Worksheets & Templates

10-Minute Deal Evaluation Scorecard

The five-question framework for quickly assessing any potential acquisition. Print it, keep it on your desk, and use it before committing time to any deal.

Due Diligence Checklist

A comprehensive checklist covering financial, operational, legal, and market due diligence. Designed to be adapted to any asset class.

Leverage Safety Calculator

Input your acquisition price, financing terms, and projected cash flow to determine whether your leverage ratio falls within safe parameters.

Post-Acquisition 90-Day Playbook

A week-by-week action plan for the first 90 days after closing an acquisition. Covers integration, quick wins, and risk mitigation steps.

From the Author

The Prospecting Show

Connor's podcast featuring interviews with entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders on growth strategy, acquisitions, and ownership. Listen now →

Elixir Consulting Group

Strategic advisory for businesses looking to grow through acquisition, partnership, and operational improvement. Learn more →

The Pittsburgh Wire

Business, real estate, and development news from the Pittsburgh region. Read the Wire →

The Grant Finder

Connecting organizations with funding opportunities through grants, awards, and institutional support. Explore grants →

Recommended Reading

The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

The foundational text on value investing. Essential reading for understanding asset valuation and margin of safety.

Buy Then Build by Walker Deibel

A complementary perspective on acquiring small businesses as a path to entrepreneurship.

The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber

Why systems, not heroic effort, are what make businesses work. Critical reading for post-acquisition operations.

Tax-Free Wealth by Tom Wheelwright

A deep dive into how tax strategy integrates with ownership and business structure.

Tools & Platforms

BizBuySell

The largest marketplace for buying and selling small businesses. A good starting point for deal sourcing.

LoopNet / Crexi

Commercial real estate marketplaces for finding income-producing properties across asset classes.

Flippa / Empire Flippers

Marketplaces for acquiring digital businesses, SaaS products, and content sites.

LivePlan

Business planning and financial forecasting tool useful for modeling acquisition scenarios and post-close projections.