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Chris Williamson Profile
Chris Williamson

@Chris_CayneQofE

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QofEs for the $1-30M SMB market | Sharing experiences from doing 100s of QofEs | Investor and business owner | Building Cayne Crossing

Atlanta, GA
Joined October 2011
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Reintroduction ⬇️ > Run Cayne Crossing with @Derek_CayneQofE & Twitter-less Josh > Quality of earnings dedicated to SMB M&A > Invest in searchers > Prev - B4 to T50 firm doing MM transaction advisory. Jumped ship to SE life beg of 2022. Passionate for LMM/main street M&A Cont⬇️
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
11 months
@housleyd That’s pretty amazing you can now get a an 86” tv for $999. Who wouldn’t want to buy that?
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Do you care about working capital in your acquisition? You should if you want to survive Why is working capital so critical? A simple 🧵
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
11 months
@JoeCassandra Jersey Mikes today - 1 sub sandwich for $24! It was a pickup order through grubhub, but it still hurt even after my $10 credit. Looks like I’m sticking with pub subs
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
Seller says “we don’t have monthly financials”. They use an accounting system, it’s almost guaranteed it can produce monthly financials. Monthly financials, especially the balance sheet, are where you find answers
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
@RobertMSterling Don't you work at your home office?
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
@SMB_Attorney House is a tough one. You get attached to an area, the schools, being near family and realize spending more is often very worth it I also am still in my “starter” house because I can’t figure out how to justify spending what it’d take for the more space we need in the same area
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Accounting and bookkeeping are not the same Many SMB's focus on bookkeeping but don't spend time on proper accounting The proof of cash almost always works. This does not give any comfort that the P&L or BS are accurate
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
9 months
Check out our 2023 year-end highlights at @CayneCrossing We had an awesome year working with many of you (over 100 deals worked on!). We're proud of what we've been able to accomplish, and we're pumped for the continued growth of our team. The SMB M&A community is thriving,
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
A QofE for SMBs takes on a # of different shapes and forms. There's no standardized template. The goal is NOT GAAP conversion. The goal is NOT (always) converting cash to accrual. The goal IS to understand cash flow of the business on a consistent and comparable basis💰
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
What does a QofE process look like? They all vary, but here's the basics Scoping⬇️ Understand client specific needs/requirements. Look at monthly P&L, monthly BS, LOI, summary of EBITDA addbacks & other relevant info (model/CIM) 3 week process from receipt of requests⬇️ (1/4)
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
🚩🚩 if a seller doesn’t share a balance sheet pre-LOI. The P&L is often worthless without a balance sheet. We constantly here “the books are cash-basis” only to later get a balance sheet with inconsistent balances throughout. Get ahead of this pre-LOI by asking for a BS
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Number 1 driver of issues in a QofE? The balance sheet. The largest swings in EBITDA are often driven by inconsistencies in the balance sheet. Many SMB owners never take the time to understand their own balance sheet.
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
You should take little comfort when you hear a Seller say "my financial statements are reviewed by my CPA every year". There's four wildly different scenarios. Make sure you understand which bucket your situation falls in. A short 🧵
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Accountants are smart, but do they make good entrepreneurs? We’re hiring in 2023 and are seeing the answer first hand. Who in #SMBtwit has been in our shoes and has the magic answer? (cont.)
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Cash free debt free ➡️ What does it really mean and why does it cause hang ups in so many deals? 🧵
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
@BoilerPlateCPA I like this visual that @guessworkinvest put in his recent newsletter. Most SMB acquisitions will use some form of debt, so it’s nice to look at both levered and unlevered FCF. He did say he left out NWC for simplicity, but we all know it can be the most important component!
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
Love the dialogue here, and it makes me realize how unique of a space this SMB M&A world is given so many of the comments clearly aren’t aware it exists. I see deals being put together nearly daily that model (key word) these exact scenarios. Being a service provider in this
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Bad data holds up deals. Highest priority requests for financial diligence ⬇️ - Monthly detailed P&Ls and BSs - Monthly bank stmts - Monthly rev by customer - Payroll by individual by period Trends and inconsistent practices get buried in annual results. Get monthlies asap!
