6 Steps To Close Any M&A Deal

M&A (mergers & acquisitions) is the ultimate growth lever.

Instead of grinding from zero, you acquire what’s already working—and skip the startup phase entirely.

Why start from scratch when you can buy the shortcut?

But there’s a big problem with inexperienced deal-makers…

They fall in love with the opportunity.
They chase the deal.
And they ignore red flags because they want it to work.

The result? They:

• Overpay for bad businesses

• Taking on hidden liabilities

• Or worse, buying themselves a full-time job with more stress and less freedom

  But smart operators play it differently.

They know how to control the pace, shape the terms, and walk away richer.

If you want to grow fast without burnout... Or exit without regret...

Here’s the exact 6-step system we use to win in M&A—without compromise: 👇

1. Set your return target—before anything else.

Before you look at a business, define why the deal needs to work for you.

Ask: “How much return do I need on my money to make this deal better than real estate or the stock market?”

Set a target return of 25–50% annually.

Walk away if you’re getting anything less than that.

If you’re risking real capital, you need real payoff.

2. Decide how much you’re willing to lose.

Every deal has risk.

But smart operators always define that risk upfront.

Ask yourself:

• “What’s the max amount I’d be okay losing if everything goes wrong?”

• “Would I still be able to sleep at night?”

This is your capital-at-risk ceiling.

It includes your cash down and your debt exposure.

3. Write down your non-negotiables.

Before you enter a negotiation, build your own internal “deal memo.”

Here are my three key rules:

• Minimum ROI: e.g. must beat 25% per year

• Max capital exposure: e.g. under $200K

• Payback period: e.g. recoup investment in 24–36 months

If a deal violates one of the three, I walk away.

4. Run the numbers 3 ways

Most founders only run the number in the best case scenario and wonder how they get wrecked.

Smart buyers run:

• Worst-case: Sales drop, clients churn, costs rise

• Mid-case: Business performs as-is

• Best-case: You optimize and grow

The question is:

If the worst case happens, can you survive it?

If the answer’s no, the deal isn’t the right fit.

5. Negotiate terms, not just price.

Founders obsess over getting a lower price.

But experienced operators know: terms > price

Example:

• A $500K deal paid 100% upfront = high risk

• A $750K deal with 20% down, seller carry, and 5-year payout = lower risk (if cash flow supports it)

Always look at:

• How much you pay upfront

• How much risk the seller is taking

• What happens if performance slips

6. Stress-test the business with a 90-day shock scenario.

Before you buy, ask:

• What if your top client cancels?

• What if your key hire quits?

• What if you can’t work for 2 weeks?

If the business falls apart from one punch, it’s too fragile.

And that fragility won’t show up during the pitch.

It shows up only after you paid money.

If you can’t afford to walk away, you’ll get walked over.

I teach this exact system inside the Strategic Agency Growth Blueprint:

• Filter deals through math—not emotion

• Structure downside protection into every term

• Build acquisition engines that protect your time, capital, and peace of mind

If you’re tired of guessing in negotiations—and ready to win by design—

Reply “MATH” and I’ll show you the details.

See you there,

Stefan