Cim Builder

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