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
A Quality of Earnings is not an Audit. Whats the difference? 🧵
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Peg purchase price to a multiple of EBITDA. Have you seen success with this? Sellers often know their books are a disaster, but they aren’t going to untangle it themselves. We’ve seen success where purchase price is pegged to multiple of EBITDA to be confirmed through DD.
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
I'm finally reading Shoe Dog. One lesson related to ETA ➡️ Working capital intensive businesses are HARD. Don't get caught in the trap of thinking EBITDA 🟰 cash flow Not all businesses are created equal, so not all valuations should ride on a simple multiple of EBITDA/SDE
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
Big week, a ☑️ and 3k follower. Is this what the big leagues feels like? Thanks to all of you for the support! I've gained countless valuable relationships through Twitter and worked with dozens of you on live deals. More to come! @Derek_CayneQofE thanks for selling me on
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Finally got the signed LOI? Get monthly financials through the most recent month BEFORE you green light the QofE We’ve killed multiple deals lately simply by getting updated monthly financials and noticing performance had dropped. Stale financials can be dangerous
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
I worked at one of the Big 4⃣ firms. Nearly everyone I worked with has since left the firm (excl. partners) Big name firms and schools are a game of networking Biggest hack to future success 🟰 Spend time focusing on ways to build lasting relationships
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
Dead deal costs hurt! 3 thoughts⬇️ 1⃣ Before you kick off QofE, get monthly P&L AND BS through the most recent month. Gauge performance trends, especially trends since the period the CIM covered. Look for anomalies on the BS 2⃣ Get support for all of Seller's adjustments. Make
@FetaFund
Saumil Jariwala
1 year
My #1 concern about self-funded search? It's not the personal guarantee. ❌ A QofE can be $25-40K. When that comes out of your pocket, you wait to start until as late as possible... Then when you get weak financials, you end up with a big valuation gap right before close.
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
#smbtwit focuses mostly on buying a business. Bought/built a biz and ready for your big exit? Get prepared for buyers QofE team This 🧵is for the sellers and future sellers
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
Remote-first work environment is great, but it sure is nice to get most of the Cayne Crossing team together in person! Great seeing @Derek_CayneQofE @Andrew_CayneQoE @Duvall_Law Twitter-less Josh and Twitter-less Megan outside of the Zoom screen today!
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
11 months
Why is a QofE important when you’re buying an SMB? #1 reason – Financial statement quality across SMB’s is the wild wild west. There is no concept of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or “GAAP”, in this end of the world. You may see cash-basis, or you may see
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
The top benefits of a Proof of Cash are often overlooked. Here's why it should be your top priority when kicking off financial diligence. The pros and cons...🧵
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Drafting an LOI ➡️ Is working capital included? A deal with or without working capital is comparing apples and oranges. You are paying for it either way, don't pay for it twice.
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
QofE hot take⬇️ QofE for SMBs 🟰 Move efficiently, determine and communicate key risks asap. Limit fees/output until high confidence deal is moving forward. Requires experienced people from day 1 (i.e., less ability to leverage). Scope tailored by deal. No surprise billings.
