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Blog
Practical guidance for A/E/LS firm owners navigating exits, employee buyouts, SBA financing, and valuation. Written by John R. Allen, III, M&A advisor and NSPS approved national speaker.
Step-Up Legacy Plan
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Retiring TO Something: Life After Selling Your A/E/LS Firm
The owners who handle the sale well built a life waiting. How the step-down process gives A/E/LS firm sellers runway instead of a cliff.
Step-Up Legacy Plan
Case Study: How a 28-Person A/E Firm Owner Exited with Step-Up
How a 28-person A/E firm owner exited with Step-Up: SBA financing, independent valuation, paid at close, and a clean control transfer.
Step-Up Legacy Plan
Who Bears the Risk? Capital Structure in A/E Firm Ownership Transitions
Compare 6 A/E firm ownership models by seller risk and liquidity. SBA buyouts, ESOPs, MBOs, EOTs, co-ops, and seller financing analyzed by who bears the financial risk.
Step-Up Legacy Plan
ESOP Alternatives for A/E Firms: SBA-Friendly Employee Buyouts
Skip costly ESOPs. The Step-Up Legacy Plan uses SBA 7(a) loans with 10% down so A/E firm employees can buy the business while sellers get 95-100% cash at closing.
Step-Up Legacy Plan
SBA Employee Buyout vs. ESOP vs. MBO vs. EOT vs. Co-Op vs. Seller Financing
Compare 6 employee ownership models by seller risk, cash at closing, and complexity. SBA buyouts deliver the lowest seller risk and highest upfront liquidity.
Buying Out the Boss
All Buying Out the Bossposts →Buying Out the Boss
Why the Spouse Belongs at the Table in A/E/LS Firm Buyouts
Every A/E/LS firm buyout has four decision-makers, not two. Bring the buyer's spouse in early so the household is aligned before the bank is.
Buying Out the Boss
Buying the Boss Out: 2026 SBA Financing Guide
Updated 2026 SBA rules make employee buyouts viable with 10% down, 100% cash at closing. Step-Up Legacy Plan beats ESOPs for $1M-$8M A/E firms.
Buying Out the Boss
How to Sell Your Engineering Firm to Key Employees
A/E firm owners can sell to key employees using SBA 7(a) loans with 5-10% down. The Step-Up Legacy Plan delivers 95-100% cash at closing. No seller notes.
SBA Financing
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Common Deal Structures for A/E Firm Buyouts: SBA, Seller Notes, and Hybrid Models
Compare the most common deal structures for architecture and engineering firm buyouts. SBA 7(a), seller financing, hybrid models, and earnouts explained for both buyers and sellers.
SBA Financing
What SBA Lenders Actually Look For When Financing an A/E Firm Buyout
SBA lenders approve A/E firm buyouts based on DSCR, backlog, client mix, and management depth. Learn the 5 factors that determine if your deal gets funded.
Valuation & Deals
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EBITDA Multiples for A/E Firms: What Your Firm Is Actually Worth in 2026
A/E firm EBITDA multiples range 4x to 8x. Learn what drives your firm's multiple higher and how SBA-financed buyouts deliver 95-100% cash at closing.
Valuation & Deals
How to Value Your A/E/LS Firm for a 5-7 Year Exit
A/E firm valuations typically run 4x to 7x EBITDA. Learn the key drivers that determine your firm's worth and how to position for maximum sale proceeds.