CIM Builder
Workflow
Step 1: Gather Source Materials
Ask for available inputs:
- Management presentations
- Historical financials (3-5 years)
- Budget/forecast
- Company website and marketing materials
- Customer data (anonymized if needed)
- Org chart
- Prior presentations or board decks
- Quality of earnings report (if available)
Step 2: CIM Structure
Standard CIM table of contents:
I. Executive Summary (2-3 pages)
- Company overview — what they do, why they win
- Investment highlights (5-7 key selling points)
- Financial summary — headline revenue, EBITDA, growth, margins
- Transaction overview — what's being sold, indicative timeline
II. Company Overview (3-5 pages)
- History and founding story
- Mission and value proposition
- Products and services description
- Business model and revenue streams
- Key differentiators and competitive advantages
III. Industry Overview (3-5 pages)
- Market size and growth dynamics (TAM/SAM/SOM)
- Key industry trends and tailwinds
- Competitive landscape
- Regulatory environment
- Barriers to entry
IV. Growth Opportunities (2-3 pages)
- Organic growth levers (new products, markets, pricing)
- M&A / add-on opportunities
- Operational improvements
- Technology investments
- White space analysis
V. Customers & Sales (3-5 pages)
- Customer overview (number, segments, geography)
- Top customer analysis (anonymized if pre-LOI)
- Customer concentration and retention metrics
- Sales process and go-to-market strategy
- Pipeline and backlog
VI. Operations (2-3 pages)
- Organizational structure
- Key personnel
- Facilities and geographic footprint
- Technology and systems
- Supply chain / vendor relationships
VII. Financial Overview (5-8 pages)
- Historical income statement (3-5 years)
- Revenue analysis — by segment, geography, customer type
- EBITDA bridge and margin analysis
- Balance sheet overview
- Cash flow summary
- Capital expenditure history
- Working capital analysis
- Management forecast / budget (if included)
VIII. Appendix
- Detailed financial statements
- Customer list (anonymized)
- Product catalog
- Management bios
Step 3: Drafting Guidelines
- Tone: Professional, factual, compelling but not hyperbolic
- Narrative: Tell a story — why this business is attractive, defensible, and positioned for growth
- Data-driven: Support every claim with data. "Strong growth" → "Revenue grew at a 15% CAGR from 2021-2024"
- Visuals: Charts and graphs for financial trends, market size, competitive positioning
- Length: 40-60 pages total — enough detail to inform first-round bids, not so long buyers won't read it
- Confidentiality: Include a disclaimer page. Anonymize sensitive customer data unless seller approves
Step 4: Output
- Word document (.docx) with professional formatting
- Separate Excel appendix with detailed financials
- Charts and exhibits embedded in the document
Important Notes
- The CIM is a sales document — lead with strengths, but don't hide material issues (buyers will find them in diligence)
- Investment highlights should address the 3 things every buyer cares about: growth potential, margin profile, and defensibility
- Financial normalization / pro forma adjustments should be clearly labeled and explained
- Work with legal on the confidentiality disclaimer and any regulatory disclosures
- Get management to review for factual accuracy before distribution
- The CIM sets expectations on valuation — make sure the narrative supports the asking price