Viking Mergers & Acquisitions

10/14/2026

New SBA lending rules took effect October 1, 2026. What do they mean for business sellers?
More than you might expect.

Although SBA loans are obtained by buyers, the financing requirements can influence the transaction, from how a deal is structured to how lenders evaluate the acquisition.

In our newly published article, Viking President Jay Offerdahl collaborated with Mark Pompeo, Senior Vice President at Live Oak Bank, to explain seven important updates and what sellers should understand about them.

The changes don't mean SBA-financed acquisitions are inherently more difficult or less attractive. But they do reinforce the importance of understanding how a proposed transaction fits within the lender's requirements.

If you're considering selling your business, or advising someone who is, this is a timely update worth reading. Read the full article:

SBA lending rules updated in 2026 affect business acquisitions, including Quality of Earnings, seller notes, transition roles, and deal structure. Here is what sellers should understand.

10/07/2026

Messy books don't necessarily mean the same thing for every business owner considering a sale.

Unreconciled accounts and outdated statements may be fixable with focused cleanup. Personal expenses running through the business may require documentation and defensible add-backs. More significant issues like unfiled tax returns, revenue recognition problems, or undisclosed liabilities can require considerably more time and professional help.

The point is that buyers base offers on what they can verify, not on what an owner says the business earns. This blog post breaks financial disorganization into three categories and explains what may be fixable in 90 days, what requires disclosure and documentation, and what may call for a different timeline altogether.

If you're considering a sale and your financial records aren't where you'd like them to be, this is a good place to start. Read the full article:

Messy books don't automatically disqualify a sale, but they do need attention. Learn what's fixable in 90 days and what needs a different plan.

10/01/2026

Selling a business involves much more than finding a buyer.

You need someone to lead the sale process, an attorney to address the legal terms, a CPA to evaluate the tax implications, and a financial advisor to help determine whether the outcome supports your plans after closing.

The roles are different, but the decisions are connected, and involving the right professionals early can help you avoid costly surprises later.

For an overview of the four professionals every business owner should consider when preparing for a sale, read this helpful article by Tripp Lawson:

Do you need a broker to sell your business? Learn the different roles your M&A advisor, attorney, CPA, and financial advisor play and how they work together.

09/30/2026

A business sale isn't a single event. It's a process.

Owners who may want the option to sell in the next 24 months should work backward from their goal. Valuation, tax planning, financial cleanup, buyer readiness, diligence, financing, and transition planning all take time.

09/29/2026

Work hard. Play hard. Grow together.

Team members from across Viking M&A's 20 locations gathered at our Charlotte headquarters last week for two packed days of training, learning, collaboration, and connection at our 2026 Navigate Conference.

It felt a little like a family reunion. We shared ideas and experiences, learned from one another, strengthened relationships across our locations, and enjoyed some well-earned time together outside the conference room.

A huge thank-you to the sponsors who helped make Navigate possible:

Title Sponsor: Elliott Davis
Platinum Sponsors: Cardinal Finance Partners; Live Oak Bank; MassMutual: The Collective Wealth Management; Pinnacle Financial; and PLG Law
Gold Sponsor: Fourscore Business Law
Silver Sponsor: BRC CPAs

We’re returning to our markets energized, connected, and grateful to be part of this team.

09/24/2026

If you want to sell your business by 2028, the planning process should begin earlier than you may expect.

The final article in our Timing the Sale series works backward from a potential 2028 sale and explains what business owners should be thinking about in 2026, 2027, and 2028.

Read the full article:

Planning to sell a business by 2028? Learn when to start valuation, tax planning, financial cleanup, and sale preparation.

09/22/2026

Many owners focus on the sale price, but the number at the top of the offer isn't what the owner keeps.

Taxes, debt payoff, working capital, transaction fees, seller notes, earnouts, rollover equity, and deal structure can all affect net proceeds. Owners should understand those factors before they're deep into negotiations.

09/21/2026

Many business owners focus on valuation, but the headline purchase price is not the same as net proceeds.

Part 5 of our Timing the Sale series includes insights from John Bly, CPA, CVA, CM&AA, CGMA, the South Atlantic Regional Leader at Aprio, and explains what owners should ask their CPA before selling a business.

Read the full article:

Selling a business? Learn what tax questions to ask your CPA before going to market, including entity structure, asset sales, net proceeds, and tax planning.

09/16/2026

Even if the seller is not borrowing money, financing can still affect the seller’s outcome.

Lender confidence can influence timing, deal structure, seller financing, cash at closing, and certainty of close. That's why business owners should prepare the company before financing questions begin.

09/14/2026

Financing can affect whether a business sale closes, how it is structured, and how much confidence both sides have in the process.

Part 4 of our Timing the Sale series features insights from Stan Lamb of Pinnacle Financial Partners on what lenders evaluate during acquisition financing, especially when the broader market feels uncertain.

Read the full article: https://buff.ly/b5FMUUK

Election-year uncertainty can affect business acquisition financing. Learn what lenders evaluate, why financing matters, and how sellers can prepare.