Grow a Business, Trepopedia |
Capitalization Rate, more commonly referred to as Cap Rate, is the rate of return on a real estate investment based on the income the property is expected to generate. In other words, the Capitalization Rate is used to estimate an investor’s likely return on... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
Goodwill is defined as an intangible asset that is created as the result of an acquisition of one company by another, at a premium price over its fair market value. The willingness of a buyer to pay a premium for a given business may be due to value built up over time... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
EBITDA Valuation is an industry multiple or ratio method that is used commonly to determine the Enterprise Value of a company operating in the lower-middle or middle market. It differs from the method typically used by small businesses (also referred to as Main... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
Seller’s Discretionary Cash Flow (SDCF), also sometimes referred to as seller’s discretionary income (SDI) or seller’s discretionary earnings (SDE), is a computation often used when valuing a small or medium-sized business. While larger, public companies are often... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. There is a significant difference between “working capital” and “change in working capital.” Working capital is a snapshot of a moment in time which measures the level of assets a business... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
Furniture, fixtures, and equipment (or FF&E) is an accounting term used in the process of valuing, liquidating, or selling a company or building. FF&E refers to any fixture, piece of furniture, or piece of equipment that is moveable and is not permanently... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
v Have a Question? Add it to the bottom of this post! Enterprise Value, also sometimes called “EV,” is a measure of a company’s total business value. EV is the theoretical price for a company if it were to be bought, and because EV accounts for a company’s debt and... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
The term “dry powder” is financial slang and refers to a company’s or investor’s highly liquid securities which are kept on hand to finance future obligations, purchase assets, or invest in opportunities. Such capital also may be kept on hand to provide emergency... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
An Earn Out Payment is additional future compensation paid to the owner(s) of a business after it is sold. The terms and conditions that yield an earn out payment are contained in an Earn Out Agreement which is part of the Agreement of Sale. Typically, this payment is... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
A Data room may be a physical room or a virtual room and are used for a number of reasons – including data storage, document exchanges, financial transactions, file sharing, and legal transactions. Often, data rooms are used for the sale of a business or when raising... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Start a Business, Trepopedia |
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. A lifestyle business is created and typically operated by its founder to serve the purpose of sustaining a particular level of income, and no more. Often founded by an individual,... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
An offering memorandum is a legal document that states the objectives, terms, and risks typically associated with private placements for public companies. However, an offering memorandum may also be used by buyers and sellers of private middle market businesses. This... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Grow a Business, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
The investment banking market is made up of two sides – the buy-side, and the sell-side, both of which are responsible for researching and assessing stocks and other investments. The buy-side refers to advising institutions concerned with buying investment services.... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
Middle market or “mid-market” companies or firms are businesses that typically earn between $5 million and $1 billion in yearly revenue. This group of businesses makes up the middle third of the U.S. economy’s revenue and employs 25% of its labor force, with large and... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
Non-Solicitation Agreements (NSAs) are made by two parties to protect one party from a potential loss of income or assets. This type of agreement is warranted and often made when one party is about to become aware of certain important relationships the other party... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Sell a Business, Start a Business, Trepopedia |
An employment agreement is a formal contract between an employer and an employee which defines the conditions of employment. This agreement usually will specify major employment details and include everything from compensation to expectations for specific work to be... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business |
Subordinated debt (sometimes also referred to as a subordinated loan, junior debt, subordinated bond, or subordinated debenture) is a debt that ranks below other, regular debt on a company’s balance sheet. In the event the company faces bankruptcy or liquidation,... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business, Trepopedia |
An asset-based loan (also sometimes called “asset-based financing” or “commercial finance”) is a type of business financing secured by an asset (or multiple assets) of the company. Often, these loans are structured to function like revolving lines of credit, allowing... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Entities, Grow a Business, Sell a Business, Start a Business, Trepopedia |
A buy-sell agreement is a legally-binding agreement between two co-owners that governs any situation in which one co-owner dies, chooses to leave the business, is incapacitated, faces divorce, bankruptcy, retirement, or sells his/her share of the company. The... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Exit Planning, Sell a Business |
