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You're Not Too Small For A Big Outcome

We have supported small business owners for over 30 years, and we built a practice specifically designed to guide owner-led companies through the sales process. You'll receive big-firm preparation, buyer strategy, and deal negotiation, tailored to a transaction of your size and focused on maximizing owner outcomes.

No-Cost Estimation Of Business Value Meet With Us

We know why you're here...

You've spent years building something real. Customers have stuck with you through the ups and downs. You have employees you consider family; you have employees who are family. People in your community know you, trust you, and that matters to you, a lot.

But eventually you start thinking about what comes next, and you learn how the market treats a business your size. Investment banks won't take the call because your deal is under their minimums. Brokers will, but their plan is to post your company online, send a teaser to anyone who'll read it, push for a fast close, and collect their commission.

Our team guides owners through sales to private equity platforms and strategic buyers, deals where every number gets tested, and every term gets fought over. In those deals, preparation decides who walks away with more.

Small business sales were down 7% in Q3 2026 compared with last year, and buyers and lenders are looking harder at the numbers than they have in years. Prepared businesses still get strong offers. The rest wait.

You only sell your business once. What it sells for shouldn't determine the service you receive.

 

Protecting And Enhancing Your Value

Purpose Built M&A Advisory

Don't settle for the promise of a quick sale. A quick sale is good for the broker, it's rarely best for your outcome. When you sell a business, lost value doesn't happen at the negotiating table. It happens in the preparation. That's why we do things differently. Your outcome is decided in three places. Here's how we protect each one.

 

Diligence Isn't Paperwork. It's Leverage.

Every buyer will dig into your business. The only question is whether you find the issues first or they do. When the buyer finds them, they become reasons to cut the price, add an escrow, or walk away. True diligence:

  • Proves your value drivers. Loyal customers, healthy margins, pricing power, a team that runs without you. We document what buyers pay for so it holds up under scrutiny.
  • Finds your value risks. Customer concentration, owner dependence, shaky add-backs, tax exposure, working capital swings. We fix what can be fixed and frame what can't.
  • Protects you at the table. When you know what the buyer will find, you negotiate from strength. Surprises hand the buyer leverage. Preparation keeps it with you.

Buyer-ready financials, with normalized earnings, add-backs that survive scrutiny, and a valuation story buyers will underwrite. Then, once you're under LOI, diligence managed from your side of the table.

Why businesses fail in due diligence ➡

No Cost Business Value Estimate

 

Sell-Side Advisory

M&A Advisory Built for Small Business Owners

When you hire C&A Dealmakers as your sell-side M&A advisor, you get a team and a process designed to maximize value while protecting terms.

  • A confidential, disciplined sell-side process that identifies, sources, and engages qualified strategic and private equity buyers, and allows you to continue to focus on your business

  • Clear valuation supported by clean financial storytelling, key value drivers, and buyer-ready materials that stand up in diligence.

  • Negotiation support that protects seller economics: price, structure, risk allocation, and certainty of close from LOI through definitive agreement.

  • Integrated coordination across tax, legal, accounting, and wealth planning so decisions aren’t made in silos and your exit is optimized for after-tax proceeds.

 

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Family Business Is Different

Family Business, Helping Family Business

At C&A we understand what makes family businesses unique, and uniquely challenging. 

Decisions are never purely financial, there are relationships involved, legacy, and the stakes are higher. As a multi-generational family business we are uniquely positioned to help you achieve your goals.

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Our Work

Recent Transactions

Eliminating Fragmentation

Continuity Improves Outcomes

Our approach to sell-side M&A is a direct response to the fragmentation common in traditional business brokerage. At C&A you work directly with senior partners and experienced advisors from initial strategy through closing, you will not be handed off to junior resources. This eliminates miscommunication, ensures informed decision-making, and keeps the process coordinated at every touchpoint. This is how value is protected, terms are optimized and owners achieve better outcomes.

Why Sell Side Advisory Is Better For Business Owners
continuity improves outcomes for owners
Our Clients

What Our Clients Say About Working With C&A

"The Cunningham team has a very unique approach…more than anything else, they listened. The team really wanted to understand where I saw challenges and gaps. It’s much more consultive and detailed."


Warren Dietel, Owner

Puff N' Stuff Catering

"They coach business owners to really implement critical strategies…they can look at your operation, figure out your returns, and then figure out the efficiencies that you can implement in order to save money."

Jonas Angus, President

TPE Solutions

"There’s a peace of mind that comes from knowing that the person that is making the advisory recommendations is also going to be the hub to communicate with other entities that I’m working with."

Brian Sump, Owner

Urban Autocare

Maximize Your Value

Preparation, communication, and transparency are critical in any business sale. Set up a time to talk with our team and learn how C&A does business brokerage the right way for business owners.
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