Direct sources. Clear status. Practical public information.
Reviewed November 10, 2026 · general U.S. business-acquisition planning.
The U.S. Small Business Administration tells buyers to quantify the investment, review assets and liabilities, and conduct due diligence with professional help. A practical record should therefore keep three numbers separate.
Three numbers, three owners
| Number | What belongs in the record | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Ask price | Seller/listing source, observation date, price basis, included assets, exclusions, correction owner. | Value, accepted price, financing, or total cash required. |
| Total acquisition basis | Negotiated consideration plus supportable transaction, transfer, inventory, repair, technology, licensing, insurance, training, and working-capital items. | Tax basis or deductible treatment without qualified review. |
| Buyer scenario | Buyer-specific financing, owner labor, replacement labor, integration, timing, downside, break-even, and exit assumptions. | Guaranteed revenue, profit, approval, payback, or return. |
Reconciliation card
- Give every price a source, date, basis, included assets, and correction owner.
- Separate recurring costs from one-time closing and integration costs.
- Mark seller-provided, third-party-verified, buyer-estimated, disputed, and unknown inputs.
- Run low/base/high scenarios with the formula, period, and perspective stated.
- Stop before an NDA, letter of intent, deposit, financing application, or purchase commitment until responsible professionals and decision-makers review the actual records.
Unknown is not zero. A total can be used for screening only when its components and exclusions are visible. This tool does not value a business, inspect a listing, establish tax treatment, or recommend a transaction.
Official sources
Public-information notice: This Pulse is a dated, source-linked research summary for general educational use. It reports what the cited sources state or what the identified public record shows as of the date reviewed. Citation does not mean endorsement, partnership, certification, or independent confirmation of every third-party assertion. This is not individualized legal, medical, tax, accounting, investment, insurance, cybersecurity, licensing, regulatory, procurement, employment, real-estate, or other professional advice. Rules, facts, availability, and eligibility can change. Verify the controlling source, jurisdiction, effective date, and your own facts, and consult the responsible agency or a qualified professional before a consequential decision. External links are provided for attribution and may change. Use this information and any reader-controlled checklist at your own discretion and risk.