FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Get expert insights on selling your business, partnering with STS, and maximizing value
ENTREPRENEURS
The best time to sell depends on market trends, your financial performance, and buyer demand. STS will help you assess the timing of your exit journey to maximize value. If you’re considering selling your business in 3 – 5 years, visit our ValueMax program.
We leverage our global network, strategic outreach, and tailored marketing to attract buyers who see the highest value in your business.
Selling to a strategic buyer often yields the highest valuation, while financial buyers prioritize investment returns. An ESOP allows employees to take ownership. Read more.
Common challenges include valuation gaps, deal structuring, and due diligence. STS navigates these complexities to ensure a smooth, successful sale. Read more.
Planning for wealth management, reinvestment, or exploring new ventures is key. By helping clients sell their businesses and realize maximum financial value, we provide limitless opportunities to reinvest their proceeds for good, channeling incremental sale assets into foundations, trusts, and other philanthropic activities that can make a meaningful and lasting difference. Read more.
No, STS is industry agnostic. As a broad-based firm, we are able to apply best practices and game-changing innovations across all industries that can help leverage your valuation. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of an industry-agnostic approach. Read more.
A QoE analysis provides a clear, detailed assessment of your financials, helping buyers gain confidence and ensuring you get the best possible valuation. Read more.
While a pre-emptive offer may seem appealing, it could limit your ability to maximize value. A strategic approach ensures you don’t leave money on the table. Read more.
Many believe an IPO is the ultimate goal, but it’s not always the best exit strategy. Private sales often provide greater flexibility, control, and value. Read more
By understanding the importance of global readiness and aligning your business with strategic global players, you can position yourself to capitalize on many opportunities. Read more.
ADVISORS
Becoming an Advisor offers unique advantages, including:
• Monetary rewards: Referral fees for successful deal closes
• Professional growth: Access to exclusive webinars and training sessions
• Networking opportunities: Connect with over 6,000 professionals worldwide, expanding your network
• Exclusive resources: Receive tools and resources to support your advisory role
• Leadership roles: Opportunities to serve on STS Deal Teams and contribute to high-profile transactions
• Ongoing support: Access to a dedicated Advisor Strategist for guidance
Contact xxx@stscapital.com if you would like to join STS as an Advisor or if you would like more details.
As an Advisor, your role involves:
• Referring sell-side opportunities from your network
• Introducing potential buyers for live mandates
• Providing insights or advice when the deal team requires specific expertise
• Connecting with other professionals who may benefit from your knowledge
If you have expertise that can be leveraged, we will also invite you to collaborate on certain deals or projects. Contact globaladvisornetwork@stscapital.com if you are interested in joining STS as an Advisor
The Exit Guide Certification Course is designed for professionals working with entrepreneurs and privately-owned businesses with annual revenues over $50 million. This self-paced, 10-hour course (completed over 8 weeks) provides in-depth training on STS’s unique value proposition, Selling to Strategics. To join, pre-register here, and after vetting, you’ll receive instructions on how to begin.
PARTNERS
We collaborate with industry-leading professionals in coaching, tax planning, wealth management, marketing, finance, HR, and more. If you’re interested in a mutual referral partnership, email us at xxx@stscapital.com to explore opportunities.
As a partner, you gain access to a global network of business owners, exclusive referrals, and opportunities to provide additional services to clients navigating their Extraordinary Exit. Email xxx@stscapital.com for more information.
Our Impact Partners are charities and nonprofit organizations we deeply support through financial contributions, expertise sharing, and professional connections. We help amplify their missions through strategic collaboration. Visit https:/stscapital.com/how-we-drive-impact/ for more details.
MAXIMIZING VALUE
We have a monthly Deal Summary that is comprised of exclusive, off-market opportunities around the world.
We conduct an analysis on synergies, cultural alignment, market position, and long-term value creation before making any recommendations.
Yes. Our global network and expert guides allow us to identify and approach strategic targets across geographies and verticals.
Yes. From initial outreach to deal structuring and integration planning, we’re with you every step of the way.
