By: Natalie Johnson
Many business owners are proficient at running their companies. They understand their industries, manage day-to-day operations, and serve their customers well. Patrick Rogers, Managing Partner at Elkridge Advisors, recognizes that these same owners often lack critical expertise when preparing to sell: M&A transaction knowledge that determines whether they maximize exit value or leave millions on the table.
This knowledge gap creates predictable issues. Owners undervalue their companies because they focus on current earnings rather than strategic potential. They accept unfavorable deal terms because they lack negotiation experience with sophisticated buyers. They structure transactions inefficiently, creating unnecessary tax burdens that reduce net proceeds.
These mistakes are understandable. Most entrepreneurs build and run businesses for decades without ever participating in major M&A transactions. By the time they prepare to sell, they face buyers and private equity firms with teams of experienced advisors who execute dozens of deals annually.
Rogers brings the expertise that business owners lack. With nearly two decades in mergers and acquisitions and over $250 million in completed transactions, he has developed pattern recognition that reveals opportunities invisible to those without extensive deal experience.
The expertise gap matters most in valuation. Business owners typically think about their companies in terms of EBITDA multiples they have heard are standard for their industries. Rogers helps them understand that sophisticated buyers evaluate companies based on dozens of factors that influence their willingness to pay premium multiples.
Recurring revenue models, diversified customer bases, documented systems, strong management teams, and growth trajectories are just a few of the aspects that drive valuations higher. Many companies have gaps in these areas that depress valuations. Without M&A expertise, owners may not even recognize which improvements would generate the highest return on investment.
Rogers also brings expertise in deal structuring that protects owner interests. Purchase agreements contain dozens of terms that affect actual proceeds: earn-out provisions, working capital adjustments, indemnification caps, escrow requirements, and non-compete terms all impact final outcomes.
Based in San Diego, CA, Elkridge Advisors works with seven, eight, and nine-figure businesses where transaction complexity demands expert guidance. At these scales, percentage differences in valuations or deal terms translate to millions in additional or reduced proceeds.
The goal remains helping business owners take everything they have built and create seven or eight-figure exits that set them and their children up for life. Achieving this requires closing knowledge gaps that would otherwise cost owners substantial portions of their exit proceeds.
Rogers brings another critical advantage: understanding how to position companies to attract buyers with significantly deeper pockets. Many owners assume they will sell to competitors or small private equity firms. Rogers helps them understand that proper positioning can attract strategic buyers or larger funds willing to pay premium multiples for the right opportunities.
This buyer expertise matters enormously. Different buyer types evaluate companies using different criteria and have different motivations. Strategic buyers pay premiums for synergies. Financial buyers focus on cash flow predictability. Family offices seek sustainable businesses they can hold long term. Understanding the specifics of these differences enables targeted positioning that maximizes valuation.
Rogers has helped numerous business owners achieve significant success by applying expertise they may lack. His mission to assist owners in successfully exiting their companies involves systematically addressing knowledge gaps across a variety of future engagements.
The dozens of successful exits Rogers has facilitated demonstrate the value of expert guidance. These owners benefited from M&A expertise they could never have developed on their own, avoiding costly mistakes while capturing opportunities they would have otherwise missed.
For business owners approaching exit planning, Rogers offers straightforward value: access to nearly twenty years of M&A expertise applied specifically to maximizing owner outcomes. Through the tax-efficient holding structures Elkridge Advisors helps implement, clients keep and enjoy significantly more of their capital gains, making proper advisory relationships even more valuable.
Patrick Rogers and Elkridge Advisors have built their practice on closing the expertise gap that often prevents business owners from realizing their full exit potential. With a specialized M&A methodology, they have facilitated significant transactions and helped numerous business owners achieve outcomes they might not have achieved without expert guidance.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, financial, or professional advice. While we strive for accuracy, we make no representations or warranties, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of this information. Use of this information is at your own risk.