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Blackland Advisors Blog Posts

Sell-Side Quality of Earnings (QofE) Strategy

by: Chapman SymePublished on: 05/08/2026

A sell-side QoE report is the single most effective way to prevent diligence surprises from collapsing your deal. Learn what it covers, what it costs, and when to commission one. Chapman Syme from Blackland Advisors.

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EBITDA vs SDE: What M&A Buyers Use for $10M+ Exits

by: Chapman SymePublished on: 04/10/2026

Sophisticated buyers use EBITDA, not SDE. Learn the difference, why it matters for your company, and how the metric your buyer chooses shapes your valuation. Chapman Syme from Blackland Advisors.

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Calculating Adjusted EBITDA for Middle Market Exits

by: Chapman SymePublished on: 03/30/2026

EBITDA is the metric every serious buyer uses to value your business — but most sellers don't know how it's calculated. This guide covers add-backs, owner compensation, depreciation, and what buyers actually see. Chapman Syme from Blackland Advisors.

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M&A Quality of Earnings: Acceptable EBITDA Add-Backs

by: Chapman SymePublished on: 02/20/2026

Not all EBITDA add-backs survive buyer scrutiny. This guide covers every legitimate add-back category — owner comp, one-time costs, personal expenses — with the documentation standard required for each. Chapman Syme from Blackland Advisors.

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