How clean books, real cash flow, and airtight due diligence increase your business valuation

Описание: Numbers don’t just tell your story — they price it. In this episode, we sit down with bookkeeper and accounting veteran Thrine Harpering of Cover Your Accounts to break down what truly drives a higher business valuation when selling a company or preparing for acquisition.
We get specific about the financial statements buyers trust most — income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement — and why two to three spotless years of records can dramatically improve your multiple. Thrine explains the difference between bookkeepers and CPAs, how GAAP-aligned books create credibility, and why monthly financial reviews prevent profit leaks before they hurt your valuation.
We also unpack the due diligence checklist buyers use to evaluate risk: AR aging, AP, debt schedules, tax returns, payroll records, and the hidden deal-killer many owners overlook — customer concentration. If one client represents more than 30–40% of revenue, you’ll need contracts, retention plans, and smart deal structures like earnouts or seller notes to protect your sale.
You’ll learn the fastest ways sellers destroy value (mixing personal expenses, excessive add-backs, owner-centric operations) and the practical fixes that turn messy spreadsheets into a believable EBITDA story buyers and banks trust.
Whether you’re preparing to sell your business, buy a company, or clean up your financials for growth, this episode is your playbook for lowering risk and increasing price.
Topics covered:
• Business valuation strategies
• Due diligence checklist for selling a business
• EBITDA and cash flow clarity
• GAAP bookkeeping vs CPA roles
• Customer concentration risk
• Cash vs accrual accounting and percentage-of-completion
• How to prepare financials for acquisition
Learn more from Thrine at: https://www.coveryouraccounts.com/
Ready to explore financing options for your acquisition? Visit horizonbrokers.com or call 703-910-7384 for personalized guidance.
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