As a small- to middle-market business owner, you can significantly increase your ability to grow, to expand, to provide dividends to your investors, to buy out a passive partner or to sell your company when the time is right.  

But it requires understanding a full range of financing options available beyond the capacity of a typical commercial bank. 

Business owners in your situation are usually extremely focused on day-to-day operation of their companies. You are often tied to the company as its founder or CEO and you likely have given personal guarantees to qualify for bank financing. Yet you may be reaching a point in your business where you need to grow to achieve your objectives, and traditional funding sources may not be available for those purposes. Or, you may be reaching a stage in life where you are interested in slowing down or easing into retirement, either playing a continuing role in the business or by cashing out entirely.

Business owners who choose to represent themselves in acquisition negotiations often find out, too late, that they are unable to move the discussion smoothly to closing and get maximum value for their company. Most would benefit from the help of professional advisers: an attorney experienced in documenting the kind of financing needed, an accounting firm acceptable to outside investors, an investment banker knowledgeable in the capital markets. You'll pay fees, but you'll get maximum valuation on the best terms, whether you are raising capital for growth or selling your business.

It will serve you well to put a professional team in place that can help you understand the financing options available to you and address all the issues potential lenders or investors may want to have addressed. That will maximize the value of your company and will allow you to tap the estimated pool of more than $3 trillion in cash available to invest or acquire small- and mid-sized firms.