EBITDA vs Net Income: Key Differences, Metrics, and Insights
When you’re looking at financial metrics, it’s easy to get lost in the details. EBITDA focuses on operating performance, while net income shows the whole financial picture after every expense. EBITDA measures earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, while net income is the final profit after all costs. This core difference makes each metric […]
CARR vs ARR: Key Differences, Formulas, and Business Impact
Home›Research›CARR vs ARR CARR vs ARR: Key Differences, Formulas, and Business Impact Published February 17, 2026Updated October 21, 2026 By Jeff Barrington, Founder and Managing Director OverviewDefining CARR and ARRCore DifferencesCalculation FormulasBusiness useNuancesChoosing a metricFrequently Asked QuestionsFAQ In brief CARR, committed or contracted annual recurring revenue, is ARR plus the annual value of contracts that […]
Stock Sale vs Asset Sale: Key Differences, Benefits, and Tax Impact
When business owners decide to sell their company, they face a big decision between two main transaction structures. Asset sales are generally more favorable to buyers, while stock sales are more advantageous to sellers because of the way each is treated for tax purposes. This fundamental difference shapes every aspect of the deal negotiation. In […]
Fair Value vs Market Value: Key Differences and Accounting Impact
Home›Research›Fair Value vs Market Value Fair Value vs Market Value: Key Differences and Accounting Impact ValuationPublished February 17, 2026Updated October 21, 2026 By Jeff Barrington, Founder and Managing Director OverviewDefining fair valueUnderstanding market valueKey differencesValuation techniquesFinancial reportingPractical comparisonsFAQ In brief Market value is what a willing buyer and seller would agree in an open market […]
How Much Can I Sell My Business For? Key Factors & Valuation Methods
Home›Research›How Much Can I Sell My Business For? Key How Much Can I Sell My Business For? Key Factors & Valuation Methods Published February 17, 2026Updated October 21, 2026 By Jeff Barrington, Founder and Managing Director OverviewUnderstanding Business ValueValuation methodsKey Financial MetricsValue driversStepsMaximizing Your Sale PriceFAQ Short answer Most small businesses sell for 2 to […]
Cost of Goods Sold vs Expense: Key Differences & Accounting Impact
A lot of business owners get tripped up by the difference between cost of goods sold and regular business expenses when they look at their financial statements. It’s easy to see why, mixing these up can lead to some pretty lousy decisions and skewed financial analysis. Cost of goods sold covers the direct costs tied […]
What Is Net Revenue Retention? How It Works & Why It Matters
Most businesses wonder if they’re really growing revenue from existing customers, or just plugging holes left by churn with new sales. Net revenue retention gets straight to the heart of this by showing the full story of customer revenue over time. Net revenue retention measures the percentage of recurring revenue a company keeps from existing […]
Business Broker vs M&A Advisor for SaaS Companies
Software-as-a-Service companies considering an exit face a fundamental question that shapes deal outcomes, valuation multiples, and transaction timelines: whether to engage SaaS business brokers or M&A advisors. The distinction matters significantly more for SaaS assets than for traditional businesses, given the specialized buyer universe, revenue-recognition complexities, and churn analytics that define software valuations. This analysis […]
Why Founders Regret Using Business Brokers
The decision to sell a privately-held business represents the culmination of years, often decades, of capital allocation, operational execution, and personal sacrifice. For many founders, the enterprise they’ve built constitutes the majority of their net worth. Yet when the time comes to monetize that value, a surprising number engage intermediaries whose incentive structures, expertise limitations, […]
When a Business Broker Caps Your Exit
The Structural Ceiling in Lower Middle Market M&A Most privately-held business owners selling their first company don’t recognize the execution gap between a business broker and an M&A advisor until after their deal closes, often millions of dollars too late. The difference isn’t merely one of scale or sophistication. It’s architectural. Business brokers operate within […]