From Boutique M&A Advisory Firm Pierce Ridge Capital Selling a business isn’t like selling a product or even real estate—it’s complex, emotional, and high-stakes. At Pierce Ridge Capital , we’ve advised many founders through the sale of their companies. Some built $3 million businesses. Others built $30 million ones. Different industries, different sizes—but one mistake comes up again and again: They wait too long to prepare. It’s not waiting too long to sell—it’s waiting too long to get ready to sell. Founders are operators. They’re focused on running the business. But when an offer finally lands or the time feels right, most haven’t done the work that earns top-dollar—and they don’t have the leverage to fix it fast. Our CEO, Shamus O'Rourke , spent 25 years advising clients at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley through life-changing financial decisions. He’s seen the difference between reactive and strategic exits. And it almost always comes down to timing. Here’s what happens when founders don’t prepare—and what smart ones do instead.
From Boutique M&A Advisory Firm Pierce Ridge Capital For many business owners, selling the company they built isn’t just a financial decision—it’s an emotional one. You’ve poured years, sometimes decades, into your business. You’ve built teams, shaped culture, served clients, and weathered tough markets. So when it’s time to sell, the fear isn’t just about price—it’s about what happens after. What happens to your people? Your brand? Your name? At Pierce Ridge Capital , a Connecticut-based boutique M&A advisory firm , we work with business owners across the country who want to exit the right way—without erasing the legacy they’ve worked so hard to build. Our CEO, Shamus O'Rourke , spent 25 years advising high-net-worth and corporate clients through major transitions at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley. He saw firsthand how personal these decisions can be—and how important it is to get both the deal and the legacy right. Here’s how experienced sellers ensure their legacy lives on, even after the business changes hands.
From Boutique M&A Advisory Firm Pierce Ridge Capital Most business owners wait too long to start preparing for a sale. The result? They lose leverage, leave money on the table, or get stuck in a deal that doesn’t reflect the true value of what they’ve built. The best time to start prepping your business for sale isn’t when you’re ready to walk away—it’s years before . At Pierce Ridge Capital , a Connecticut-based boutique M&A advisory firm , we work with owners across the U.S. to help them get their companies sale-ready long before they hit the market. Whether your exit is five years away or “someday,” early preparation creates more options and better outcomes. Our CEO, Shamus O'Rourke , spent 25 years advising high-net-worth and corporate clients on long-term strategy at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley. That experience taught us this: the best exits are planned—not improvised. Here’s how smart owners prepare their business for sale, even if they’re not planning to sell yet.
From Boutique M&A Advisory Firm Pierce Ridge Capital For most business owners, the sale of their company is the largest financial event of their life. But here’s the truth: most have no real idea what their business is actually worth—until they’re already deep into negotiations. At Pierce Ridge Capital , a Connecticut-based boutique M&A advisory firm , we help owners across the U.S. understand, prepare for, and maximize the value of their business before they go to market. A proper valuation isn’t about guessing or emotions. It’s about getting clear, supportable answers based on data, strategy, and buyer psychology. Our CEO, Shamus O'Rourke , spent over two decades advising high-net-worth and corporate clients at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley. That background gave him a clear perspective on what drives value—and how to make sure your exit reflects it. Here’s how smart sellers approach valuation the right way.
