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In this episode, the hosts dissect a fast-growing mattress manufacturer with $43M in revenue and shrinking margins—raising questions about customer acquisition, product differentiation, and whether this red-ocean DTC business is salvageable or doomed.Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.
In this episode, the hosts dissect a fast-growing mattress manufacturer with $43M in revenue and shrinking margins—raising questions about customer acquisition, product differentiation, and whether this red-ocean DTC business is salvageable or doomed.Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.
You're gonna love this episode. No joke, someone needs to make a series about Sean. He constantly bets on himself and has an incredible story. Podcast Nuggies From biomedical engineer to investor: moved to Memphis, flipped ~1,500 houses, syndicated ~800 units. Transitioned back to Utah; year-plus search with multiple failed LOIs, then bought PSI Tops (countertops/cabinets) in late 2024 (~$800k EBITDA, 35 employees, included real estate/SBA). DON'T be afraid of being the backup buyer! Join the How to Buy a Business Cohort - Jan 2026 https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/ Sourcing List:https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/source SMBs are the biggest target for cyber attacks. Protect your business with Inzo Technologies.Check out....www.inzotechnologies.com, I-N-Z-O, or email Nick directly at nick@inzotechnologies.com. Guest Name: Sean Tagge Additional guest information https://www.linkedin.com/in/seantagge/ acornea.com
From closing dinner conversations that changed his career trajectory to advising on transactions up to half a billion dollars, Channing Hamlet shares proven strategies for selling businesses at premium valuations through proper preparation, understanding sector-specific value drivers, and creative deal structures. In this episode of the DealQuest Podcast, host Corey Kupfer sits down with Channing Hamlet, Managing Director at Objective Investment Banking and Valuation, who has over 30 years of experience advising business owners on management issues, transaction execution, and business valuation. Channing's firm specializes in lower middle market transactions, typically ranging from $10-25 million up to $100-150 million in value. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: In this episode, you'll discover how buyer expectations have dramatically shifted over 25 years and why preparation requirements for premium valuations have intensified. Channing explains why clean accounting is no longer optional, how financial projections can make or break your valuation, and the three key value drivers beyond revenue and EBITDA. You'll also learn creative deal structures that can save transactions when traditional financing becomes challenging. CHANNING'S JOURNEY: Channing's path into dealmaking started at the family dinner table, where his father frequently hosted business visitors for dinner conversations about deals and transactions. His pivotal moment came while working at Legg Mason doing M&A, when a patriarch from a third-generation family business pulled him aside at a closing dinner and shared how much the work had changed his family's life. That moment hooked him on helping entrepreneurs and family businesses navigate successful exits. KEY INSIGHTS: In the mid-1990s, private equity firms paid four to six times EBITDA. Today, good companies sell for 10 to 14 times EBITDA, but buyers expect sellers to show up polished and prepared. Channing identifies three major value drivers beyond EBITDA. First, understanding what drives value in your specific sector. Second, building predictability through recurring revenue and systematized operations. Third, clearly articulating your differentiation and unique value proposition. Financial projections matter because selling takes approximately nine months, meaning buyers pay based on projected results, not historical performance. A last-minute budget won't stand up to scrutiny. Channing also shares a creative deal structure where seller financing at 10% interest saved a transaction when traditional bank financing fell through. Perfect for business owners considering an exit in the next 3-5 years, M&A advisors working with lower middle market companies, and anyone wanting to understand what truly drives premium valuations. FOR MORE ON THIS EPISODE: https://www.coreykupfer.com/blog/channinghamlet FOR MORE ON CHANNING HAMLET: https://objectivecp.