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Working capital in SMB acquisitions has 2 very distinct meanings: 1) Closing WC - Legal concept to protect buyer/seller at close (“peg”). This is often not used in SMB deals 2) Operating WC - How day 2 day flux in cash flow will be funded. Understanding🟰critical to survival
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Great read on bridging to FCF And when Seller says working capital isn't included in the PP, your FCF gets crushed in year 1 as you rebuild WC. Not to mention the cost of additional working capital if you expect to grow the business
@bentigg
Ben Tiggelaar 🟠
2 years
Cash flow is king as a business buyer 3 steps to get from SDE (Seller's Discretionary Earnings) to cash flow using a live business for sale on BizBuySell: 👇🧵
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Understanding cash vs accrual can be a deal breaker. Even more key in a declining environment. Flat business: Cash = accrual Declining business: Cash > accrual Growing business: Cash < accrual A consistent approach is the #1 solution
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
@SearchFundTom - HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business - Buy then Build - Stanford Search Fund Primer and 2022 Search Fund Study In no particular order. First two are on Audible
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
QuickBooks is a cheat code for streamlining your QofE process. We get direct access, immediately solves the typical multi-week delays of gathering key data Other systems are fine, and QB has its downsides, but we always check what accounting system is used as part of scoping
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Sub $500k SDE, do I need a QofE? What's your risk tolerance? Main street books are messy. Does a $50k SDE swing (at 3-4x) impact your deal? Phase the QofE🟰Key risks can be identified quickly and at minimal cost. The goal of phasing is to give a go/no go decision ASAP. Cont⬇️
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
Cayne Crossing mid-year highlights - SMB deal volume remains 🔥 Fortunate to work with many of you on Twitter! Side note...we are hiring! Full or part-time. Senior Associates, Managers/VP, or Directors. Remote only. Find out more on our website.
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
9 months
Scaling a professional services firm is hard. We can work more, we can become more efficient, we can forego quality and take on more (not an option), but ultimately we're capped by the individual capacity of our team members. It's easy to say "just hire". I don't post a lot
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Comparability🟰 #1 financial issue in SMB deals. Small changes can drive a huge valuation impact Biz invoices monthly in month after service. Seller decides to invoice the latest month in the month of service➡️13 months of revenue AND the 13th month falls direct to bottom line
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
10 months
January - April have been by far our slowest months the past two years. Q1 averages about 15% of total production. We played major catch up starting in May. January 2024 is tracking to be on pace with Q3/Q4 months. Sign of a strong M&A market for 2024, or just an anomaly? Im
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
We talk about working capital a lot. It’s the most misunderstood financial topic in M&A. Understanding WC and aligning expectations between buyer and seller are critical. Don’t save this for the 11th hour!
@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Do you care about working capital in your acquisition? You should if you want to survive Why is working capital so critical? A simple 🧵
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
A proof of cash IS NOT a Quality of Earnings. A proof of cash IS an important component of financial due diligence Make sure you know what you are getting when engaging a QofE provider
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Working capital is often retained by seller in SMB deals. Not using a peg emphasizes the importance of building protections in the APA Sellers get excited before deals close. Invoice jobs not completed, collect advance deposits, stop buying inventory. How will you be protected?
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
A Quality of earnings for searchers can save you thousands💵➡️ Here’s a breakdown of the QofE process for self-funded and traditional searchers #ETA 🧵
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Getting useable info can be half the battle when buying an SMB⬇️ Zoom'd CFO (seller's spouse) & took control of screen➡️remoted into office desktop with archaic accting system via CFO laptop➡️extracted and saved files to a Box folder on office desktop. 🪄, we got the info
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
Its July, you should be extending your financial diligence through June 2023. Comparing the trailing 12 months to 2022 is key. Watch out for the EBITDA impact of "accrual" entries booked at year-end only. These will skew the TTM figures Inconsistency is the most common deal
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
@Jmcgowan3838 Saw this all too often starting in Big 4. Lots of non-accounting friends made more coming out of college and a number of my peers ditched public accounting quick for easy raises. Looking back, those who stuck it out for a few years saw big growth and endless opportunities
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Following the path of @jd_foote and @thomasince . A lot of faces I expected to see on here. #smbtwit is a special place, and all of these people contribute to it. Worth the follows! 👇for @'s
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
@Whitney_Sheph Normalized level of working capital to be determined during DD. If they want an amount, you can still put "estimated as $x, to be determined as part of due diligence"
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Friendly reminder that Seller's adjustments are often estimates Adjustments need to be supportable. Determine where they were recorded in the P&L. You may be surprised to find they weren't! Get support
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
@ClintFiore - Atlanta, GA - Boutique consulting firm focused on financial DD and quality of earnings for SMBs. Investing in interesting SMB deals along the way - Questions about QofEs pre or post-LOI
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
11 months
4 years of undergrad, 1 year of grad school, passed the CPA exam and was fortunate to have an offer to start my career at one of the Big 4 accounting firms. $50k base and a hopeful 5-8% bonus. Friends in finance were getting $70-90k offers with big bonus potential. I accepted
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Following what appears to be all of SMBtwit and changed my prof pic to just a solo shot of me (sorry wife and kids). I get confused when I see a headshot I don't recognize as I tend to look at the picture before name. Its still me!
