Nationwide seller library

Resources for owners preparing a business sale

Original DealPilot guides on CIMs, diligence, NDAs, earnouts, SDE add-backs, and deal structure — plus the money pages and readiness tools owners use before sharing sensitive details. Private by default. No fake close rates or invented buyer pools.

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Free to start. Optional upgrades use flat pricing — promo code TRACTION129 can apply at checkout when offered.

New long-tail guides

Deep dives written for owners — not scraped marketplace copy.

Seller materials

How to prepare a CIM

A Confidential Information Memorandum — often shortened to CIM — is the structured packet serious buyers expect after an NDA. It is not a public listing, a teaser, or a certified appraisal. Done well, it tells a clean story about the business so diligence starts from facts instead of guesswork.

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Deal structure basics

Asset vs stock sale

When someone buys your company, the paperwork usually follows one of two shapes: an asset sale or a stock (equity) sale. The labels sound technical, but the practical difference is simple — are they buying selected assets and assuming selected liabilities, or buying the entity itself? This is education, not tax or legal advice; confirm structure with your CPA and attorney.

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Financial literacy

SDE add-backs explained

Seller's Discretionary Earnings — SDE — is a common small-business profit measure: roughly the cash benefit available to one full-time owner-operator. Add-backs are the adjustments that move you from book profit to SDE. Buyers will pressure-test every line. This guide keeps the language practical and nationwide.

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Confidentiality

NDA for selling a business

An NDA — nondisclosure agreement, sometimes called a confidentiality agreement — is how you create a contractual expectation that private deal information stays private. It is not armor against every bad actor, and it is not a substitute for judgment about who you talk to. It is a standard gate before CIM-level detail.

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Process readiness

Due diligence checklist for sellers

Due diligence is the buyer's verification phase after serious interest — the deep review of financials, contracts, people, and risk. Sellers who wait until requests arrive often scramble. This checklist helps you stage materials early, nationwide, without pretending diligence is optional or theatrical.

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Deal terms

Earnouts explained

An earnout is a portion of purchase price paid later if the business hits agreed targets after closing. Buyers use earnouts to bridge valuation gaps when they distrust projections, concentration, or owner-dependent growth. Sellers should treat earnouts as shared risk — not free upside.

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Money pages

Planning ranges, valuation literacy, and estimate entry points.

Value my business

Start a free private planning range from revenue, profit, and owner involvement.

How to value a small business

Owner guide to SDE, add-backs, and what moves a planning multiple.

DIY business valuation

Build a first range yourself before hiring outside help.

Business valuation guides

Industry and topic guides for owners building a private planning story.

Readiness & path guides

Checklists, quizzes, and broker-vs-DIY framing without success-fee claims.

Sale readiness checklist

What to organize before sharing sensitive details with anyone.

Exit readiness quiz

A short quiz that teases Sale Prep Score themes without a public listing.

Sell without a broker

Owner-led prep path when you are not ready to hire brokerage help.

DealPilot vs brokers

Software prep versus brokerage — what each is for, without success-fee theater.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers about using DealPilot resources while you prepare privately.

What is the DealPilot resources hub?
It is a nationwide library of original seller education — long-tail guides on CIMs, NDAs, diligence, earnouts, SDE add-backs, and deal structure — plus links to DealPilot money pages and readiness tools. It is not a buyer marketplace.
Are these guides formal legal or tax advice?
No. They are educational owner guides. For structure, tax, contracts, and compliance decisions, work with a qualified attorney and CPA. DealPilot is software for private planning ranges and sale prep.
Do I need to list my business to use these resources?
No. Read the guides and start a free private planning range without publishing. DealPilot does not invent buyer pools or require a public listing to learn your readiness picture.
Where should I start if I am early?
Many owners begin with the free planning range, the sale readiness checklist, or the exit readiness quiz, then read topic guides like SDE add-backs or CIM prep as questions come up.
How do I value a small business without hiring a broker first?
Start with a private planning range based on revenue, owner take-home profit (often called SDE — Seller's Discretionary Earnings), industry context, and owner involvement. DealPilot walks you through those inputs so you can see a planning range and the assumptions behind it before you share sensitive details or hire outside help.
Is a free business value estimate the same as a certified appraisal?
No. A DealPilot planning range is an informational owner tool — not a certified appraisal, formal valuation opinion, or guarantee of sale price. Use it to organize numbers and readiness notes. Bring in a qualified appraiser, CPA, or attorney when you need formal opinions for financing, tax, or legal decisions.
Can I sell my business without a broker using DealPilot?
Many owners prepare privately first, then decide whether to sell themselves, hire a broker later, or pause. DealPilot is owner-led software for planning ranges, readiness work, and review-ready materials. It does not replace brokerage, legal, or tax advice, and it does not promise buyer pools or marketplace inventory.
What information do I need to start a private planning range?
Rough annual sales and yearly take-home profit are enough to start. Tax returns, add-backs, customer mix, and how much the business depends on you make the range more useful later. You can refine inputs over time without publishing anything.
Will my business stay private while I use DealPilot?
Yes. Your planning work stays in a private workspace by default. Nothing about your company name, financials, or sale intent goes public unless you choose a specific share or publish step.
How is DealPilot different from listing my business on a public marketplace?
Public listing sites focus on exposure. DealPilot focuses on preparation first: a private planning range, readiness gaps, and organized seller materials. You decide if and when to share with anyone. DealPilot does not invent buyer demand or promise listing liquidity.
What does Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) mean?
SDE is a common small-business profit measure: roughly the yearly cash benefit to one full-time owner-operator after adding back owner salary, personal expenses run through the business, and one-time costs. Buyers often apply an industry multiple to SDE when forming an offer range.
How long does it take to prepare a small business for sale?
Timelines vary by industry, bookkeeping quality, and how owner-dependent the business is. Many owners spend weeks to months cleaning financials, documenting processes, and reducing key-person risk before a serious process. A private planning range helps you see which prep steps matter most for your situation.
Do I need perfect financials before I start?
No. Start with the best numbers you have, then tighten them. Cleaner P&Ls, tax returns, and documented add-backs usually improve buyer confidence later. DealPilot helps you see readiness gaps early so you are not learning them under diligence pressure.
What does DealPilot cost after the free planning range?
The initial planning range is free to start. Optional paid tools include a documented planning report, a seller launch kit, and a monthly deal room when you are actively managing a process. Pricing is flat and listed on the pricing page — not a percentage of sale price. If you have a promo code such as TRACTION129, you can enter it at checkout when offered.

Ready for a private planning range?

Start free with revenue, owner profit, and involvement notes. Stay private until you choose otherwise.

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