The Acquisition Playbook
A field guide for lower middle market buyers, from the first call through a controlled Day 1. Seven modules, free, on this site. No download, no drip.
Built for independent sponsors, self-funded searchers, strategic acquirers, and operators targeting owner-led service businesses in the $500K to $25M EBITDA range.
Seven modules, first call to Day 1.
Work them in order or jump to the module a live deal needs right now. Each module links to article-depth sections on the specific framework it covers.
Introduction
Finding a good company is hard.
Pre-LOI validation
Run a structured 14-day validation that answers one question with high confidence before you ask for exclusivity: is this deal real, and can I underwrite it well enough that going exclusive is rational rather than hopeful?.
LOI strategy
Lock up the opportunity long enough to run real diligence without competition, while keeping terms flexible enough to adjust when diligence surfaces new facts.
Diligence
Confirm the deal you think you have is the deal you are actually buying, and run diligence as a decision process, not a research project.
Structuring
Convert diligence findings into terms the seller can accept and you can close on, by diagnosing seller type and motivation first, then matching structure to the actual risk and pitching it as fairness rather than punishment.
Close and Day 1
Convert the handshake into binding documents, execute a clean close with full operational control on Day 1, and stabilize before you improve.
Conclusion
The whole system flows as one connected path from first introduction to a stabilized business running with reduced seller dependency.
Related resources
Free downloads paired with specific modules in this course.
For sellers
Sale Preparation Checklist
The six readiness areas a seller addresses before diligence. Useful for buyers who want to understand what a well-prepared seller looks like before the LOI.
For buyers
Due Diligence Checklist
A staged diligence request list that moves in phases, connects findings to deal terms, and avoids the generic file chase that stalls most deals post-LOI.
Market data
LMM Valuation Multiples Database
Lower middle market EBITDA multiples by industry and revenue band. Pressure-test a valuation range with actual deal comp data, not public company noise.
This course is operational guidance, not investment, legal, tax, or financial advice. SilverShore Partners is not a registered broker-dealer or investment adviser; in qualifying private-company transactions we may operate within the federal M&A broker exemption under Section 15(b)(13) of the Securities Exchange Act. Confirm specifics with your own advisors.