The number one reason most founders don't sell comes down to the disparity between their expectations and the markets' realities. Understanding what you need from the transaction, finding out how that lines up with the way buyers will value your business, and being clear on your true bottom lines and the right structure can close or eliminate the gap.

Do you want to retire? Do you want to do something else? Change your role? Are you burned out? Getting clear on this will help to navigate through challenges in every facet of your capital event!

If you're a founder going into a sale or financing transaction without professional advice, it's important to understand that your buyer is probably a full-time predator (they do this every day) and you are part-time prey (you'll probably only do this 1x). You need protection - a professional shield and maybe even an army on your side.

Founders often wonder which advisors are critical and whether some are optional. Here's a quick primer for #founders heading to a sale event.