Practical guidance for business owners navigating ownership transition, succession, and equity compensation.
August 13, 2026 · 8 min read
January 8, 2026 · 7 min read
January 1, 2026 · 7 min read
Equity compensation can raise buyer confidence by tying key leaders to future company value before an ownership transition.
September 22, 2026 · 7 min read
A plain-English guide to using an ESOP as one option for selling a closely held business, including owner payout, tax considerations, fit, risks, and comparisons.
September 22, 2026 · 8 min read
Choose RSUs, stock options, or phantom equity by asking how the plan affects transferability, control, tax timing, and the ownership file a buyer will review.
September 22, 2026 · 7 min read
A practical comparison of business brokers, M&A advisors, and boutique investment banks so owners can choose the right rung before choosing the person.
September 22, 2026 · 8 min read
A plain-English guide to the difference between a business broker and an M&A advisor, and how that choice affects price, terms, and what an owner keeps after closing.
September 15, 2026 · 8 min read
John Bruckner, who has led the firm's M&A advisory practice for four years and been in partnership with Byron for over a decade, takes on firmwide leadership. Byron McFarland continues as Guide.
September 11, 2026 · 3 min read
The hardest parts of selling a business rarely show up on the price. Here are seven negotiation challenges closely held owners face, and how to prepare for each before you reach the table.
September 1, 2026 · 8 min read
Incentive plans are usually pitched as a way to keep people. Connor Lacy on the more useful frame: equity plans as groundwork for a transaction, and value that stays with the company.
September 1, 2026 · 5 min read
Most acquisitions that disappoint do so after closing, in the integration. Here are the eight challenges mid-sized firms run into most, and where advisory support reduces the risk.
September 1, 2026 · 8 min read
