This week on the podcast, if you're thinking of buying a business in 2026, stay tuned as we give you five easy steps to assess it.

Claire walks through a practical five-step checklist for an initial buy-side assessment: 1) check cash in the bank versus short-term liabilities to see if the business really has excess cash; 2) calculate adjusted EBITDA to understand underlying operating profitability; 3) review the balance sheet for assets, liabilities and signs the finance function needs cleanup; 4) identify what’s wrong (risks) and quick wins (opportunities) that could boost profit; and 5) model how the business would integrate with the buyer, stress-testing best/likely/worst cases to shape a realistic offer.

The episode also covers how offers can be structured (day-one cash, deferred consideration, earnouts, warranties), why adjusted modelling and detailed due diligence follow heads of terms, and when to engage an accountant or M&A specialist to dig deeper.

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ABOUT THE HOST:

Claire Hancott through Profit Cash Growth helps 6 & 7 figure business owners to increase their profit, improve their cashflow and grow their business using their numbers.

As a finance director & chartered management accountant, Claire has nearly 20 years’ experience in finance and running businesses of her own. This gives her a unique insight into the information and support business owners need to grow a financially successful business.

Claire passionately believes that every business should be run by the numbers because the numbers in your business are telling you a story about what is and isn’t working and where your opportunities lie. Claire’s mission is to provide insightful management accounts, reports and advice to business owners and support them to make smarter decisions.

*The content of this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.