08/19/2026
Consider two offers.
One has a larger headline value but more rollover equity, a longer earnout, and less control over the conditions needed to receive the rest.
The other has a lower headline value but more cash at close, cleaner terms, and less risk.
Which is better?
You cannot answer from the multiple alone. You need an after-tax, risk-adjusted comparison tied to the sellerβs actual goals.
Price matters. Certainty matters. Timing matters. Control matters. The life the proceeds must fund matters most.
In Lever 11 of The Dental Exit Blueprint, I focus on the distance between what a deal says and what an owner truly keeps.
Get the book: https://a.co/d/0fyIK3fK