A number you can defend
Every adjustment is documented and traced to source records, which leaves a buyer far fewer places to push on price.
For founder-owners 1–3 years from a sale
Sell your company for what it's actually worth
We're Edler Zain, an M&A-focused CPA firm. We recast your books, document every adjustment, and build the earnings databook a buyer's diligence team will test. So you go to market with a number you can defend, and keep more of it at closing.
Book your free exit-trajectory call ↗30 minutes on your financials, your timeline, and what a buyer will challenge first.
An M&A-focused CPA firm
built around the deal.
200+M&A deals
$375MEnterprise value
800+Clients served
- 01You know your business is highly profitable, but your tax returns tell a different story, and you don't know if there are problems with your books because you're not a numbers person.
- 02You're worried that when the time comes to sell, the story your financials tell will undermine the true value of the business.
- 03With the Buyer-Ready Earnings System, we transform a complicated, messy set of books into a clean story of value that matches what you know to be true about your business.
- 04When your financials tell the story they're supposed to, your deal will close with confidence rather than getting hung up in due diligence.
- 05We work directly alongside you to communicate your company's value to professional buyers who rely on strong numbers.
“Mark was massively helpful in conducting a QoE as part of my due diligence on a home services deal. He uncovered a few critical discrepancies that helped mitigate my risk, and also just gave a lot of peace of mind.”
Joe FosterCEO, Chester Companies
F
“I did have a chance to go through the entire spreadsheet. You've certainly broken out things the way that I assume a potential buyer would be looking at things. I'm really glad we went through the exercise.”
FounderHospitality business, in a sale process
Introducing the Buyer-Ready Earnings System
A defensible adjusted EBITDA in about 30 days, without months of back-and-forth.
We help founder-owners get their earnings documented the way a buyer's diligence team expects to see them, before the buyer ever asks.
Faster diligence
The buyer's team gets a databook they can follow, which shortens the process and keeps the deal moving.
No surprises at the table
We find the issues before a buyer does, while you still control how they get explained.
Leverage in the negotiation
You walk into the LOI conversation with your own Quality of Earnings, not just the buyer's version of it.
How it works
Three steps to go from messy books to M&A ready financials
RECAST
Get the financials on solid footing.
We rebuild an accrual-based picture of performance and correct or clarify anything a buyer would question.
“My books are a mess.”
That's normal, and cleaning them up is part of the work. Most owners start with tax-basis books, so we rebuild them as step one.
DOCUMENT
Show what the business really earns.
We evaluate owner compensation, one-time items, and other adjustments to arrive at your true operating earnings.
“Won't the buyer just redo all of this anyway?”
They'll run their own diligence. When they start from documented support, there's less to argue about and fewer reasons to cut the price.
PREPARE
Put the evidence behind the numbers.
We tie every adjustment to source records and organize it all in a databook a buyer's diligence team can follow.
“I'm not ready to sell yet.”
This work holds its value. Owners 1–3 years out use it to fix what's holding the multiple down before they go to market.
Tell us about your business and your exit plans.
30 minutes with a partner. We'll tell you what a buyer is likely to challenge first.
About us
A CPA firm built for entrepreneurs who buy, build, and sell.
Edler Zain was founded in 2022 as an M&A-focused CPA firm for founder-owned businesses. Our team brings Big 4 backgrounds and has personally acquired businesses, guaranteed debt, and run operations.
We've worked on 200+ M&A deals, including the buy-side diligence that tests a seller's numbers. That's the perspective we bring to your side of the table.
200+M&A deals
$375MEnterprise value
800+Clients served
Big 4Background across the team
Before we talk
Common questions.
My books aren't ready. Can we still start?+
Yes. Cleaning up and recasting the financials is part of the work. The first call helps us understand the condition of your records and what needs to happen next.
Is this a business valuation?+
The core deliverable is a documented earnings analysis and buyer-ready databook. It's the financial foundation of a valuation conversation. Your final price also depends on the business, the market, the buyer, and the deal terms.
Will buyers accept every adjustment?+
Buyers run their own diligence and may challenge adjustments. We document the reasoning and support so you have that conversation from a stronger position. No report can guarantee a buyer's acceptance or a sale price.
How long does it take?+
About 30 days in most cases. We confirm timing once we understand your records, the complexity of the business, and the scope.
What happens on the free call?+
We'll talk through your business, your exit timing, and the state of your financials, then tell you whether the Buyer-Ready Earnings System is a fit and what the next step should be.
Your next step
Ready to stop worrying about what a buyer will find?
- Recast, accrual-based financial statements
- A documented adjusted EBITDA
- A buyer-ready earnings databook
- A clear list of what to fix before you sell
“Their QoE work is exceptional, but they go beyond the numbers. They know the art of balancing all the stakeholders involved in a deal. They set clear expectations and deliver on them.”
Ken WohlFounder, Nice Day Ventures