SmartHelping acquisition case studies
Real listings. Independent analysis.
See what happens when the asking price, reported earnings, financing, buyer returns, business quality and downside are put into a structured acquisition model.
Educational walkthroughs of public business-for-sale listings using seller-provided information and clearly stated assumptions.
Deal analysis library
Four deals. Four different answers.
The listing tells the seller's story. Each analysis asks what a buyer must believe, what the financing can support and which claims still need to be verified.
Strong score, subject to verification
Latest · $24M asking · Cold email SaaS
Cold Email SaaS Acquisition Analysis: Is an $8M ARR Business Worth $24M?
A cold email infrastructure platform founded in 2024 with 3,100 active subscribers and reported 9% monthly growth. The review flags unclear ARR versus trailing revenue and conflicting EBITDA margin claims.
Attractive, subject to verification
$3.505M asking · HVAC & mechanical contractor
I Analyzed a $3.5 Million HVAC Business for Sale
A seven-person contractor serving national restaurant and convenience-store accounts, with approximately $750,000 of owned equipment and attractive headline cash flow.
Weak at the asking price
$2.95M asking · Laundromat + real estate
I Analyzed a $2.95 Million Laundromat for Sale
The model tested the asking price, financing, real-estate economics and added wash-dry-fold and commercial services against the cash flow shown in the listing.
Mixed and price-sensitive
$900K asking · Car wash + real estate
I Analyzed a $900K Car Wash for Sale
At roughly 5x adjusted earnings, the deal was more grounded than many listings, but renovations, membership growth, operating durability and leverage still mattered.
These examples are screening-level educational analyses of public listings. Seller- and broker-provided information was not independently verified, and illustrative assumptions were used where information was unavailable.
The review framework
See the return, the quality and the risk separately.
A projected return can look attractive while weak debt coverage, owner dependence, concentrated revenue or unsupported assumptions remain hidden underneath it.
Financial
Purchase price, normalized earnings, financing structure, debt coverage, buyer cash flow, IRR and valuation sensitivity.
Quality
Revenue durability, customer economics, recurring activity, operating depth, owner dependence and competitive position.
Risk
Downside protection, concentration, missing information, deferred investment and the assumptions that still need proof.
Bring me the next deal
Choose the level of review you need.
Start with a focused conversation when you need perspective, or commission complete underwriting when the decision requires a model, stress test and written findings.
Talk it through
Deal Gut Check
From $99
Discuss the price, financing, cash flow, assumptions and questions to investigate directly with Jason before deciding what to do next.
- 15 minutes / $99 · 30 minutes / $199 · 60 minutes / $349
- Best for a focused question, sanity check or live second opinion
- Call only — no model, scorecard or written report
Complete underwriting
Acquisition Deal Analysis
$1,950 fixed fee
Get an experienced second look at the purchase price, financing, cash flow, buyer returns, business quality and downside before committing more capital.
- Professional Excel underwriting workbook
- Base and downside analysis plus purchase-price sensitivity
- 100-point acquisition scorecard and written findings
- Prioritized diligence questions and a 45-minute review call
- Generally delivered within 3 business days after required information is received
Understand the deal before you buy it.
Use the case studies to see the process in practice, then choose a live conversation or a complete underwriting package for the opportunity in front of you.