We don’t just chase deals – we act as strategic expert guides, helping you achieve maximum value by Selling to Strategics™ and move from Success to Significance™.
SELL-SIDE ADVISORY
A strategic divestiture involves selling part of your business – a non-core division, asset, or subsidiary – to enhance focus or unlock capital for growth.
Divestitures can sharpen your strategic focus, improve performance, or prepare for an Extraordinary Exit™ in the future.
We use a highly selective outreach process, approaching only vetted, qualified strategic buyers with a proven interest.
Yes. From initial outreach to deal structuring and integration planning, we’re with you every step of the way.
Handled strategically, divesting can increase overall enterprise value by focusing resources and improving operational clarity.
ROLL UP TO SELL
It’s a guided growth strategy where we help you acquire complementary businesses to increase market share and valuation ahead of your exit.
Most clients follow a 2 – 4 year roadmap, allowing time to scale through acquisition and prepare for a high-value strategic sale.
We look for businesses that add operational synergies, geographic reach, or service breadth – all of which increase your appeal to strategic buyers.
By leveraging a sell-side advisor, you can maximize value in a complex process and have expert guides along the way to ensure no money is left on the table.
By building a larger, more strategic enterprise, you attract buyers willing to pay a premium for scale, synergy, and competitive positioning.
valuemax
ValueMax is our strategic preparation service – helping you increase your business’s value before going to market.
Ideally 12-36 months before you plan to sell. This gives time to strengthen key value drivers and correct any risk areas.
We focus on operational efficiency, revenue quality, management depth, and other factors that influence strategic buyer interest and valuation.
Not necessarily, it’s valuable for any owner looking to optimize long-term value, even if your exit is still a few years away.
While no outcome is guaranteed, our clients consistently achieve stronger valuations after taking strategic steps to enhance value.
Pre-Emptive Offers
It’s when a buyer approaches you privately with an unsolicited offer, often before you’ve begun a formal sale process.
We will help you assess if the offer represents true strategic value or if a competitive process could yield a better outcome.
Yes, and in many cases, doing so can result in maximum valuation.
We encourage the buyer to provide compelling reasons why they would be a strategic fit for your business and create a competitive soft auction to ensure you achieve maximum value and an Extraordinary Exit.
ALTERNATIVE EXITS
An ESOP allows you to sell part or all of your business to your employees, offering a tax-advantaged exit while preserving company culture.
Not always. It depends on your financial goals, legacy priorities, and the financial strength of the company. We help you explore fit.
By selling to a strategic buyer, you can provide your employees with many of the benefits of an ESOP or EOT – such as ownership participation and financial upside – while avoiding the lower valuations, added complexity, and retained risk that typically come with an ESOP structure.
Many believe an IPO is the ultimate goal, but it’s not always the best exit strategy. Private sales often provide greater flexibility, control, and value while achieving similar objectives. Read more.
By understanding the importance of global readiness and aligning your business with strategic global players, you can position yourself to capitalize on many opportunities. Read more.
STRATEGIC CONSULTING
We provide pre-transaction advisory, value enhancement planning, growth strategy, and M&A readiness, all geared toward a successful future sale.
The earlier, the better. Ideally 1 – 3 years before a sale, but even 6 – 12 months of preparation can significantly increase your outcome.
Consulting helps you prepare and build value. Full advisory means we execute the sale. Many clients move from one to the other with us.
Not at all. Our strategies support growth, succession planning, and general enterprise value improvement, sale or no sale.
Yes. We don’t just advise, we help you implement strategies that align with your exit goals and timeline.
SELLING TO STRATEGIC BUYERS
Because they’re buying not just earnings, but integration value – synergies, capabilities, and market expansion – which increases your business’s worth to them.
We use a confidential global process, targeting qualified buyers with a strategic interest in your business, often at the C-suite level.
Financial buyers typically focus on ROI from operations and future exit. Strategic buyers see long-term integration potential and often pay premium multiples.
A full strategic sale process usually takes 6 – 12 months from preparation to close.
Not with us. Trust is built into how we work – shoulder-to-shoulder with you at every step – so your goals, values, and legacy remain firmly in your hands.