Is Real Estate Like Private Equity? Side-by-Side Answer (2026)
Home / Answers / Current article Is Real Estate Like Private Equity? A Side-by-Side Answer for Serious Investors (2026) Yes, is real estate like private equity in many structural ways: real estate private equity (REPE) uses the same GP/LP fund vehicle, the same 2-and-20 fee model, the same 8 percent preferred-return hurdle, and targets 15 […]
Do You Need a Series 7 for Private Equity? (2026 Answer)
Home / Answers / Current article Do You Need a Series 7 for Private Equity? The Honest 2026 Answer No, in most cases you do not need a Series 7 for private equity. The honest answer to the question, do you need a series 7 for private equity, is that the majority of PE professionals […]
Merger and Acquisition Process Flow Chart: 10 Phases (2026)
Home / Guides / Current article Merger and Acquisition (M&A) Process Flow Chart: Ten Phases and the Acquisition Timeline (2026) An M&A process flow chart maps a sell-side deal as 10 phases and 9 gates: in 25 Axial deals closed in 2025, a signed LOI took a median 79 days and closing took 131 more. […]
Why Mergers and Acquisitions Fail: 10 Reasons (2026)
Home / Guides / Current article Why Mergers and Acquisitions Fail: 10 Reasons Deals Destroy Value (2026) Why mergers and acquisitions fail comes down to three things: buyers overpay, count on revenue synergies that often miss, and lose people and customers in integration. The “70 to 90 percent” rate is a 2011 HBR summary of […]
Business Combination vs Asset Acquisition: ASC 805 Guide (2026)
Home / Guides / Current article Business Combination vs Asset Acquisition: ASC 805 Guide (2026) Business Combination Vs Asset Acquisition in 2026 depends on scale, sector, and recurring revenue percentage. Named PE-backed and strategic acquirers pursue this vertical actively, and multiples clear meaningful ranges depending on platform readiness and market cycle timing. This page covers […]
What Questions to Ask a Business Broker: 15 Vetting Questions (2026)
Home / Answers / Current article What Questions to Ask a Business Broker Before You Sign (2026) What questions to ask a business broker before signing an engagement letter comes down to 15 questions across five areas: track record in your size band and industry, listing structure and process, fee construction and tail clauses, the […]
Who Gets the Money in a Business Sale: Proceeds Waterfall
Home / Answers / Current article Who Gets the Money in a Business Sale: The Proceeds Waterfall The short answer to who gets the money in a business sale is that cash flows through a strict priority order at closing: senior secured lenders are paid first, then tax liens, then unsecured creditors, then an escrow […]
Business Valuation Engagement Letter Template in 2026: SSVS-Compliant Scope, Fee, and Deliverables
Home / Guides / Current article Business Valuation Engagement Letter Template in 2026: SSVS-Compliant Scope, Fee, and Deliverables A business valuation engagement letter template anchors the entire valuation process by defining who is being valued, why, on what date, against which standard of value, and at what fee. AICPA Statement on Standards for Valuation Services […]
Replacement Planning vs Succession Planning: Full Breakdown (2026)
Home / Guides / Current article Replacement Planning vs Succession Planning: The 2026 Owner and HR Leader Guide The difference between replacement planning vs succession planning is the difference between buying a spare tire and engineering a car that will not break down, and that distinction shows up in real dollars when a buyer values […]