Buying a small business? Here’s a harsh truth: the seller’s “smooth operations” story might not match reality.

Diligence isn’t just about verifying the books—it’s about questioning the systems, the team, and the real drivers of success.

Ask: What actually keeps this business running?

The legal subreddits are insufferable this time of year with everyone trying to calculate their compensation/bonus

Time kills all deals, but rushing kills even more.

Move too slow, and momentum dies.
Move too fast, and due diligence suffers.
The real art of M&A? Knowing when to press the gas—and when to pump the brakes.

Timing isn't everything—it's the only thing.

In a transactional practice, sometimes we get stuck keeping our heads down, closing a transaction, and simply just moving on to the next one. Sometimes it is nice to look up, take a deep breath, and see positive reviews from your clients.

Got some new reading material this morning

Things I wish I learned in law school: how to track all my tasks and manage the work going up, down, and out

Love seeing all the people coming over here! Nice to be on an app without so many bots.

Intro time! I’m Nathan Hill, an Associate at SMB Law Group, helping SMBs navigate M&A deals. Originally from Vegas, now in Cleveland, where I’m a proud supporter of all things NE Ohio.

I’m passionate about SMBs, legal tech, M&A, and sharing insights from life as a young attorney.

Let’s connect!