Small Business Acquisition Due Diligence

Know What You're Buying

The financial statements are only the beginning. A thorough acquisition evaluation needs to consider the assumptions behind the numbers, how the business actually operates, and what changes when ownership transfers.

I help buyers investigate questions such as:

• Are the seller's earnings adjustments legitimate, documented, and repeatable?
• Does the valuation account for customer concentration and owner dependence?
• What working capital and capital expenditures will the business require?
• What happens to cash flow if revenue declines or expenses increase?
• Which risks should affect the purchase price or transaction structure?
• What additional information is needed before proceeding?

Preliminary Acquisition Assessment

Depending on the transaction, this may include:

• Reviewing the offering memorandum and available financial statements.
• Evaluating normalized earnings and proposed add-backs.
• Pressure-testing valuation assumptions and cash-flow expectations.
• Identifying major financial and operational risks.
• Developing targeted questions for the seller.
• Highlighting issues that may affect the letter of intent, price, or transaction structure.

Typical output: A concise findings summary identifying important assumptions, potential risks, unanswered questions, and recommended next steps.

Engagements are scoped according to the available information and complexity of the transaction.

Acquisition Due Diligence Support

Once a transaction progresses, the questions become more detailed.

DIG can assist buyers with financial and operational analysis, working-capital requirements, cash-flow scenarios, diligence coordination, and the economic implications of findings identified by the deal team.

The objective isn't simply to collect more information. It's to determine what the information means for the acquisition decision.

Experience Beyond the Spreadsheet

I'm Ben Turner, founder of Deal Insight Group.

I bring more than 20 years of engineering, commercial, operating, and executive experience, including leadership of acquisition and divestiture work, financial analysis, and multidisciplinary transaction processes.

My background includes approximately $95 million in sell-side transactions and $58 million in acquisitions, along with executive operating responsibilities in a private-equity-backed business.

I approach transactions from the perspective of someone who has evaluated investments and been responsible for operating businesses—not simply preparing a report.

Independent Perspective. Practical Conclusions.

DIG works alongside attorneys, CPAs, lenders, brokers, and other transaction professionals.

My work focuses on financial and operating implications, valuation assumptions, business risks, and decision support. DIG does not replace specialized legal, tax, audit, or formal quality-of-earnings services.

Considering an Acquisition?

Whether you're evaluating your first acquisition or working through an established transaction, an independent assessment can help clarify what you're buying and what questions still need answers.

Discuss your acquisition with DIG →