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
What’s the most common deal killer we see? Key word = “inconsistency”. How do we identify inconsistency? One recurring theme is sellers “getting their books in order” ahead of the sale. This may come off as a positive at first, but it immediately raises a red flag in our eyes🧵
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Great read on the importance of working capital. Leverage your QofE to come to the right answer
@sbabmarks
Bruce Marks, MBA, CM&AA
2 years
WSS: Bruce I want to buy this $2,500,000 business I want to discuss “working capital” with you Are you “buying” the working capital needed? Are you financing the working capital needed? Do you know how much you need? Ok, Let’s discuss here (***IMPORTANT THREAD***)
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
@ElliottEHolland Make it a condition to close. Consider doing offer letters for key employees Seen too many scenarios where key employee’s expectations or demands post close are much different than what seller said. May be financial or otherwise
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
@SMB_Attorney Wife’s job is equally demanding, so lots of balance 1. Daycare x2 = reliable & zero distractions 8-5ish. Preserve calendar outside 8-5 2. Workout before kids wake up Mon-Fri 3. 7+ hours sleep 4. Catch-up as needed post kids bedtime 5. Lot of family fun on weekends 6. Outsource
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Building a model for your transaction? Don't leave out the impact of the change in working capital. Growth is expensive, but its even more expensive if you start out in a hole. Make sure your balance sheet is sufficiently capitalized on day 1.
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Common misconception of a QofE is that it's primary focus is understanding EBITDA. That is important, but these two points are often the top value-add areas of a good QofE provider. The QofE is just a component of your financial diligence. Don't skimp on the important areas
@SMB_Attorney
SMB Attorney
2 years
The two biggest issues in SMB M&A: 1. Not pushing hard enough on working capital 2. Not properly diligencing CapEx
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
@SeanODowd15 I think that’s part of what is getting people caught up on Eric’s post. You should not expect to put $100k in and get $30-$80k back year 1. And in my experience looking at/investing in deals, people overestimate year 1 performance in general. Typical reference is IRR across a
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
QofE was non-existent on sell-side until a few years back. Now its common. Investment bankers realized value to their process and higher success rate of close. Will brokers evolve to this point and start pushing on SMB deals? @ClintFiore @SoCal_BB @GoodsCapital
Yes please
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Yes but years away
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
As a biased outsider, this is the most valuable aspect of your QofE partner. So much is won and lost on working capital because people don’t take the time to truly understand it
@SBALenderLyons
Tom Lyons
2 years
I have a deal that just closed and the seller has a rather interesting interpretation on how the post-closing working capital adjustment was supposed to go. Buyer called me asking for more working capital not even a month after closing which is a bad look.
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
@Lawyer4Deals Just pulled up 8 random LOIs for recent/current deals we have going and the seller notes are 8%, 7%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 7%, 8.5%, 6%. All LOIs signed within last 3-4 months and all <$10M EV
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
@GoodsCapital It was part of my motivation to make the jump. We were pregnant with second and I couldn’t see how we’d make it work long-term. Thankfully we both are pretty flexible and work at home, buts it’s still tough to balance if one is sick. Can’t really call in grandparents for sick kid
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
QofE is often a required check the box for lenders/investors for deals in the middle market and beyond. There’s no box “required” to be checked on SMB deals, yet SMBs tend to have much less sophisticated acct/finance functions. Saving a few bucks can lead to big risks missed!
