Monday
A software startup announces its $4M seed round.
QUALIFIED BUYER INTRODUCTIONS FOR M&A ADVISORS, ACCOUNTANTS AND FRACTIONAL CFOs
Get introduced to owners who are getting ready to sell, or companies that just outgrew their books.
An owner deciding to sell, or a startup closing its first round, needs expert help and usually doesn't know who to call. We find them at that moment, confirm the timing, the size of the business and who decides, then introduce them to you.
Think of us as a referral partner for your market.
01The problem
The best clients choose an advisor before they ever search
Most owners pick an advisor through someone they trust: their accountant, their lawyer, a friend who sold. By the time they search online, they've usually already chosen.
We act like that trusted contact. We talk to the owner or founder, confirm what's happening and when, and introduce one advisor who fits.
02Buying moments we look for
The moments that make buyers spend.
| The moment | What we confirm | Who we introduce |
|---|---|---|
| A 30-year-old company's owner wants to retire and sell within 18 months | Timeline, rough size, whether they have an advisor | Advisors who help owners sell |
| An owner gets an offer from a buyer they didn't expect | The offer stage, deadline, who's advising them | Sell-side advisors, accountants who check the books before a sale |
| A startup closes its seed or Series A with no one running finance | Round size, what finance work is behind, budget | Part-time CFOs, outsourced accounting |
| A growing company's books aren't ready for a bank loan or an investor | The deadline, what's missing | Accountants, part-time CFOs |
| Two owners disagree on the company's future, and one wants out | Timing, size, whether they've hired anyone | Valuation and transaction advisors |
03 · A lead, a booked meeting and a qualified introduction
Same buyer. Three very different things to hand your sales team.
| Comparison | A lead | A booked meeting | A qualified introduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you get | Bill Harris, owner, a $12M HVAC company. Founded 1994. | Bill agreed to a call next week. | Bill wants to retire and sell within 18 months. His books are on a basic system and he has no advisor. He and his wife decide. He asked what his company might be worth and how long a sale takes. |
| Does he need what you sell? | Unknown | Unknown | Confirmed, in his own words |
| Did he ask to meet you? | No | Agreed to a call | Yes |
| Your team's job | Find out if he's selling | Run discovery, hope it's real | Answer his question and start the engagement |
Illustrative example. Not a real buyer.
04One introduction, start to finish
One introduction, start to finish.
Illustrative example. Not a real buyer.
Tuesday
We talk to the CEO. The founders run finance on spreadsheets, and the investors want monthly reports and a budget by next quarter. They've set aside money for outside help.
Wednesday
She asks to be introduced. We connect her with a part-time CFO who works with seed-stage software companies.
The email
“David, Anna's company just closed a $4M seed round and her investors want monthly reporting by next quarter. Finance is on spreadsheets today and she has budget for help. She asked how you'd set up their first board report. Anna, David is a part-time CFO for seed-stage software companies. I'll let you two take it from here.”
David walks into a need with a deadline set by the investors.
More examples
Illustrative examples. Not real buyers.
The owner ready to retire
Monday
A 30-year-old HVAC company posts a job for a general manager.
Tuesday
We talk to the owner. He wants to step back and sell within 18 months. His books are on a basic system and he has no advisor. He and his wife decide.
Wednesday
He asks to be introduced to an advisor who helps owners sell.
The email
“Jim, Bill wants to sell his HVAC company within 18 months and hasn't hired an advisor. His books need cleanup first. He asked what his company might be worth and how long a sale takes. Bill, Jim has sold a dozen home-services businesses. I'll let you two take it from here.”
The unexpected offer
Monday
A larger competitor announces it's buying companies in a family-owned distributor's region.
Tuesday
We talk to the owner. She got a letter of intent last week, has 30 days to respond, and nobody has checked her numbers.
Wednesday
She asks to be introduced to an accountant who prepares companies for a sale.
The email
“Lauren, Kim received an offer for her distribution company and has 30 days to respond. Nobody has reviewed her books yet. She asked what a buyer will look for first. Kim, Lauren's firm prepares owners for exactly this. I'll let you two take it from here.”
Books not ready for the bank
Monday
A fast-growing staffing company opens its fourth office.
Tuesday
We talk to the founder. The bank wants clean monthly financials before it raises their credit line in 90 days, and their bookkeeper can't produce them.
Wednesday
He asks to be introduced to a part-time CFO.
The email
“Nate, Chris's staffing company needs clean monthly financials in 90 days to grow its credit line, and the bookkeeper can't get there. He asked how quickly you could get them bank-ready. Chris, Nate works with staffing firms at this stage. I'll let you two take it from here.”
05Who we introduce buyers to
Who we introduce buyers to.
- Advisors who help owners sell their business
- Accountants who prepare companies for a sale
- Part-time and fractional CFOs
- Outsourced accounting and finance firms
- Valuation firms
Best fit: an engagement is worth $25,000 or more. Not a fit: very small businesses, or owners more than two years from a decision.
06What we confirm
Six checks before every introduction.
- 01
Right company
size, industry and location match what you serve.
- 02
Real situation
they describe it in their own words.
- 03
Budget
they know it will cost money, and who approves it.
- 04
Timeline
a sale window, a funding deadline or a report due date.
- 05
Decision-maker
the owner, founder or CEO is involved.
- 06
They asked to meet you
a written yes before we send the email.
07Why providers trust us
Why providers trust us with their name
We never pay buyers to meet you.
No gift cards, no incentives, no paid appointments. Every buyer we introduce is meeting you because they have a real problem they want solved.
If it doesn’t fit, we replace it.
If an introduction doesn’t match your written criteria, we replace it at no charge.
If we can’t deliver, you get your money back.
If we can’t deliver the qualified introductions you paid for, we refund the ones we didn’t deliver, prorated.
A person checks every introduction.
We talk to every buyer and confirm the need, budget, timeline and who decides before we introduce them.
You approve the standard first.
Your criteria are in writing before we start. Each buyer goes to one provider, not a shortlist, and any exclusivity is spelled out in your agreement.
Questions advisors ask
Do owners know you're paid for the introduction?
Yes. We're open about it with both sides.
Can you focus on one industry or deal size?
Yes. You tell us the businesses you work with, and we only introduce those.
Your next move
Tell us what one new engagement is worth to you.
On a free 30-minute Deal Flow Review, we'll look at the clients you want and how many are at that moment now.