Customers stay; no buyer benefits.
Business succession for SMEs · financial and commercial support
Prepare the transfer. Enter discussions with clarity.
I connect valuation, buyer perspectives and the commercial terms of a transfer. You can compare offers on a sound basis and take the next steps with an explainable financial foundation.
The initial conversation is free and without obligation. No financial documents are needed in advance.
01 · Fictional caseStandalone baseline value€1,093,942 With customer loss€933,284 Strategic buyer perspective€1,246,069
One valuation. Different buyer perspectives.
We continue with the fictional Weserwerk Montage GmbH: 22 employees, €2.8 million revenue and a planned transfer of 100% of the shares. The valuation at 31 December 2026 reveals which assumptions matter in discussions.
Annual EBITDA permanently lower by €30,000.
Additional benefits after coordination, integration and tax.
All three figures are equity values under different assumptions at a 14% discount rate. They are not purchase offers. Buyer-specific additional value does not automatically accrue to the seller.
View the complete valuation and calculations →02
Five steps make succession concrete.
Support depends on your starting point. Not every transfer needs the same steps or scope.
- 01
Clarify objectives and boundaries
When should the transfer happen? What role would you like afterwards? What financial outcome do you need?
Working outputA shared framework for timing, outcome and your future involvement.
- 02
Prepare evidence and value
Examine earnings, customers, capital needs and obligations. Support adjustments with evidence.
Working outputAn explainable model, unresolved questions and relevant value drivers.
- 03
Assess buyer perspectives
Separate standalone operation from supported buyer benefits. Prepare appropriate discussion material.
Working outputCommercial arguments and the potential requirements of different buyers.
- 04
Examine offers
Compare price, payment timing, conditions, financing and your continuing obligations.
Working outputA comparison exposing financial differences and questions to resolve.
- 05
Prepare the financial transfer
Plan customer transition, responsibilities and operating capital; coordinate with legal, tax and financing specialists.
Working outputA financial transition plan with responsibilities and pending decisions.
03Standalone operation Buyer-specific operation
Which buyer can carry the business forward?
An individual buyer and a strategic buyer see the same business differently. A higher calculated value alone does not make a buyer suitable.
Individual or management team
Management capability, financing and transfer of customer relationships matter. The model retains €105,000 annual total management costs, even if the buyer performs that role personally.
- Can financing support interest, principal and necessary headroom?
- Which customers depend on the outgoing owner?
- How long should the transition period be?
Strategic buyer
In the example, purchasing and administration can create additional benefits. After coordination, integration and tax, they add approximately €152,127 of value. Achievability must be examined against the buyer’s plan.
- Which benefits are additional and supported?
- Which duties and employees are still needed?
- What does integration mean for customers and the transfer?
Risks and costs already in the valuation remain visible. Benefits are not counted twice. An additional price depends on the share of buyer value conceded in negotiations.
04 · Fictional offer illustrationOffer A Offer B Direct comparison Without later target achievement With full target achievement
A higher price can come with different payments and conditions.
Two invented offers show the difference. Both cover 100% of the shares and assume the same treatment of debt, cash and working capital. Personal taxes and transaction costs are excluded.
A fixed agreed price
€1,100,000Payable in full at completion, once agreed completion conditions are met.
- Payment at completion: €1,100,000
- No later performance-dependent component assumed
- Financing and contract conditions still need examination
Fixed payment plus an earn-out
up to €1,200,000€950,000 at completion and up to €250,000 after two years, depending on agreed targets.
- Payment at completion: €950,000
- Later payment: €0 to €250,000
- Clarify targets, measurement, control and safeguards
€150,000 less at completion
€1,100,000 − €950,000
Timing mattersPart of the potentially higher price arrives later.
€950,000 total payment
€950,000 + €0
Conditions matterThat is €150,000 less than offer A.
€1,200,000 nominal total
€950,000 + €250,000
Examine the offer€100,000 more than A, before time value, risk and further obligations.
I make payment dates, conditions and financial consequences comparable. The later payment may be partially or entirely lost. A financial comparison requires clarified terms, appropriate discounting and a reasoned risk assessment. The legal contract requires specialist review.
05
A sound transition protects what supports value.
Customers, management and ongoing financing still matter after signing. Transition planning therefore belongs in the financial preparation.
Scroll sideways for more columns →
| Topic | Financial question | Working basis |
|---|---|---|
| Customer transfer | Which relationships need personal handover, and what does it cost? | Contact plan, responsibilities and retention assumptions. |
| Owner duties | Which responsibilities must someone else take over? | Duties, duration and pay for any transitional role. |
| Cash and working capital | Which funds are needed at completion and afterwards? | Date-specific reconciliation and an operating cash and financing plan. |
| Evidence and obligations | Which information must be supported for buyers and advisers? | Organised records, open items and responsibilities. |
I update the model when new information appears, such as customer retention, debt, investment requirements or buyer conditions. The result becomes more specific and may move in either direction.
06Defined project Ongoing succession support 
01 · free 02 · before commissioning 03 · working together 04 · handover
Defined support for the work you need.
The free conversation establishes your starting point. We then agree the commercial tasks, expected output and fees.
Start with a company valuation
from €4,000 excluding VATIf you first need a financial assessment, valuation can be a defined entry project within the Finance Decision System. Scope and available evidence determine the specific proposal.
View valuation and scope →Monthly retainer plus completion fee
Individual proposalPreparation, commercial discussions and ongoing updates are covered by a monthly retainer plus completion fee. Both elements are explicitly agreed separately before commissioning.
- Tasks, availability and duration
- Retainer amount and treatment
- Completion fee trigger and calculation basis
- Payment date and any offset arrangement
- Delayed, changed or unsuccessful transactions
You work directly with me.
I am Roman Braun, founder of Deistermind. I examine the financial evidence, build the appropriate calculations and discuss what they mean for your decision. Unresolved assumptions remain visible.
Initial conversation
Clarify your objective, position and available records.
Scope and fees
Agree deliverables, timing and price.
Analysis and model
Examine assumptions and calculate relevant alternatives.
Decision basis
Discuss the results and continue using the model.
My role is financial and commercial preparation and support. Tax advice, legal advice, contracts and formally required assessments belong with the respective specialists. Buyer outreach, negotiations and other tasks require an explicitly agreed scope. The valuation remains explainable and independent of fee incentives: risks and value-reducing findings are included too.
07
Questions before engaging support
Do I need a specific buyer already?
No. We can first prepare objectives, records and value drivers. A buyer search is not automatically included in the support described.
How is the completion fee agreed?
Support is paid through a monthly retainer plus completion fee. Amount, calculation basis, trigger and payment date are agreed in writing before commissioning.
Can you support internal or family succession?
Yes, where financial valuation, planning or coordination is needed. Relevant valuation requirements and legal and tax questions are clarified with the appropriate specialists.
Free and without obligation
Which transfer would you like to prepare?
Discuss your position in a free conversation without obligation. We establish whether an initial valuation or further succession support is useful.
Book a free introductory call →Opens external appointment booking with Calendly.