@girdley
Michael Girdley
2 years
Had lunch with a Main Street banker today: He said he has to beg customers to get Quality of Earnings studies done for big M&A. $25mm deals and the buyer won’t spend $30k to verify the books of the target. Crazeballs.
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Revenue is a big focus in a QofE. Most SMBs recognize revenue on either a cash or billings basis. A few simple initial ?’s ⬇️ -What is their approach - cash, billings, or accrual -Has their approach been consistent -When do they bill -Do they collect before work is complete
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
Father’s Day spent the best way with the boys (and wife)!
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
QofE ⬇️ - Focused on cash flow, earnings power & key operating metrics - Analyze monthlies, including YTD - Fast 🟰 3-4 week process - Flexible output - Cheaper - Report includes proprietary info - customers, vendors, employees, etc. - Proof of cash for completeness check
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
@smblawgroup delivers with the swag for March Madness tourney Thanks @KHendersonCo and @SMB_Attorney ! Will rep it proud in ATL Disclaimer: Eric won ( #rigged ), but was nice enough to pass the prize to second place
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
EBITDA➡️a simple but heavily debated term Popular in M&A for comparability. Often used as operating income or a proxy for FCF. What is it? The definition➡️Net income➕interest expense➕taxes➕depreciation & amortization Seems simple? Here's where people go wrong 🧵
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
@SMB_Attorney For client service in general (lawyers included), the key is acknowledging the question asap and giving some clarity on when you'll get back with an answer. I'd prefer an "I'll have an answer by tomorrow morning" over a non-response until tomorrow morning.
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Had to have an appliance repaired. Signing electronic receipt and first prompt was how much I wanted to tip (25%, 20%, 15% options). Great guy, did great work. He said 80% of customers don't tip. Would you have tipped? On that note, should we add tip option to QofE invoice?
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Good read on NWC! LOI should state “normalized level of working capital” then the peg can be set as part of diligence. Don’t start yourself out in a hole
@SparrWesley
Wesley Sparr
2 years
If you are submitting an LOI, but you miss on this term - there is a high probability of a broken deal or a significant cash short-fall post-close How to think about working capital in an acquisition and why all LOIs need to assume a "normal level of net working capital (NWC)":
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
QofE hot take➡️it doesn't take an expert to determine what expenses are personal or not Figure out➡️️ - Did the add-backs actually hit the P&L, and where - How are balance sheet inconsistencies skewing revenue and EBITDA. Other adjustments? - Is FCF consistent with expectations
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
QofE starts with the source. Monthly P&L and BS ➡️ raw & straight out of the acct system Sellers may share “scrubbed” financials. Some things we see: - Summarized: accounts/entities combined, buries trends - Adjusted: remove things they don’t think matters What else do you see?
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Service providers ➡️ why work with searchers/entrepreneurs? - Life changing event for buyer & seller. Not just another deal - Clients are appreciative. Need partner not product. Endless ability to add value - Learn for own entrepreneurial journey - Opens doors to investment opps
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
QofE process is all about communication. We tell the client risks and red flags as soon as we find them. Lay out the facts as facts and allow us to dialogue on the topic with the client. A red flag can go either direction through add'l conversation End report has no surprises
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
@housleyd Productivity would certainly increase
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
@LeadershipAcad1 My grandpa practiced dentistry until a few months before 92. Just checking patients a couple half days a week near the end, but still pretty special to be able to do that. Hoping that longevity got passed down...
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
11 months
Life as a M&A service provider requires infinite adaptability. Financial due diligence is the leading diligence stream. We often hear of a new deal once the LOI is signed. From new opportunity to work commencing can be a matter of days. Maintaining capacity is crucial. Turning
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
Lot of good publicity for the ETA model lately. @MorningBrew jumping in on it. "Recent phenomenon" may be an interesting take, but its good to see it nonetheless!
