Looking for Leverage

Should You Budget for M&A?

Lessons from 15 acquisitions and a $5.1B exit

Nov 12 • 

CJ Gustafson

8

1

2

What the Rise of Direct Lending Actually Means for PE-Backed Operators

More optionality? Or a tighter leash?

Nov 5 • 

CJ Gustafson

4

October 2025

Financial Due Diligence for Owner Operated Service Roll-Ups

The GAAP Gap, and the Art of the Working Capital Peg

Oct 29 • 

CJ Gustafson

5

2

1

Why Unit Economics Matter (again)

A deep dive into building customer level P&L's

Oct 22 • 

CJ Gustafson

20

4

6

The M&A Mistake That Costs Operators Millions (and No One Talks About)

Don’t Hire the Lawyer AFTER You Sign the Banker

Oct 15 • 

CJ Gustafson

10

Three rules for using credit as a weapon, not a crutch

Lessons from the CFO of Fullstory, G2, and Salesloft

Oct 8 • 

CJ Gustafson

4

1

1

Attack the Float: The Strategic Power of Payment Terms

How Payment Terms Can Shape a Business Model

Oct 1 • 

CJ Gustafson

11

September 2025

Take Private Szn

Public investors have lost patience with “slow-growers,” but PE sees a margin-expansion machine hiding in plain sight.

Sep 24 • 

CJ Gustafson

15

3

TAM Is the Floor, Not the Ceiling

Have you earned the "right" to address it?

Sep 17 • 

CJ Gustafson

9

2

When Doing Nothing is the Right Answer

How hold periods and "leaving meat on the bone" impact your product roadmap

Sep 10 • 

CJ Gustafson

10

1

4

Do You Really Need BOTH a CFO and COO?

And is the CFO role eating the COO role?

Sep 3 • 

CJ Gustafson

11

1

August 2025

Do PE Companies Trade Innovation for Margins?

How you arrive at your "Rule of" says a lot about your business

Aug 27 • 

CJ Gustafson

15

2

1