Valuation tells you what your business might be worth.
Sale price? That’s what someone is actually willing to pay.
It’s a distinction that’s often misunderstood — and frequently costly.
Too many owners fixate on the valuation figure as if it’s the finish line. But valuation is only the starting gate. It’s a benchmark. A reference point. An educated estimate.
The final sale price depends on entirely different forces — and the process used to unlock them.

Valuation tells you what your business might be worth.
Sale price? That’s what someone is actually willing to pay.
It’s a distinction that’s often misunderstood — and frequently costly.
Too many owners fixate on the valuation figure as if it’s the finish line. But valuation is only the starting gate. It’s a benchmark. A reference point. An educated estimate.
The final sale price depends on entirely different forces — and the process used to unlock them.

Most people wouldn’t walk into a courtroom without a lawyer. Yet many approach M&A armed with little more than confidence and a spreadsheet.
The difference between a buy-side and sell-side broker isn’t just who they work for — it’s how they shape the entire deal.
A sell-side broker brings the market to you, maximising value and ensuring control. A buy-side broker quietly works to tilt the field toward the acquirer.
In a sector as tightly connected as financial services, where relationships run deep and buyer pools are small, knowing who’s really representing your interests isn’t just a detail — it’s a deal-defining factor.

When selling a financial planning practice, the numbers tell part of the story — but not the whole story. Beyond upfront payments and multiples lies a critical factor often overlooked: buyer fit. In this article, Growth Focus reveals how the right buyer can protect your clients, staff, and legacy — and why having real choice in the market is the surest way to maximise both value and peace of mind.

Not every deal dies with a dramatic confrontation. Most fade away silently, long before the contract is drafted — and often before the seller even realises something is wrong. These are the silent deal killers: subtle issues that erode trust, momentum, and alignment. Knowing how to spot and prevent them can mean the difference between a deal that falls apart and one that gets across the line.