ServicesMergers and Acquisitions
Mergers and Acquisitions in Bee Cave, TX
We help business owners combine companies, buy a competitor or sell to a larger firm. We value the deal, find the right counterpart and check every license, lease and state filing early, so nothing stalls at the closing table.
What a small business merger really involves
Most mergers and acquisitions we see are not Wall Street deals. A landscaping company buys the crew across the lake. Two clinics combine their front offices. A larger firm wants your customer list and your people. The handshake is the easy part. The paperwork underneath is where deals slow down or fall apart.
Our approach is simple. Before buyers and sellers argue about price, we find out what has to transfer and what does not. Some permits stay with the business. Some licenses belong to a person and leave with them. Texas also lets the state come after a buyer for a seller's unpaid sales tax unless the right clearance is in hand. We lay all of that out in plain words early, while it is still cheap to fix.
We work at our office or by phone and video, alongside your attorney and CPA. They write the legal documents and handle the tax structure. We run the deal and keep it moving.
What we handle on a merger or acquisition
- A valuation of both sides
- We put a defensible number on your business and, when it matters, on the other company too. That way the ownership split or purchase price rests on cash flow, not guesswork.
- License and permit review
- We list every license and registration each business holds and mark which ones transfer, which need a new application and which are tied to one person. Alcohol and health permits often need the most lead time.
- Tax clearance and state filings
- We flag the need for a sales tax clearance from the Texas Comptroller, plus assumed name filings and entity changes with the Secretary of State. Your CPA and attorney file them; we keep them on the calendar.
- Leases and key contracts
- Many leases and supplier contracts need written consent before they move to a new owner. We find those clauses early and help line up landlord and vendor approvals.
- Confidential outreach
- We approach likely partners or buyers under a signed nondisclosure agreement. Your staff and customers hear about it when you decide, not before.
- Deal management to closing
- We keep the letter of intent, due diligence list and closing checklist on track, and we chase the open items so you can keep running your company.
Signs a merger or acquisition fits your plans
A competitor came knocking
Someone else's first number tells you what they hope to pay. We test it against a real valuation so you know what your company is worth before you reply.
Growth is stuck on hiring
If you cannot hire fast enough to take on more work, buying a company with a trained crew may be quicker.
Two owners keep talking about combining
Shared customers, overlapping services or a common supplier often make two small firms stronger as one. It still needs a clear split of ownership and duties in writing.
You want a larger buyer for your exit
A strategic buyer may pay more than an individual because your business fills a gap for them. That kind of sale needs careful outreach and tight confidentiality.
Your licenses are tied to you
If the business runs on a license held in your name, joining with a partner who holds the same kind of license can keep it operating after you step back.
How a deal moves with us
- 1
Confidential first call
You tell us what you want: to buy, to sell or to combine. We talk through goals, timing and the rough shape of a deal.
- 2
Valuation and paperwork check
We value the business and build the list of licenses, leases, registrations and contracts that will need attention. Problems found here cost far less than problems found in due diligence.
- 3
Finding the right counterpart
We contact likely partners, buyers or targets under NDA and screen them for fit and financial ability. Serious parties move to a letter of intent.
- 4
Due diligence
Both sides trade financials, contracts and compliance records. We track every request and push the license applications and landlord consents that need weeks to clear.
- 5
Closing and handoff
Attorneys finalize the documents, tax clearance is confirmed and transfers are filed. We stay on until the keys, accounts and licenses are in the right hands.
What drives the cost of a merger or acquisition
We set our fee by how big and how complex the deal is, and you get it in writing before we begin. Putting your business on the market with us has no upfront cost. You sign no retainer, and no charges hide in the fine print. We're paid from the sale proceeds, only after the seller gets paid.
- How big the deal is and how it's built
- Buying assets, buying stock and merging outright each involve their own work. Seller notes and earn-outs bring extra steps.
- How many licenses and registrations are involved
- A company with alcohol, health or trade licenses takes more coordinating than one that holds just a sales tax registration.
- Condition of the books
- Current profit and loss statements that line up with the tax returns help the other side trust the numbers sooner. When family expenses and owner perks run through the business, we take time to separate them so true earnings stand up to review.
- Sites and leases
- Every added location brings one more lease, one more landlord sign-off and often more local approvals.
Mergers and acquisitions questions
Something not covered here? (512) 872-5513
Is buying a company outright any different from merging with one?
In a purchase, the selling owner usually takes the money and steps away. In a merger, two companies join and both owners normally keep a stake in the combined firm. The documents and checks are close to the same for most small firms. The real change is who owns what when it is done, so get that agreed in writing early.
Will my permits and licenses transfer to the new owner?
Some will and some will not. Many stay with the business entity, while professional and trade licenses usually belong to a person. Alcohol and health approvals often require a new application by the buyer. We map this out at the start so the business can keep operating on day one.
How do you keep the deal quiet from my employees and customers?
Every interested party signs a nondisclosure agreement before seeing anything that identifies you. We use blind summaries first and share details in stages. You decide when and how your team hears the news.
Do I still need my own attorney and CPA?
Yes. We run the deal, value the business and manage the timeline, but your attorney drafts and reviews the legal documents and your CPA handles the tax side. We work closely with both and keep everyone on the same checklist.
How long does a merger or acquisition usually take?
Most small deals take several months from first call to closing. Finding the right counterpart takes the longest. Agency approvals and landlord consents can add weeks, which is why we start on them early.
Talk through your deal before you sign anything
If a competitor called, or you are thinking of buying one, start with a clear number and a list of what has to transfer. We serve owners in Bee Cave, Lakeway, Dripping Springs and the surrounding area.