Altaris Blog

The acquisition
intelligence blog

Practical guides, deal analysis, and M&A frameworks for independent buyers — written by people who've done real deals.

Featured · Due Diligence

The complete SDE normalisation guide for SMB acquisitions

Seller Discretionary Earnings is the most important number in any small business acquisition — and the most manipulated. Here's how to calculate it properly.

Read article12 min read
SDE NORMALISATION EXAMPLE
Net profit (as stated)$287,000
+ Owner salary+$95,000
+ Depreciation+$22,000
− Non-recurring income−$18,000
True SDE$386,000
Due Diligence

Customer concentration: the silent deal killer

How to identify, quantify, and negotiate around over-reliance on a single customer in any SMB acquisition.

Read more8 min read
Valuation

Why the SDE multiple isn't the whole story

Multiples vary by sector, growth rate, owner dependency, and lease quality. Here's how to build a realistic offer range.

Read more10 min read
Legal

Asset vs share purchase: what every Australian buyer must know

The structure of your purchase has massive tax and liability implications. This guide explains what to choose and when.

Read more9 min read
Financing

How to finance a small business acquisition in Australia

Bank loans, vendor finance, private credit — a practical breakdown for buyers under $3M.

Read more11 min read
Operations

The 90-day integration playbook for trade business buyers

How to take over a plumbing, HVAC, or electrical business without losing staff, customers, or your sanity.

Read more14 min read
AI & Tools

How AI is changing due diligence for independent buyers

What was a 40-hour task for a junior analyst now takes 5 minutes. Here's what that means for how you approach DD.

Read more7 min read

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