Post-Acquisition Operations & Value Creation
After closing
The first year decides a lot
Closing day feels like the finish line. It is the start of running a company whose employees, customers and suppliers did not choose you. Our job in this phase is to help you keep what you bought intact first, then improve it, in that order.
Your first year
A rough timeline
- 01
First 30 days
Meet every employee and the top customers. Change as little as possible. Make sure payroll, banking and insurance moved over cleanly.
- 02
Days 30 to 90
Learn where cash comes in and goes out each week. Set up a short monthly reporting pack. Write down what the previous owner did that nobody else knows how to do.
- 03
Months 4 to 6
Pick one or two improvements with clear payback, such as pricing, collections or a hire that frees up your time. Leave the bigger ideas on a list for now.
- 04
Months 7 to 12
Review the year against the acquisition model, check covenant headroom with your lender, and plan year two with real numbers instead of the seller’s.
Where we help most
Focus areas
Seller transition
Structuring the handoff so relationships move to you and not just the keys.
Reporting and cash
Monthly numbers you can read in fifteen minutes, and a weekly cash view.
Pricing and margins
Most small businesses have not raised prices in a while. We look at where you can and how to do it.
Hiring and roles
Deciding who you need first, and what you should stop doing yourself.
Questions
About ongoing support
Is this a monthly retainer?
It can be. Some owners want a standing monthly session for the first year. Others call us for specific projects.
Do you work inside the business?
We work alongside you, not in your seat. You run the company. We help you think through decisions and build the reporting to see them clearly.
Ready for your next acquisition?
Whether you are starting a search, evaluating a target or preparing to run a business you just bought, let’s define your next steps.