THE DKZ PRE-MARKET BRIEFING
The Difference Between A Good Exit
And A Compromised One Starts Here
Most founders think their exit outcome is decided during the sale process.
In reality, a large part of it is set before you ever speak to a buyer.
A Pre-Market Briefing is how you make sure you get this right, and don’t leave millions on the table.
Most Value is Lost Before You Go To Market
Most founders assume their valuation is determined
by their numbers or negotiated during the sale.
It isn’t.
It’s shaped before the sale process even begins - by how the business is positioned, how risk is understood, and how the process is structured.
Founders know their business better than anyone.
But they’ve never sold one before.
So understandably, they don’t know how this works.
They speak to brokers, bankers, M&A advisors.
They start exploring options.
And before they’re ready, an exit process begins around them.
From that point on, it’s very costly and hard to recover.
Small mistakes pre-market compound into large losses
in valuation, terms, or failed processes.
Weaker positioning = fewer interested buyers.
Poor advisor selection = weaker, frustrating process.
Unclear narrative = pressure in diligence, retrades, buyers walk.
Limited leverage = worse price and terms.
And in many cases, a deal doesn’t happen at all - after you’ve spent considerable money, time and energy.
You learn most of this mid-process - when it’s too late and the damage is done.
What the DKZ Pre-Market Briefing Covers - Four Layers
Within 2 weeks, you’ll have a clear view of your business through a buyer’s eyes,
and everything you need to avoid costly mistakes and approach the market from a position of strength.
· 2 WEEK TURNAROUND · NDA PROTECTED · NO FURTHER COMMITMENT
01 - ASSESSMENT
What buyers will like. Where your business is strong and how that translates into buyer demand and valuation - the specific characteristics that create interest, competition, and price.
What will raise questions, and what it might cost you. Where buyers will hesitate, what that hesitation costs in valuation or deal structure, and the difference between ‘minor friction’ and ‘price-moving problems.’
02 - ANALYSIS
What could kill a deal or narrow your options. Things that might stop deals entirely, force you into worse buyer categories or deal structures, or create asymmetry in negotiations. You learn this upfront - not mid-process, when it’s too late to act on it.
What’s fixable in 3–6 months and what isn’t. And how to handle both. Not everything needs to be fixed before you go to market. Some things can be framed. Some can’t. Knowing which is which changes everything.
How to position the business before intermediary selection. How to frame your strengths properly, get ahead of your weaknesses, and control the narrative before anyone else gets to define it for you.
03 - INTELLIGENCE
Market and buyer overview. Insight into what’s happening in your sector, who the likely buyer categories are for a business like yours, and potential acquirer names - strategic buyers, financial buyers, and non-obvious acquirers who might see value others miss.
This is drawn from live deal experience and ongoing market conversations. It’s directional, not a buyer report - but it gives you a grounded view of the landscape before you engage a single intermediary.
04 - KNOWLEDGE
How to choose the right intermediary - and how to avoid the wrong one. We show you how different types of advisors (brokers, bankers, M&A boutiques) actually behave, where misalignment shows up, how to screen properly and the specific terms to check before you commit to anyone.
Getting this right or wrong can mean 6-7 figure swings in outcome - in the upside you capture and the cost you avoid.
“One question, asked at the right time in a banker meeting, saved a client $40k in fees.” That’s what knowing what you’re doing looks like.
Most founders walk into those meetings as the person being sold to.
After your bespoke Pre-Market Briefing, you won’t.
THE PROCESS
How It Works
01 - GET IN TOUCH
Send us some details.
We’ll set up a call.
02 - SIGN AN NDA
We both sign. Your information is protected.
03 - SHARE SOME INFO
A small set of documents & 30 mins of your time.
03 - WE GET TO WORK
2 weeks later, you have your bespoke briefing.
03 - DEBRIEF SESSION
A debrief meeting to discuss our findings.
Who This Is For
Founders of UK, USA or Canada based businesses doing $1–50m revenue, considering starting an exit process in the next 6–12 months.
Founders who have received inbound acquisition interest and want to strengthen their position before responding.
Founders about to select a broker, banker or M&A Advisor - and wanting to enter that process informed, not blind.
Founders who sense they should be better prepared but aren’t sure what to focus on first.
Your Investment
What you get, what it costs and what’s included.
The DKZ Pre-Market Briefing: from $4000. Full four-layer analysis across Assessment, Analysis, Intelligence, and Knowledge. Visual slide-format report. Delivered in 2 weeks. Includes post report debrief and Q&A session.
Add-on: We attend your intermediary meetings: +$2500. We attend up to 3 meetings with you. We ask the questions you now know to ask - and a few you don’t. This is where the Briefing pays for itself many times over.
Fixed fee, paid upfront. No hidden costs. No obligation to work with us further.
“One question, asked at the right time in a banker meeting, saved a client $40k in fees.”
That’s what knowing what you’re doing looks like.
What Happens After
Once the Briefing is complete, you decide what comes next - from a position of knowledge.
If your business is ready for market and you want us to run the sale as your intermediary, we’ll put a proposal forward alongside anyone else you’re considering.
The Briefing has already shown you how we think. The proposal shows you how we’d execute. Compare us against anyone.
If you’re not ready yet, you’ll have a clear and prioritised view of what to address before you go to market,
and we can point you to the right people to help you get there.
If we’re not the right firm for your deal, we’ll tell you that and where possible suggest who is.
Book a Pre-Market Briefing
Tell us a little about your business.
We’ll come back to you quickly - usually within 24 business hours - to confirm if it’s a fit, outline the next steps and set up a call.