IBO Advisors Insights
Exit planning, M&A, and the Independent Buyout - explained plainly.
Straight-talk guides on selling a business, valuing a company, and the Independent Buyout structure - written for owners doing $3M+ in EBITDA who want the full menu of options before they sign anything.
August 24, 2026
Private Equity Doesn't Buy Your Company - It Borrows Against It. Here's How.
Private equity firms fund most of a buyout with debt placed on the company being acquired, not their own cash. Here's how the mechanics actually work, and what it means for the seller.
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August 15, 2026
What "Minority Stake" Really Means: Board Control and Veto Rights in a PE Investment
A private equity firm holding a minority stake still typically retains veto rights over financing, acquisitions, and a future sale. Here's the actual list of what those rights usually cover.
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July 14, 2026
The Owner Exit Conversation Is Broken: Why You're Only Ever Shown Two Doors
Most owners are shown two exit paths - sell to private equity, or sell to a strategic buyer - because those are the only two deals the people in the room get paid to close. There's a third option.
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July 6, 2026
What Actually Happens to Your Rollover Equity After You Sell to Private Equity
Rollover equity typically runs 10-40% of a private equity deal - and most sellers never collect what they expect from it. Here's what the data actually shows.
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July 1, 2026
Independent Buyouts for Government Contractors: Why Cost-Plus Contracts Make Employee Ownership More Affordable
Cost-plus government contracts reimburse allowable costs, which can make transitioning a GovCon business to employee ownership cheaper than a typical commercial deal.
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June 17, 2026
Healthcare Services M&A: What Owners Should Know Before Selling
Healthcare services M&A is consolidating fast, but private equity roll-ups bring regulatory and control tradeoffs owners should weigh before signing a term sheet.
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May 20, 2026
Restaurant M&A: Ownership Transition Options for Owners Who Don't Want a PE Buyer
A guide to restaurant M&A ownership transition options for multi-unit operators who want a real exit or liquidity event without handing their restaurant group to a private equity roll-up.
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May 5, 2026
Family Business Succession Planning: Options Beyond Selling to a Stranger
A guide to family business succession planning - successor timelines, common pitfalls, and what to do when there's no family successor but you still want to avoid selling to private equity.
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April 24, 2026
Management Buyout Financing: How Owners and Management Teams Fund an MBO
How management buyouts get financed - seller notes, bank and mezzanine debt, personal capital - and how an Independent Buyout's structure differs.
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April 9, 2026
Independent Buyout vs. Private Equity: The Numbers-Based Comparison Every Owner Should See
A side-by-side numbers comparison of what an owner might walk away with after a private equity sale vs. an Independent Buyout, using a $10M EBITDA illustrative example.
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February 25, 2026
Minority Recapitalization Explained: Sell Part of Your Business Without Letting Private Equity Take Control
What a minority recapitalization is, how it compares to a full sale or an Independent Buyout, and when partial liquidity makes sense for owners.
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December 20, 2025
Business Exit Planning: Every Option Explained (Sale, MBO, IBO, Succession)
Every real business exit option compared - strategic sale, PE sale, MBO, family succession, and the Independent Buyout - with pros, cons, and a comparison table.
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November 21, 2025
Exit Planning for Business Owners: A Step-by-Step Guide
A step-by-step exit planning guide for business owners - when to start, how to value your company, and how to compare every exit option before you sell.
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October 4, 2025
How to Choose an M&A Advisory Firm When You Have $3M+ in EBITDA
How to choose an M&A advisory firm at $3M+ in EBITDA - track record, fee structure, conflicts of interest, red flags, and the questions to ask before signing.
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September 15, 2025
How Do Private Equity Firms Value a Company? (And How to Use the Same Playbook Yourself)
How private equity firms actually value a company - EBITDA multiples, add-backs, quality of earnings, and comps - so you can run the same playbook before any sale.
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