Preparation Starts Long Before Negotiation
If you’re waiting to be ready when the investor shows up, you’re already late. Ideally, you should start structuring your business at least 12 to 18 months before seeking a transaction. This allows you to organize financials, optimize processes, and resolve issues that could affect your company’s valuation.
Four Key Pillars That Must Be in Order:
- Financial: clear statements, organized P&L, and predictable cash flow.
- Legal: well-drafted contracts, tax and corporate compliance.
- Governance: defined leadership structure, clear responsibilities, and performance indicators.
- Strategy: a realistic growth plan with clearly defined competitive advantages.
What No One Tells You: Buyers Also Assess Risk
Investors look at more than numbers — they see risk. Lack of organization, dependence on a single person, informality… all of these reduce buyer appetite — or lead to deal repricing.
At 3Capital, we work side by side with entrepreneurs from the start, preparing the business to meet the right moment, with the right valuation and the right partners.
Want to make your business ready for a successful M&A? Get in touch with our team.
