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Free Resources

Frameworks and tools
you can use today

Every resource here is free. No course required. Built from real deals — not assembled from theory. Download, use on your next deal, come back for the next one.

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The Business Buyer's Due Diligence Checklist
47 questions. Used on every Dealwise deal. Download free — no catch.
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📖 Guide ⚖️

Business Valuation Guide

How to value a business using three methods — with worked examples and a reference table of typical sector multiples for UK SMEs.

  • Earnings-based valuation (EBITDA multiple method)
  • Asset-based and net asset approaches
  • Market comparable benchmarking
  • Factors that move multiples up and down
🎯 Scorecard 🎯

Acquisition Readiness Scorecard

Are you actually ready to buy a business? Score yourself across 8 dimensions before you start your search — finance, time, risk appetite, team, and more.

  • 8-dimension self-assessment framework
  • RAG-rated scoring guide
  • Interpretation and recommended actions
  • What to strengthen before you begin
🏗️ Framework 🌳

Deal Structure Decision Tree

A decision tree for choosing the right deal structure — cash, earn-out, deferred consideration, or vendor finance — based on the deal context and seller situation.

  • Decision tree across 6 deal structure types
  • When to use each — and when not to
  • Worked examples for each structure
  • Risk and reward trade-off summary
📋 Playbook 🚀

Exit Readiness Playbook

For sellers: the 8-area playbook to assess, prepare, and position your business for sale. With a traffic-light scorecard and prioritised action plan.

  • 8-area exit readiness assessment
  • RAG scorecard for each area
  • Most common issues and how to fix them
  • Timeline guide: 6, 12, and 24-month windows
📖 Guide 💷

Working Capital Explained

The guide to understanding working capital in acquisitions — why it matters, how it's calculated in a deal, and how to avoid the most common traps.

  • What working capital is and how it's measured
  • How it affects the deal price
  • Normalised working capital and the peg concept
  • Three worked examples from real deal scenarios
✅ Checklist 📝

Heads of Terms Review Checklist

20 things to check before you sign heads of terms — covering price, structure, exclusivity, conditions, and the items most buyers miss before legal process begins.

  • Price and consideration structure checks
  • Conditions precedent and exclusivity
  • Working capital and completion mechanics
  • Red flags that indicate a problem deal
📊 Template 📊

EBITDA Normalisation Template

A structured Excel template for normalising reported EBITDA — identifying add-backs, one-offs, and adjustments to arrive at a maintainable earnings figure.

  • Pre-built row structure for common adjustments
  • Add-back categories with guidance notes
  • Three-year comparison format
  • Output: normalised EBITDA bridge summary
🎯 Scorecard 💼

Deal Quality Scorecard

Score any potential acquisition across 10 dimensions before you commit significant time or money. A fast filter to prioritise the best opportunities.

  • 10-dimension commercial and financial scoring
  • Weighted score calculation
  • Minimum threshold guidance
  • Printable one-page format
📋 Playbook 🗺️

100-Day Post-Acquisition Playbook

What to do in the first 100 days after completing an acquisition — finance, operations, people, and value creation priorities structured week by week.

  • Day 1 priorities: cash, people, customers
  • Weeks 1–4: stabilise and assess
  • Month 2: reporting and control framework
  • Month 3: first value creation moves
🏗️ Framework 🏗️

Value Creation Framework

A structured framework for identifying, prioritising, and tracking value creation opportunities in an acquired or owned business — across revenue, margin, and multiple.

  • Revenue, margin, and multiple levers identified
  • Effort vs impact prioritisation matrix
  • Quick wins vs strategic change split
  • Progress tracking dashboard template
📊 Template 📋

Acquisition Comparison Template

A side-by-side template for comparing two or more acquisition opportunities — financials, deal terms, risk profile, and strategic fit on a single page.

  • Financial metrics comparison grid
  • Deal structure summary rows
  • Risk and upside scoring
  • Decision recommendation section
12
free resources
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100%
built from real deals,
not textbook theory
Free
always — no paywall,
no upsell required
ACA
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