A Trusted Partner for Founder-Owned Businesses

For nearly nine decades, William Blair has guided owners of closely held businesses and their trusted advisors through monumental decisions.

Expert Guidance for Business Transitions

If you are an advisor to a business owner, especially one from a family- or founder-owned organization, your clients have more opportunities for generating liquidity and transitioning their businesses than ever before.

William Blair can help. Our investment banking and private wealth management businesses have a long history of partnering with business owners and their advisors—including attorneys, accountants, and others. We deliver expert advisory services on a broad range of topics, such as raising capital, navigating a complex and evolving strategic and financial investor landscape, and effectively explaining risk to an executive team or board members. Whether we are working with a small business or large companies, we know that finalizing a deal is a big step in a longer journey—for chief executive officers, founders, and their top advisors.

How We Can Help

Pre-Liquidity Planning

How a proactive and personalized strategy is key in preparing for a major liquidity event.
Full/Partial Company Sales

What to know when deciding whether to go for the last dollar or hang on to a continuing stake.
Growth Equity Raises

How to effectively obtain minority capital and partner with like-minded investors.
Unique Buyer Category Insights

What to know when comparing strategic and financial investors, and how family offices fit in.
Acquisition and Financing Services

How to access leveraged finance to raise capital in a flexible, cost-efficient manner.
Multigenerational Wealth Management

What to do to ensure newfound wealth creates opportunities for future generations.
Family Office Formation

How to form a family office after a liquidity event—and what it can mean for a family’s legacy.
Philanthropic Advisory Services

What it takes to make a philanthropic impact, especially amid broad societal changes.
Merchant Banking

How to access unique investment opportunities, such as private equity and debt funds and direct listings.
Deep Sector Domain Expertise

How research can provide key insights across sectors, geographies, and market caps.
Public Market Intelligence

What founder-led and family-owned businesses can learn from what is driving public companies.
Corporate Executive Services

How to optimize company financial interests along with personal wealth concerns.

Resources

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Exit Strategy: Preparing Yourself

Preparing yourself and your family can be one of the most overlooked parts of an exit strategy. But it goes beyond maximizing tax efficiency and unlocking newfound wealth—it’s a monumental transition filled with emotional considerations.
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Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Exit Strategy: Preparing Your Company

Company leaders who have spent their lives running a business probably have limited experience when it comes to selling one. That means preparation is a crucial part of any effective exit strategy.
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Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Liquidity Options Without Giving Up Control of Your Business

For leaders of founder-owned businesses, raising significant capital without relinquishing control can seem challenging. But investors focused on non-control transactions are becoming more common—creating opportunities to support growth, strategic acquisitions, and personal liquidity.
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Monday, August 5, 2024

Navigating Financial, Strategic, and Quasi-Strategic Buyers

Certain buyer behaviors remain constant, regardless of economic cycle. In the run-up to a liquidity event, it’s critical to understand the behaviors as they relate to three main buyer categories—financial, strategic, and quasi-strategic.
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