Buy the business. Keep control after close.
We help acquisition buyers uncover operational risk before close, secure the handoff, and build the first 90 days of operating rhythm—so the business does not depend on the seller’s memory.
Before close · During handoff · After close
Not ready to talk? Start with a buyer scoping — tell us about your deal and we’ll point you to the right next step.
Intelligence-grade diligence
Led by a former Tier-1 military intelligence professional (HUMINT / SIGINT / OSINT).
An operator's lens
Guided by a former PNC Private Client officer who builds and runs a recurring-revenue business.
Buyer-side only
We work for acquirers—never the seller—so incentives stay aligned with your control after close.
Where you are in the deal
Three paths. One operating outcome.
Click your stage to see exactly how we reduce risk and build control.
Know what you're buying
Uncover operational risk and key-person dependencies before you commit—so the price reflects how the business actually runs, not how the seller says it runs.
Verified Target Shortlist
Curated off-market targets with fit scores and approach angles.
Deal Triage Brief
Go / pause / renegotiate / stop decision support for a live deal.
Acquisition Readiness Package
Full operational diligence: workflows, systems, key-person risk, 100-day plan.
Ground-Truth Recon
On-site operational verification. One fixed, all-inclusive fee.
Before you sign
Most buyers discover operational gaps 30 days after close. We surface them in diligence—when you can still renegotiate or plan.
Founder Dependency
Critical knowledge lives in one person's head. When they leave, operations stall.
Spreadsheet Operations
Undocumented workflows, shadow processes, and no single source of truth.
Vendor & Access Chaos
Unclear permissions, auto-renewals nobody owns, and security gaps.
Employee Anxiety
Messy handoffs create turnover risk just when you need stability most.
The real risk
Buying is only the beginning. Operating is where deals die.
The real risk appears when ownership changes hands and the buyer has to operate what was never fully documented. Most acquirers discover this 30–60 days after close—when it’s too late to renegotiate and too early to have built replacements.
We map workflows, data, systems, vendors, roles, risks, dependencies, and owner-held knowledge before recommending tools or automation. We do not automate chaos.
Our approach
Systemize first. Automate second.
Modernize third.
AI applied to an undocumented business doesn’t create ROI—it creates a second layer of risk on top of the first.
Systemize First
We map workflows, data, systems, vendors, roles, risks, dependencies, and owner-held knowledge before recommending tools or automation.
Automate Second
We identify the 3–5 highest-leverage workflows where automation can create value without breaking trust, continuity, or control.
Modernize Third
We build the post-close operating rhythm, governance model, dashboards, documentation, and adoption plan the new owner needs.
Who we are
An intelligence officer and an operator.
Two perspectives. One mission: reduce your transition risk.
Yasmine Johnston-Ison
Co-Founder & Lead of Delivery
Former Tier-1 military intelligence professional (HUMINT / SIGINT / OSINT, Iraq & Afghanistan). Founder, IndigoINT. Leads delivery operations and advisory frameworks. She finds what sellers hide.
Ryan Gorman
Co-Founder & Operator Lens
Former financial advisor and Private Client Group Officer at PNC Financial Services (Series 7 & 66). Built and operates a recurring-revenue services business—the operator lens on every engagement.
Legacy Forward is not a broker, lender, law firm, accounting firm, valuation provider, or investment advisor. We do not source deals, negotiate transactions, raise capital, or provide legal, tax, financial, or valuation advice. We provide acquisition operations, transition planning, systems mapping, governance, and modernization support.
Ready to de-risk your deal?
Build the operating layer
before you need it.
45 minutes to confirm fit and define next steps for your acquisition.
Book Your Acquisition Operations BriefingNot ready? Start with a buyer scoping — tell us about your deal and we’ll point you to the right next step.
Explore our acquisition operations services, learn about the Legacy Forward Consulting team, read our M&A operating insights, or contact us to discuss your acquisition.