Straight Talk on Selling Your Business
No academic theories. Just practical, hard-hitting advice on valuations, deal structures, and how to exit your business on your own terms.
SDE vs. EBITDA Explained: What is Your Alberta Business Actually Worth?
Confused about what your Alberta business is actually worth? Most owners leave money on the table because they don't know the difference between SDE and EBITDA.
In this video, you’ll learn:
SDE (Seller’s Discretionary Earnings): Why this is the "gold standard" for small business owners.
EBITDA: When and why sophisticated buyers (and Private Equity) shift to this metric.
The "Owner's Salary" Trap: How your personal take-home pay changes your business valuation.
Which one to use based on your current stage of the exit journey.
Why I Might Tell You NOT to Sell Your Business Right Now
Most M&A firms and capital partners will tell you exactly what you want to hear just to get a deal signed. At AJS Capital, we do things differently.
In this video, we’re pulling back the curtain on why an immediate exit might actually be a massive financial mistake. If you want to maximize your legacy and your bank account, you need the truth—not a sales pitch.
In this video, we cover:
Why "Exit Fever" can lead to leaving millions on the table.
The "Owner Discount": How your involvement is killing your valuation.
Why AJS Capital prioritizes the optimal exit over a fast exit.
How radical honesty builds the foundation for a successful partnership.
3 Red Flags That Kill a Business Sale (Before Due Diligence)
Selling your business is the biggest transaction of your life—don't let it fail in the first 5 minutes. Most deals die before they even reach due diligence because of these 3 common financial traps.
Here is a quick summary of what will be covered in the video:
Owner Dependency: Why a business that relies 100% on the founder is considered "unsellable" by professional buyers.
Financial Hygiene: The hidden cost of "lifestyle" expenses and how co-mingled personal/business books drop your valuation instantly.
Customer Concentration: The "20% Rule"—why having one major client creates a single point of failure that scares off lenders and investors.
The 24-Month Rule: Why the best "exit" starts two years before the actual sale to ensure clean due diligence.
Advisor Alignment: How to leverage your CPA, Lawyer, and Financial Planner as a "Deal Team" to fix these flags early.
Have questions about your own exit timeline?
It costs nothing to have an initial conversation. Let’s look at your business and see if the market is right for an exit.