CBH Business Group

06/22/2026

A Florida HVAC owner didn't want to fully walk away. So we built a deal where he got paid twice.

He called about 18 months out. Around $10M revenue, strong service agreements, but he wasn't done working.

We used the runway: cleaned up the books, leaned into the maintenance agreements, built out his ops manager.

Then we ran a competitive process. A strategic buyer rolling up HVAC paid up. We structured it so he took most of his cash at close AND rolled a slice into the buyer's equity — a second payday when the bigger company sells later.

Cash now, a second bite later, still doing work he enjoys. That's what runway buys.

06/21/2026

A Father's Day thought for owners who've been grinding for a long time.

The risk isn't that your business fails. It's that you hold it past its peak and let the value quietly leak out.

I've seen it happen more times than I'd like.

We had a roofing company — three LOIs, all over $23M. The seller wanted $25M. Little greedy on a 3.5x EBITDA business. The buyers agreed to revisit once the year finished out.

The year didn't finish the way anyone hoped. The business started to slide. Roofing multiples began to cool. By year-end, the valuation had dropped to $12M.

They left $11M on the table because they couldn't sense the tide going out, even though we explained it multiple times.

It's quiet when it starts. You grow tired, energy dips, reinvestment slows. The business doesn't crash — it drifts. And every year it drifts, it's worth a little less.

The owners who win build it to stand on its own while they still have gas in the tank. Then they choose their moment from a position of strength.

Sell near your peak, not after it.

06/19/2026

Right now, there's more capital chasing good businesses than there are good businesses for sale.

PE groups, search funds, and strategic acquirers are sitting on dry powder and actively hunting profitable, well-run companies — especially here in Florida.

If your business generates close to $1M in profit, you might be more valuable than you think. The problem is most sellers unknowingly kill that value themselves — through perceived risks and red flags in the financials that give buyers a reason to walk or discount heavily.

I've heard it said, and it's very true: always build your business to sell. Even if you never plan to, your life will be easier for it — and you'll have that option if you ever need it.

The best time to explore your options is when you don't have to. Not ready to sell, but want to know what the market would pay? That's exactly the conversation to have now.

06/18/2026

The fastest way to blow up your own deal: messy books.

Before a serious buyer closes, they run a Quality of Earnings review — essentially an audit of whether your profits are real and repeatable. If the financials don't hold up, the price drops or the deal dies in diligence.

The owners who get top dollar clean up their books 12–24 months before they ever go to market.

Planning an exit down the road? Get your financials buyer-ready early. It's the cheapest insurance there is for your number.

06/12/2026

Two buyers, same price — $10 million each. But the structure tells a different story on how owners prepared, whether they knew it or not.

Buyer A: $8M at close, $2M seller note.

Buyer B: $7M at close, $1M seller note, $2M earn-out tied to post-sale performance targets you no longer control.

Same number. Very different checks on day one — and very different levels of risk.

So why do some offers carry more structure? Because the buyer is all about limiting their own risk.

If they have more structure, they precieve more risk tied to the business. The more uncertainty in your financials — inconsistent revenue, customer concentration, owner-dependent operations or just plain shenanigans in the books — the more structure a buyer will require to justify the price.

When you evaluate offers, focus on three things: cash at close, total consideration, and the conditions attached to every dollar you are not receiving on day one.

The right deal is the one you prepare for, years in advance whether you realize it or not.

06/11/2026

The #1 thing that quietly cuts your business's sale price: You.

If the company can't run for two weeks without you, buyers don't see value — they see risk. And they price it that way.

The fix isn't working harder. It's making yourself replaceable: document the processes, empower a real #2, or #3 or #4 lol, get yourself out of every decision.

Buyers pay a premium for a business that runs without the founder. If you're thinking about selling in the next few years, start building yourself out of the day-to-day now — it's worth six figures or more at the closing table.

06/05/2026

Most owners ask "what's my business worth?"

The real question is: what's it worth without me in it?

I see it every week brokering deals across Central Florida. Two companies — same revenue, same profit. One sells for a full turn higher than the other.

The difference? One owner built a business. The other built a job with their name on it.

If the relationships, the pricing, and the tribal knowledge all live in your head, a buyer isn't buying a company — they're buying you. And you're not for sale.

The good news: it's fixable. Document your processes. Build a number two. Get out of the day-to-day before you go to market, not after.

The cash flow that survives your exit is the cash flow buyers pay a premium for.

Want to get an idea of current valuation of your business try our valuation calculator for free:

Free business valuation calculator — get an instant EBITDA-multiple estimate of what your business is worth. Florida companies $3M–$50M. See industry multiples and value drivers.

06/04/2026

A Florida roofing owner came in convinced he had a "6x business" — someone at a conference told him so (always reliable, lol).

We pulled it apart: heavy new-construction work, one builder making up a big chunk of revenue (30%), and him heavily involved in day to day operations. For that profile, the real market was closer to 3.5–4x max.

He didn't love hearing it. But instead of listing and knowing he'd be discounted, we mapped an 18-month plan — diversify off the one builder, grow the re-roof/service side, put a GM in place. He'll go to market at a stronger number than he'd have gotten today.

Better to hear the hard truth early than in initial calls with sophisticated buyers.

If someone's quoted you a multiple — does your business actually fit that profile?

Learn more or schedule a conversation:

Start a confidential conversation with a Florida M&A advisor. Share your business details and receive a response within one business day. No obligation.

06/02/2026

Most owners I talk to wait too long.

They wait until they're tired. Until the business is sliding. Until a health scare or a partner dispute makes the decision for them.

By then, the buyer has leverage you don't.

The best exits I've ever been part of happened when the business was running well and the owner didn't have to sell.

You don't have to sell tomorrow. But knowing what your business is worth, and what it could be worth in two years, changes how you run it today.

That's the whole point.

Learn more or schedule a conversation: https://cbhbusinessgroup.com/contact

05/30/2026

Recently, a Florida business owner came to us with high hopes—he wanted to sell his company for $2.8M. After our review, the Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE) pegged the value at closer to $1M. It was a tough reality check, but business valuation isn’t about guesswork; it’s simply Math.

Here’s the silver lining: with the right strategies and a focus on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), that $2.8M goal is still within reach, though it may take at least two years to get there. If he’d started this journey earlier, he’d be much further along—but it’s never too late to make a change.

If you’re a Florida business owner in home services, trades, HVAC, roofing, or landscaping, don’t wait until it’s crunch time to learn what your business is really worth.

- Find out your current valuation, based on facts
- Identify the steps needed to grow your business’s value
- Set a clear roadmap for your exit strategy

Take control of your future today. Request your free business valuation or book a 15-minute call with a CBH Business Group advisor now—because your exit and your legacy matter.

📞 +1 407 908 3845 | [email protected] | cbhbusinessgroup.com

Florida M&A advisory and brokerage firm helping owners sell companies valued $3M–$50M. Confidential valuations, vetted buyers, expert deal structuring.