Price Is Only the Beginning: Where Millions Are Won or Lost in M&A

Episode notes

Hi, welcome back to ValuationPodcast.com - a podcast and video series about all things related to business and valuation. I’m Melissa Gragg, a financial mediator and business valuation expert in St. Louis, Missouri. When it comes to buying or selling a business, most people focus on one thing - the price. But what if I told you that the price is only the beginning, and that millions can be won or lost in the details of the deal itself? In today’s episode, I’m joined by Holli Moeini, a seasoned CFO, CPA, and M&A advisor who has seen firsthand how deals can quietly erode - or significantly increase - value depending on how they’re structured. As someone who works closely with business owners navigating valuation, mediation, and complex financial decisions, I’ve also witnessed how easy it is to overlook critical elements that ultimately shape the outcome of a transaction. Together, we dive into the hidden layers of mergers and acquisitions - where working capital, earnouts, due diligence, and financial storytelling can make or break a deal.

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