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
11 months
“QofE is not required, and is the crux of the safety for the whole deal”
@EndresenHeather
Heather Endresen
11 months
Hot take: A QofE from a well-regarded provider would have prevented a large % of SMB deals that are struggling. Anecdotal, but a strong trend I’ve seen. Whenever a QofE kills a deal, a buyer, investors, lenders, employees and customers are spared.
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
This. Plus, your starting point is key. 3 variations we commonly see in SMB LOIs: - Normalized level of working capital ("WC peg") - Some pre-defined amount of assets included - All WC retained by seller Starting point plus CCC are big components of what you need on day 1
@sbabmarks
Bruce Marks, MBA, CM&AA
2 years
When calculating WC, you MUST look at the “conversion cycle” where you turn what you sell or offer to cash! You must look at the accounts receivable, inventory and accounts payable cycles in terms of days
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
HR due diligence - any recommendations for groups that focus on LMM transactions? Thinking sub-$20-30M US based deals. tagging a few people, have recs? - @FetaFund @thomasince @SparrWesley @girdley @Derek_CayneQofE
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
4) Audit 🟰 Significant level of effort to provide reasonable assurance the FS are complete & accurate. Comfort that the BS is correct at beginning and end of period. Great for full year reporting in accordance with GAAP (investors/banks). Does NOT discount the FDD needed
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
3) Review 🟰 Be very careful to distinguish "my FS are reviewed by my CPA" and "my CPA does a FS review". In a FS review, the CPA does high-level analysis & inquiry to provide a limited amount of assurance that the FS are complete and accurate. Focused on full-year.
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Big benefit of M&A advisors 🟰having people in your court who have seen hundreds of transactions. Don’t hesitate to ask questions that might not feel “in-scope”. You’ll be surprised how much we like the outside the 📦 components
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
@SBA_Matthias There is so much opportunity out there, and it’s so hard to see it when you’re sitting in a big company W2 role
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
@SBA_Matthias @iBobbyShell @SamsonJagoras @AustinLinney @ConnorAbene @BoilerPlateCPA @ElliottEHolland People tend to miss the balance sheet. Add-backs that are not actually expenses, inconsistencies with timing of revenue/expenses, not understanding working capital, etc. It's easy to decide if an expense is personal or not. That's not usually what goes missed
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
@RobertMSterling Sir, I love QofE's That is generally true of CPAs though. Most in big 4 do 2 years of TAS so they can get out of accounting and into banking, PE, or corp dev. What do CFOs wish for?
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
11 months
@JoeCassandra It is great though. Only do it to use my monthly credit at times, but it’s gone from $15 to $24 since I started using the credit there. Not worth it now
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Podcast plug ➡️ @divitkos and his In the Trenches podcast is always top notch. The episode he did with @BrentBeshore has more valuable content in one episode than most have in a full series. M&A, operations, culture, plus more. Highly recommend listening
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
1 year
Congrats to @Derek_CayneQofE on 1k followers! Don't let the fact that I have >3x the followers fool anyone, this guy is the brains of Cayne Crossing 🤓 I doubted him when he convinced me to get active 1.5 years ago, now I realize he just wanted me to be active on our behalf so
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
@EdMyso Many searchers/independent sponsors don't have the investable capital pre-LOI but instead have a plan to raise via debt/equity. What's a simple response you'd like to hear from buyers in this position?
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
Gives @BoilerPlateCPA a run for fastest newcomer I've seen in my short 6-month stint on SMBtwit. Great content brings followers. Appreciate the engagement, but really appreciate the way you challenge peoples points rather than just agreeing or liking. Value-add engagement is key
@bentigg
Ben Tiggelaar 🟠
2 years
My wife bet me I couldn't get to 1,000 followers on Twitter in a month She was wrong. I did it in 2 weeks! (from 55 followers) I had a winning playbook and it worked:
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@Chris_CayneQofE
Chris Williamson
2 years
QofE should be rolling at this point for transactions targeting close before year-end
@SMB_Attorney
SMB Attorney
2 years
If you’re closing any type of transaction before year’s end, it’s imperative that you get things lined up this week. Things start getting weird once the calendar says December.
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