19 May Selling Your Business: 2 Late-Stage M&A Roadblocks
Q&A with David & Jay
Question:
Late-stage M&A Roadblocks – Ever wonder what stalls a deal right at the finish line?
Answer::
Founders frequently ask me about the “late in the game” roadblocks that hurt a company’s valuation or pause an acquisition altogether. Lately, two major trends stand out:
1️⃣ The “Prove It” Phase of IP Ownership: Buyers are digging deeper to ensure you actually own your assets. Whether it’s computer code or product development, they demand absolute certainty that the corporation legally owns all employee and consultant contributions. If you plan to sell, audit your assets now and ensure you have signed and filed all IP releases.
2️⃣ Evolving Government Compliance: While transfer approvals are standard, the process is now highly complex and time-consuming. Regulators demand significantly more oversight today than they did historically.
The Takeaway:
Protect your deal. Get your paperwork in order early, retain compliance experts, and build a realistic, padded timeline to close.
During the 2025 Managing and Accounting Practice (MAP) Conference hosted by the Massachusetts Society of CPAs (MassCPAs), Beacon Equity Advisors’ David Humphrey and Jay Galasso presented an AMA (Ask Me Anything) to the CPA firm partners attending. In this Q&A series, Beacon publishes some of those questions to help business owners make important decisions about the future of their company.