Chicago
September 25, 2026
Chicago M&A & Exit Lab
Join a 15‑seat intensive in Chicago to benchmark your agency’s exit value and design a growth‑by‑acquisition roadmap.
Date
September 25, 2026
Location
Chicago
Investment
$2,000
Seats
15 Remaining
Who This Lab Is For
Agency owners who feel “stuck in the weeds” and crave a clear number‑first roadmap to a bigger exit cheque.
Agency owners who are serious about making their first acquisition
Need a proven framework to close deals with confidence
Currently evaluating a deal and need expert guidance
Looking to understand SBA financing, seller notes, and earn-outs
Ready to take action (not just learn theory)
What You'll Learn
Deal Sourcing Systems
Build a repeatable pipeline to surface quality acquisition targets in your market.
Financial Analysis
Perform rapid diligence and calculate what an agency is actually worth.
Creative Structures
Design deals with minimal upfront cash using seller financing and earn-outs.
SBA Financing
Navigate the SBA 7(a) loan process to fund acquisitions with leverage.
Negotiation Tactics
Win deals without overpaying by structuring win-win terms for both sides.
Closing Essentials
Understand LOIs, purchase agreements, and the legal closing process.
Lab Day Agenda
- 8:00 AM
Breakfast
Arrivals and meeting the group
- 9:00 AM
Welcome & The M&A Mindset
Meet the group, share your M&A goals
- 9:20 AM
Finding Deals & Building Your Pipeline
How to source quality deals consistently
- 10:40 AM
Evaluating Fit Quickly
How to get to yes with prospects
- 11:10 AM
Quick Q&A
Answering group questions
- 11:20 AM
Valuations
How do you determine the value
- 1:00 PM
Lunch Break
Networking with fellow agency owners
- 2:00 PM
Deal Structures & Funding Sourcing
Terms and financing the deal
- 2:45 PM
Mock Seller Call
Live example of a call in the process
- 3:00 PM
Due Diligence
How to spot red and yellow flags
- 3:30 PM
Integrations: The First 30, 60, 90 Days
How to realize deal value
- 4:30 PM
Exit Reverse Engineering
Getting to your exit number
- 5:00 PM
Q&A + Commitments
Closing comments and next steps
What You'll Leave With
Your personalized 90-day acquisition action plan
Lifetime access to the DAB Deal Flow network
Direct access to Peter and advisors for 30 days post-event
Update Your Instructor to Your M&A Advisor
Your M&A Instructor
Peter Lang
Founder, Digital Agency Business
Peter founded DAB to teach other agency owners the M&A playbook he wished he'd had from day one.
His mission: demystify agency M&A and make it accessible to ambitious operators at every stage.
What Past Event Attendees Say
"I've done acquisitions, invested in searchers, raised a fund, etc., but this was the most valuable single-day professional development experience on M&A I've ever had.
Most people share 101-level stuff; Peter was selective in who he had in the room, allowing him to go straight into 202 and 303-level advanced material. Check out his stuff, he's the real deal." — Grant Hensel, Founder, Nonprofit Megaphone
Most people share 101-level stuff; Peter was selective in who he had in the room, allowing him to go straight into 202 and 303-level advanced material. Check out his stuff, he's the real deal." — Grant Hensel, Founder, Nonprofit Megaphone
"After attending the lab and receiving a playbook, I feel very differently. It was a mindset shift I had to go through, moving from operator to owner. After talking to people like James Kwon, Tristan Pelligrino, Mark Homer, Corey Quinn, and many other very honest and open people in the room, they've changed my mind that growing through M&A's is an excellent way to: Bolt on talent, revenue, diversity in products, and more security and opportunities for my team. Great event! Worth every penny."
— Matthew Hunt, Founder of Demandii.com
"Peter is an unbelievable individual and is in the top 3% of the smartest people I have ever met. He's incredibly skilled in the category of M&A for agencies and service-based businesses. An incredible benefit of being a part of this community is the incredible brain trust that's formed from really smart people around the table. Peter attracts really smart, amazing people who are running agencies and doing acquisitions. It's absolutely not as competitive as trying to sell agency services. We're talking about strategies and deal flow together."
— James Kwon, Founder and CEO of Figment's Digital Creative
"I came in working on active deals and left with nonstop insights on structuring them for a better outcome. The sourcing framework alone changed my pace—I can now go outbound and get the right owners to raise their hand. This Lab expanded my thinking: one deal a year is too small. I’m targeting one per quarter and I can see the path to get there.”
— Kevin Wilke, Founder of Proven Marketing Solutions
Venue & Logistics
The Venue
The Melbourne (Conference) & Piccadilly (Meals) in The Langham, Chicago. A unique 5-star hotel that not only provides you the perfect environment for focusing on the Lab but you also get a one of a kind view of Chicago while we work together on your M&A strategy.
Getting There
330 North Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
The closest major airport to The Langham, Chicago is Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). ORD is located approximately 18 miles from the hotel and is about a 35–60 minute drive, depending on traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's included in the $2,000 investment?
Full day of in-person working, breakfast, lunch, gifts, and a printed lab binder of everything we cover in the day.
Do I need prior M&A experience?
No. The lab is designed for first-time buyers. We start with fundamentals and build to advanced tactics.
What if I can't attend in person?
This is designed to be an in-person event. If you can’t make this one, take a look at the other events we have planned for the year.
Can I bring a partner?
Yes, second seat 50 % off.
How small is the group?
We cap attendance at 20 people to ensure everyone gets personalized attention and time for Q&A.
Investment
$2,000
Full day of M&A specific intensive training
Breakfast and lunch included
Templates, models, and frameworks
Printed lab biner of day materials
Printed lab biner of day materials
Reserve Your Seat Now
Seats:
15 Remaining
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