Getting your finances in order: What documentation will you need, from how far back, and how should it be organized?

Building Your Book: Helping to create a comprehensive positioning statement, describing why your company is unique, outlining core assets, forecasting future growth, and explaining why potential M&A is on the table.

Soliciting Potential Buyers: If you’re running an MSP, you don’t have time to scour the market for potential buyers. Plus, many potential buyers may not be on your radar at all. A financial advisor can make the right contacts, get your business in front of the right suitors, and potentially get multiple bids on the table.

Setting Your Valuation: Just be careful here. A financial advisor can help you “set” your company valuation. But ultimately the market — not you, not your advisor — decides your company value. You may not like what they market says…

Setting initial deadlines for initial conversations, coordinating initial offers, and helping to nudge suitors to deliver their best and final offer on a specific date.

Assisting with discovery — suitors are going to ask you and your company for piles of documentation about your business. If you did early work with your financial advisor, this stage — though you should expect some pain along the way because this is an in-depth process.

Weighing offers against each other — sometimes the most money isn’t the best deal. Some suitors may offer better upside over the long haul, or clearer cultural synergies. A neutral third-party can help you weigh these variables. But remember: The advisor often is paid a percentage of the sale price — so the advisor might be biased toward your highest bidder.

Good Cop, Bad Cop — you can remain on friendly, cordial terms with suitors while your financial advisor makes demands or strong requests to your suitors.

Closing day — terms of the deal and legal documents can involve hundreds of pages. Yes, you need a great lawyer. But that financial advisor is a great set of extra eyes on the final M&A terms.

What else — I’m sure the list above is missing a boatload of services. If you’re feeling inspired, fill in the blanks and post a comment.