Our Process

A Rigorous Process Built for the Most Important Transaction of Your Life.

Most business owners spend decades building something valuable — and less than a year preparing to sell it. That gap is where deals fail. FFBA's five-stage process closes that gap.

01

Stage One

Discovery

Valuation, strategic alignment, and a plan built around your goals.
Before anything else happens, we need to understand your business and your objectives. Most sellers don't have a clear picture of what their business is worth, what the process looks like, or what they actually want on the other side. We fix that in Discovery.
What happens in this stage

  • Confidential intake conversation with Ben Calkins — no obligation, no fee

  • Preliminary financial review to assess deal viability and approximate value range

  • Broker Opinion of Value (BOV) — AI-assisted, delivered in person with branded materials

  • Strategic alignment on your goals: timeline, confidentiality requirements, post-close involvement

  • Clear explanation of the full process, fee structure, and what to expect at each stage

02

Stage Two

Preparation

Building the strongest possible case for your business before a single buyer sees it.
The difference between a business that sells for maximum value and one that struggles through due diligence is almost always preparation. We invest heavily in this stage because it determines everything that follows.
What happens in this stage

  • Financial normalization — recast financials to reflect true owner earnings (SDE) and remove non-recurring expenses

  • Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) produced — the primary document buyers use to evaluate your business

  • Legal documentation prepared in coordination with Calkins Law Firm — NDAs, engagement letters, and standard deal documents

  • Pre-listing tax and financial planning coordination with trusted third-party advisors

  • Operational documentation review — identifying and addressing gaps that buyers commonly raise in due diligence

03

Stage Three

Go-to-Market

Targeted, confidential outreach to qualified buyers — not a listing on a public marketplace.
We don't post your business on BizBuySell and wait. We run a structured, confidential outreach program targeting buyers who are actively looking for businesses like yours — strategic acquirers, financial buyers, search funds, and our proprietary buyer network.
What happens in this stage

  • Blind teaser distributed to qualified buyers — business described without identifying information

  • NDA executed before any identifying information or financials are disclosed

  • Outreach to FFBA's proprietary Midwest buyer database — including our active buy-side client book

  • Coordinated outreach to strategic acquirers in your industry where applicable

  • Buyer qualification — financial capacity, strategic fit, and seriousness of intent assessed before any meeting

04

Stage Four

Negotiation

Driving a competitive process to maximize value — and protecting you from the terms that matter most.
An offer is not a deal. The terms of a letter of intent — price, structure, earnout provisions, representations and warranties, transition requirements — have enormous financial consequences that most sellers don't fully understand until it's too late. We negotiate every element.
What happens in this stage

  • Letter of intent (LOI) review and negotiation — price, structure, and key terms

  • Deal structure guidance — asset sale vs. stock sale, seller financing, earnout provisions

  • Legal integration with Calkins Law Firm or seller's chosen legal counsel from the first LOI review

  • Multiple buyer management where applicable — creating competitive tension to maximize value

  • Representation and warranty negotiation — protecting your post-close exposure

05

Stage Five

Closing

Seamless execution through closing — and a transition plan that protects your legacy.
More deals fall apart in due diligence than most sellers expect. FFBA's preparation-focused approach is specifically designed to reduce due diligence surprises — but when issues arise, we manage them. We stay in the deal through the day funds transfer.
What happens in this stage

  • Due diligence management — document room organization, buyer Q&A coordination, issue resolution

  • Ongoing legal coordination with closing counsel through purchase agreement and final documents

  • Financing coordination — lender communication, SBA process management where applicable

  • Closing logistics — timeline management, condition satisfaction, final walkthrough

  • Post-close transition planning — employee communication, customer transition, and operational handover

Ready to understand what your business is worth?

A confidential conversation with Ben Calkins is the first step. No obligation, no fee.

Schedule a Confidential Consultation