Pre-LOI Deal Evaluation for First-Time Business Buyers
Nate Smieja
CFO Advisor & Operator
Learn how to quickly vet deals and build confidence before making an offer.
Most first-time buyers spend weeks analyzing every CIM, second-guessing numbers, and chasing deals that were never worth the effort... or end up missing out on the good ones.
In this live, hands-on course, you’ll learn a 30-minute triage method that filters weak deals, helps you spot real risks, and builds the judgment to focus only on opportunities worth pursuing.
You’ll practice interpreting financial trends, identifying red flags, and testing your instincts through real deal examples and guided projects — including the Interpreting Financial Trends exercise and Deal Triage Simulation.
By the end, you’ll confidently move from scattered analysis to clear, structured decision-making — ready to recognize quality deals quickly and connect the numbers to what matters most in ownership.
What you’ll learn
Learn a 30-minute triage method to evaluate deals confidently, spot red flags early, and focus on the right opportunities.
Quickly interpret CIM financials, filter surface-level noise, and decide which deals deserve a deeper look.
You’ll practice this structured approach live, learning to form fast, confident judgments without getting buried in spreadsheets.
Recognize risks like margin compression, customer concentration, or owner dependency.
Consider how to separate “fixable” issues from deal-breakers.
You’ll develop judgment for which red flags you can live with and which to walk away from.
Uncover reasonable valuations by analyzing SDE trends and addback adjustments.
Learn to spot inflated earnings, anomalies, and make apples-to-apples comparisons across deals.
Evaluate deals from a lender’s perspective.
Factor in your own salary assumptions and understand how debt coverage limits shape realistic offers.
These quick analyses help you speak credibly with lenders and investors.
Translate financial insights into actionable next steps.
Make it habit to consider the following questions. What does this business need to grow, and how could you create value?
This skill bridges deal analysis and ownership mindset, preparing you for what comes next post-close.
Learn directly from Nate
Nate Smieja
CFO Advisor & Operator helping first-time buyers vet deals with confidence
Who this course is for
Corporate Professional in Transition
Mid-career exec leaving corporate, capital ready, seeks confidence pre-LOI.
Consultant or Technical Expert Turned Buyer
Analytical pro, strong with data but new to small biz financial vetting.
Mid-Career Entrepreneurial Seeker
Driven to own, willing to invest, fears wasting time or missing red flags.
What's included
Live sessions
Learn directly from Nate Smieja in a real-time, interactive format.
Learn by doing
Complete real-world deal exercises and get fast feedback to strengthen your decision-making instincts.
Lifetime access
Go back to course content and recordings whenever you need to.
Community of peers
Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.
Certificate of completion
Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.
Maven Guarantee
This course is backed by the Maven Guarantee. Students are eligible for a full refund up until the halfway point of the course.
Course syllabus
4 live sessions • 2 projects
Week 1
Dec
2
Session 1 – The Confident Buyer’s Framework
Tue 12/25:00 PM—6:30 PM (UTC)Dec
4
Session 2 - Deal Analysis in Action
Thu 12/45:00 PM—6:30 PM (UTC)Dec
5
Optional Q&A - Friday
Fri 12/55:00 PM—6:00 PM (UTC)
Week 1: Building the Confident Buyer’s Mindset
Week 2
Dec
9
Session 3 – Connecting Numbers to Strategy
Tue 12/95:00 PM—6:30 PM (UTC)
Week 2 - Connecting Numbers to Strategy
Free resource
Pre-LOI Financial Due Diligence for Small Business Buyers
5 Key Areas Every Small Business Buyer Must Review
Emphasis on 5 areas of financial due diligence to check in every CIM before signing an LOI.
Spot the Red Flags SMB Buyers Often Miss
Identify inflated SDE, risky customer concentration, and other red flags that derail deals.
How Addbacks Impact Business Valuation
See how small changes in addbacks flow into SDE and valuation, protecting you from overpaying.
Why Multiples Flex From Buyer to Buyer
Understand how deal structure, revenue style, and buyer fit shift multiples in real transactions.
Schedule
Live sessions
6 hrs
We'll meet across 3 live sessions, answer questions and get personal during an optional Q&A and deliver on two projects that translate to practical, real-world results.
Tue, Dec 2
5:00 PM—6:30 PM (UTC)
Thu, Dec 4
5:00 PM—6:30 PM (UTC)
Fri, Dec 5
5:00 PM—6:00 PM (UTC)
Tue, Dec 9
5:00 PM—6:30 PM (UTC)
Projects
2 hrs
We'll go through projects that bring practical experience and application meant to build confidence in SMB deal analysis. The emphasis will be on the narrative of the numbers.
Async content
1 hr
Resource Toolkit: Downloadable templates, checklists, red flag library, and quick DSCR calculator to use in your future deal reviews.
Testimonials
- Nate's my guy! ...he's awesome! I've interviewed several firms and had one more to go, but my search is over. ... You've made the business acquisition process fun and enjoyable.
Vito C
Searcher | Sr Manager @ Amazon - This was an excellent webinar (Lightning Lesson) hosted by Nate Smieja - highly recommend a watch!
Cameron R
Self Funded Searcher