During the sale of a company, the deal must benefit both the buyers and the sellers. To minimize tax liability and get the best bang for their buck, many sellers get a tax minimization analysis done. Tax minimization also comes in the form of how the business is structured and the knowledge the owner has about the tax code.                 A tax minimization analysis (TMA) is a strategic assessment of a person or business’s financial circumstances to legally reduce tax liabil

Due diligence in a merger or acquisition is the investigative process that a buyer conducts to fully understand the financial, legal, operational, and strategic condition of a target company before finalizing a deal. It is essentially a verification step that ensures the buyer is not relying solely on what the seller says; it also allows the acquiring company to identify risks, validate value, and uncover issues that could impact the deal structure or the decision to move for

Valuation is the process of determining what a company is truly worth. This then serves as the basis for negotiations between buyers and sellers. It helps buyers understand the company’s financial health, future growth, and potential risks, and guides the deal overall. There are many valuation methods, and each has its own positives and negatives. A few of the popular ones are the discounted cash flow method, the comparables method, and asset valuation.                 In the

In an acquisition, there are 2 things that determine how ownership, liabilities, and assets are transferred from the seller to the buyer, whether the purchase is a stock purchase or an asset purchase.             An asset purchase is when a buyer acquires the tangible and intellectual assets of the selling company. These types of assets include but are not limited to office supplies, production equipment, machinery, real estate, customers, accounts, patents, trademarks, websi

Whether to merge with another company to grow bigger, acquire another company for their assets, or sell to get out of the business, there are four main reasons we have seen as to why businesses would like to go down this path of mergers and acquisitions.             The first main reason why a business looks to acquire is to boost performance efficiency. Combining business activities boosts production while costs tend to decrease, this is because both businesses are using eac

An acquisition is the process by which one company purchases most or all of another company’s shares or assets in order to gain control of that company. The acquiring firm, often referred to as the “parent” or simply “buyer”, takes ownership of the wanted company’s operations, employees, resources, suppliers, and debts, usually with the goal of expanding market reach, acquiring new technology, or increasing profitability. Unlike a merger, where two companies of relatively sim

One of the biggest benefits of forming a corporation or a limited liability company (LLC) is the protection it provides to its owners. This protection is known as the corporate veil, a legal concept that separates the business entity from its owners, shielding their personal assets from the company’s debts, liabilities, or legal obligations. As long as the business is operated properly and within the law, the corporate veil ensures that shareholders or members aren’t personal

When it comes to corporate recordkeeping, few documents are as important, or as often overlooked, as meeting minutes. Whether you're operating a corporation or an LLC, keeping accurate meeting minutes is a key part of demonstrating that your business is organized, compliant, and following appropriate procedures. These records are an essential part of your company’s internal documentation and help show that the business is being run properly and legally. Meeting minute forms a

When you're starting a business, one of the first things you’ll need is an EIN, or Employer Identification Number. Some new business owners don’t fully understand what an EIN is or why it matters. An EIN is a nine-digit number issued by the IRS that serves as a unique identifier for your business, similar to how a Social Security number identifies an individual. It’s also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, and it plays a crucial role in how your business interacts

When forming a business, one of the most important steps is creating the internal documents that govern how your company will operate. Two of these governance documents are the Operating Agreement and the Bylaws. While they serve a similar purpose, they apply to different types of entities and outline slightly different rules. Understanding the difference is key to keeping your business compliant and well-organized. An Operating Agreement is used by Limited Liability Companie