As a business owner journeys through entrepreneurship, it’s inevitable for most to seek a quick business valuation on one or more occasions. Such a conversation with a business advisor may be about the need to understand the value of the business for the purpose of... by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
In business, the term exclusivity refers to a party’s sole rights with regard to a certain business activity. This may include business relationships, pricing, products, or sales. Another application of this term in the business world involves relationships between... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. The term sandbagging refers to an intentional lowering of expectations. Sandbagging can apply to anything from sports to business, and is the practice of intentionally deceiving others in... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
The term ‘rule of thumb’ generally refers to the idea of a principle with a broad application – something that is not intended to be exact or strictly accurate. In the business world, the term ‘rule of thumb’ refers to a guideline that provides simplified advice about... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Valuation, Grow a Business, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
Intangible assets are those assets in a business which are not physical in nature. Some examples include: intellectual property, (like patents, trademarks, and copyrights), brand recognition, special knowledge, and business methods. Such non-physical assets add value... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Entities, Start a Business, Trepopedia |
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. When starting a new business, there are a few steps you’ll need to take in order to officially incorporate the business within its state. Usually the first step is creating and filing... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Sell a Business, Trepopedia |
Meaning ‘for the sake of form’, the term pro forma refers to a document that is often provided as a courtesy and satisfies predetermined minimum requirements in an effort to best predict the future outcome of a transaction within a business. One of the most common... by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Entities, Grow a Business |
Under the Affordable Care Act, employers must follow specific reporting requirements concerning health insurance coverage offered to employees during calendar year 2015. Although the ACA has been impacting nearly all employers over the past couple of years, now... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Start a Business |
Have a Question? Ask your question below and one of our Advisors will answer. Business owners generally want to protect their personal assets from claims, lawsuits and certain other business liabilities associated with their business. That’s why when a serial... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Exit Planning, Sell a Business
Jim Beach, author and serial entrepreneur, interviewed Exit Promise founder Holly Magister on his radio show School for Startups Radio. We want to share some of the insights from that interview here on the blog. This is the third post in this series, and Holly... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Entities, Start a Business |
Jim Beach, author and serial entrepreneur, interviewed Exit Promise founder Holly Magister on his radio show School for Startups Radio. We want to share some of the insights from that interview here on the blog. This is the second post in this series, and we’ll cover... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Entities, Exit Planning, Start a Business |
Jim Beach, author and serial entrepreneur, interviewed Exit Promise founder Holly Magister on his radio show School for Startups Radio. We want to share some of the insights from that interview here on the blog. First, read about how Holly recommends entrepreneurs can... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Start a Business |
Many business owners (starups and veterans alike) may find the requirements to register a business in their state surprising. When a business owner starts their business and chooses to form an entity, registering a business name occurs separately from the formation of... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business, Start a Business |
When you are starting or expanding a business, there are multiple business entity structures available. Separate business entity structures include C corporations, S corporations, Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), partnerships – both limited and general. And... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Exit Planning, Sell a Business |
The method chosen to transfer ownership of a business for sale is one of the most important factors to consider as a business owner. And the reason for its importance is related to the wide differences in the amount of cash received (net of taxes) by the business owner across the various methods of transfer or sale. An ESOP or Employee Stock Ownership Plan is one method of ownership transfer or sale many business owners consider when they decide it’s time to retire. That said, let’s explore the ESOP as a potential method of transfer or sale from both the business owner’s and employees’ perspectives.
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Grow a Business |
Today’s skyrocketing group health insurance premiums coupled with the negative sentiments that many small business owners have about paying high taxes, and you have a recipe for frustration on Main Street USA. Or, maybe it’s an opportunity to lighten your small... 
by Holly Magister, CPA, CFP® | Business Capital, Grow a Business |
There are several types of loans available to business owners — so many, in fact, that the options can seem overwhelming and confusing, especially to smaller business owners without a lot of experience raising capital. This guide will help educate you on the options so you can make a more informed decision about financing your growing business while limiting added risk.
