What Buyers Really Look For

Most founders think buyers are just looking for strong revenue, growth potential, or an exciting brand.

Those things matter—but they’re not what closes deals or commands premium multiples.

Buyers aren’t just buying a business.
They’re buying confidence—in your systems, your margins, and your ability to perform without you.

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The 5 Things Strategic & Financial Buyers Actually Want:

1. Recurring, Reliable Revenue
MRR or ARR gets premium multiples. Even if you’re service-based, predictable contracts or retainer-style offerings go a long way.

2. Owner Independence
If the business dies without you, so does the deal. The less essential you are, the more valuable the business becomes.

3. Scalable Infrastructure
Buyers want clean, automated systems: sales processes, delivery workflows, SOPs, dashboards, team structure.

4. Financial Clarity
Accrual-based accounting. Clean books. Clear margin visibility. If your numbers don’t make sense, neither will your valuation.

5. Strategic Fit or Roll-Up Potential
Your business is more valuable if it plugs into their portfolio, fills a gap in their value chain, or removes a competitor.

What Turns Buyers Off Immediately:

• Messy books and unclear financials
  
  
• 70%+ of revenue tied to one person (you or your lead salesperson)
  
  
• Overly complex offers or custom fulfillment models
  
  
• High churn or low customer lifetime value
  
  
• Lack of clear reporting, team accountability, or brand defensibility

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The Secret to Becoming “Buyer-Ready”

Start preparing for exit before you’re ready to sell.

That means:

• Structuring your offers and pricing for predictable, recurring revenue
  
  
• Automating or delegating everything that depends on you
  
  
• Positioning your business as a bolt-on or strategic asset to multiple buyer types
  
  
• Documenting everything: systems, processes, reporting, customer success
  
  

A buyer doesn’t pay top dollar for your hustle.
They pay for your systems, your numbers, and your transferability.

Want to Build a Business Buyers Chase—Not Just Consider? Schedule a Strategy Session