https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles M&A guides for lower middle market business owners: valuation multiples, the sale process, and how to choose an advisor. en-us Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/ma-deal-structure-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/ma-deal-structure-2026 Two offers at the same price can pay very differently. The six ways buyers structure an offer, and how each one shifts risk from the buyer onto you. Jack Pitts Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/childcare-daycare-valuation-multiples-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/childcare-daycare-valuation-multiples-2026 What childcare centers sell for by operator size. Why occupancy against the 70% profitability line and market-rent normalization move value further than the multiple does, and where the published data runs out. Connor Pitts Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/msp-valuation-multiples-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/msp-valuation-multiples-2026 Published EV/EBITDA multiples for MSPs by deal size and segment, and what moves a managed IT services business up or down its range. Connor Pitts Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/business-services-valuation-multiples-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/business-services-valuation-multiples-2026 Business services valuation multiples run 3.5x to 17x inside one category, and the 7.4x everyone quotes has no public source. Connor Pitts Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/manufacturing-valuation-multiples-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/manufacturing-valuation-multiples-2026 Manufacturing business valuation multiple guide: why the most-quoted figures mislead, and how cash EBITDA reshapes a headline price. Jack Pitts Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/working-capital-peg-ma-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/working-capital-peg-ma-2026 The working capital peg can hand back six figures after closing. Eight traps, the arithmetic behind each, and what the published deal data actually says. Jack Pitts Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/when-to-start-exit-planning-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/when-to-start-exit-planning-2026 When lower middle market owners should start exit planning, a phased 3-10 year timeline, family succession pitfalls, and how M&A advisor fees work. Jack Pitts Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/dog-daycare-pet-care-valuation-multiples-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/dog-daycare-pet-care-valuation-multiples-2026 Dog daycare valuation multiples run 3.56-4.10x EBITDA on vendor data. BLS wage figures show why labor, not the multiple, decides your price. Connor Pitts Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/best-business-valuation-firms-lower-middle-market-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/best-business-valuation-firms-lower-middle-market-2026 A scoped comparison of business valuation firms for owners selling a $2M-$75M company, including Salt Creek Advisory, Peak Business Valuation, and GCF Valuation. Connor Pitts Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/quality-of-earnings-report-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/quality-of-earnings-report-2026 A quality of earnings report decides which add-backs survive. What a QoE costs, what it tests, and which QoE statistics fall apart when checked. Jack Pitts Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/why-we-built-salt-creek-around-relationships https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/why-we-built-salt-creek-around-relationships Jack Pitts, co-founder of Salt Creek Advisory, on why the firm is built around real relationships and community instead of treating deals as pure transactions. Jack Pitts Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/ma-advisor-early-childhood-education-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/ma-advisor-early-childhood-education-2026 Six M&A advisors compared for a preschool or early childhood education sale, what ECE businesses actually sell for, and who the active national acquirers are in 2026. Connor Pitts Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/coming-home-family-midwest-fourth-of-july https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/coming-home-family-midwest-fourth-of-july Jack Pitts on leaving private equity in New York, coming home to the Midwest, and building an M&A firm with his brother. Jack Pitts Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/community-midwest-selling-a-family-business https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/community-midwest-selling-a-family-business Connor Pitts on Midwest community, growing up around a family business, and what actually changes for a town when one gets sold. Connor Pitts Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/ma-advisor-industrials-manufacturing-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/ma-advisor-industrials-manufacturing-2026 Six M&A advisors compared for a manufacturing or industrial sale, what the Axial industrials league table actually measures, fee benchmarks, and who is acquiring in 2026. Jack Pitts Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/roll-ups-legal-services-pet-care-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/roll-ups-legal-services-pet-care-2026 Why legal services and pet care are drawing active roll-up interest, and what consolidation means if you own a business in one of them. Connor Pitts Sat, 27 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/ma-advisor-business-services-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/ma-advisor-business-services-2026 Six M&A advisors compared for a business services sale, what buyers actually underwrite, published fee benchmarks, and the platforms acquiring most actively in 2026. Jack Pitts Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/strategic-buyer-vs-private-equity-buyer-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/strategic-buyer-vs-private-equity-buyer-2026 Strategic buyer vs private equity buyer: how the two buyer types differ on price, deal rationale, speed, integration, and what happens to owners and employees after close. Connor Pitts Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/how-ai-is-actually-changing-business https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/how-ai-is-actually-changing-business A grounded look at where AI genuinely helps in business today, where it still falls short, and why that matters most in high-stakes decisions like selling a company. Jack Pitts Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/ma-glossary-lower-middle-market-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/ma-glossary-lower-middle-market-2026 Plain-language definitions of essential M&A terms: EBITDA, LOI, earnouts, rollover equity, and more. Connor Pitts Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/what-buyers-look-for-in-an-acquisition-target-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/what-buyers-look-for-in-an-acquisition-target-2026 What buyers actually evaluate in an acquisition target: financial quality, growth, customer concentration, owner dependency, and operational cleanliness. Jack Pitts Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/ebitda-and-business-valuation-basics-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/ebitda-and-business-valuation-basics-2026 A plain-language guide to EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, and valuation multiples for lower middle market business owners preparing for a sale or evaluating an offer. Connor Pitts Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/how-long-does-it-take-to-sell-a-business-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/how-long-does-it-take-to-sell-a-business-2026 How long does it take to sell a business in the lower middle market? A realistic look at each phase of a sell-side process and the factors that speed up or slow down a deal. Jack Pitts Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/lower-middle-market-ma-process-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/lower-middle-market-ma-process-2026 A plain-English walkthrough of the lower middle market M&A sell-side process, from preparation and buyer outreach through letters of intent, due diligence, and closing. Connor Pitts Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/sell-side-advisor-vs-business-broker-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/sell-side-advisor-vs-business-broker-2026 Sell-side M&A advisor vs. business broker: how deal size, process, marketing, and fees typically differ, and how to think about which one fits your business sale. Jack Pitts Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/how-to-choose-an-ma-advisor-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/how-to-choose-an-ma-advisor-2026 How to choose an M&A advisor for a founder-led business: the criteria, questions, and red flags that matter when a sale is personal, not just financial. Connor Pitts Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/top-lower-middle-market-investment-banks-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/top-lower-middle-market-investment-banks-2026 Thirteen lower middle market investment banks compared, what Axial's league tables actually measure, and published fee benchmarks for a business sale. Jack Pitts Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/best-ma-advisors-selling-20-million-company-2026 https://saltcreekadvisory.com/articles/best-ma-advisors-selling-20-million-company-2026 How to evaluate M&A advisors for a $20 million company sale in 2026: what deal size means for advisor fit, the questions to ask, and how to compare options. Connor Pitts Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000