Case History: Financial Reporting & Transaction Readiness

Specialty Retail & Ammunition Manufacturing

Myrtle Beach, SC Area

When messy financials kept buyers at bay, Fortis clarified the company's position, assessed asset value, and delivered deal-ready reports that helped secure a successful strategic acquisition.

Situation

A veteran-owned specialty retailer offering gunsmithing, ammunition manufacturing, and tactical training was preparing to sell. Despite strong brand credibility and valuable licenses, the company struggled to attract buyers due to disorganized financial records and lack of clarity around earnings and asset value. Rapidly rising rent and inconsistent profitability made it difficult for potential buyers to justify the asking price. Without a clear financial picture, a sale seemed out of reach.

Objective

Referred by the business broker, Fortis Business Advisors was brought in to develop accurate, defensible financial reports and provide a realistic valuation framework for presenting the business to potential buyers. This included revising the profit & loss statement and balance sheet, analyzing inventory, equipment, and licenses, and outlining various valuation scenarios based on earnings, revenue multiples, and asset value. The work was intended to improve buyer confidence and help structure a path toward a successful exit.

Results

Conducted a site visit and multi-source financial review, pulling from the accounting software, POS data, and tax returns.

Created clean, corrected financial statements, including P&L and a modified balance sheet for buyer-facing use.

Identified and outlined the approximate book value of inventory and equipment to support broker-led pricing discussions.

Flagged cash flow concerns and presented break-even thresholds to inform future performance expectations.

Delivered a financial reporting package that allowed the broker to confidently list and market the business, ultimately leading to a successful buyer engagement.