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/channing-hamlet/ FOR MORE ON COREY KUPFER https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/ https://www.coreykupfer.com/ Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker. He has more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He is deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is also the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast. Get deal-ready with the DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer, where like-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders converge, share insights and challenges, and success stories. Equip yourself with the tools, resources, and support necessary to navigate the complex yet rewarding world of dealmaking. Dive into the world of deal-driven growth today! Episode Highlights with Timestamps [00:00] - Introduction: Channing Hamlet's journey from family dinner table conversations to investment banking [02:17] - Growing up around business deal discussions and choosing the outdoor life [03:45] - The closing dinner moment that changed everything at Legg Mason [08:19] - How the M&A landscape has transformed over 25 years [10:26] - Why buyer expectations and preparation requirements have increased [18:52] - Understanding sector-specific value drivers through the printing industry example [23:39] - Market outlook for 2023 and beyond [31:43] - The three legs of Objective's valuation practice[40:03] - Finding Objective Capital Partners and getting in touch Guest Bio Channing Hamlet is a Managing Director at Objective Investment Banking and Valuation, focused on leading the firm's valuation advisory service practice and transaction execution for its investment banking services practice. He is a results-driven executive with 30+ years of experience advising owners on management issues, transaction execution, and business valuation. Channing draws on a diverse background that includes direct management experience, strategy consulting, private equity investing, investment banking, and business appraisal experience to advise his clients. He is actively involved in the LA and San Diego business communities and has spoken at numerous organizations including EO. He was chosen as the Investment Banking Visionary for 2022 and 2021 in Banking and Finance magazine. Host Bio Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker with more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast. Show Description Do you want your business to grow faster? The DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer reveals how successful entrepreneurs and business leaders use strategic deals to accelerate growth. From large mergers and acquisitions to capital raising, joint ventures, strategic alliances, real estate deals, and more, this show discusses the full spectrum of deal-driven growth strategies. Get the confidence to pursue deals that will help your company scale faster. Related Episodes Episode 350 - Tom Dillon: When NOT to Take Venture Capital Money: Explore valuation considerations and preparing for exit from a fractional CFO perspective. Episode 330 - Pete Mohr: Building Exit-Ready Businesses: Discover how to build a business that commands premium multiples through systematization and predictability. Episode 332 - John Martinka: Exit with Style, Grace, and More Money: Learn practical strategies for maximizing value when selling your business. Episode 339 - Solocast 74: Exit and Succession Planning: Corey's insights on preparing for successful business transitions and the importance of advance planning. Episode 88 - Internal Succession Deals: Explore options for transitioning business ownership to next-generation leadership. Keywords/Tags business valuation, selling a business, M&A preparation, EBITDA multiples, exit strategy, investment banking, lower middle market transactions, sell-side advisory, company valuation, premium valuation, buyer expectations, financial projections, value drivers, private equity, business sale preparation, transaction execution, family business sale, entrepreneurship, dealmaking, business growth strategies
Stop guessing what your business is truly worth and learn the core differences between the lower and upper middle markets and what drives a higher business valuation. Discover why professional buyers focus less on revenue and more on durable cash flow and why professionalizing your operations is your ticket to a bigger exit. Start working on your exit plan now to demand a better multiple later. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Business Valuation Basics: 9 Critical Concepts to Understand Should I Use SDE or EBITDA to Value My Business for Sale? Business Valuation Checklist: 3 Traps to Avoid Additional Resources: Selling your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Sign up for an Assessment and Valuation of Your Business. Courses: The Art & Science of Selling a Business Download The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Download Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue If you have any topic or guest suggestions, please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com.
Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: Podcast for Digital Marketing Agencies
Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training What do you do when a business partnership fails? Do you try to engineer the perfect agreement so the exit is clean, or focus on alignment long before anyone signs anything? The truth is, most agency partnerships fail because owners rush into them without slowing down to see the cracks. Preparing for the worst is not pessimistic. It is how you protect the business you are trying to build. Today's featured guest has gone through failed starts, broken agency partnerships, and overcommitting his time as the owner for fear of losing opportunities. He'll unpack 25 years of wins, mistakes, and hard earned clarity, from building his agency and how the biggest breakthroughs came from leadership shifts rather than marketing tactics. Andy Crestodina is the co founder of Orbit Media, a Chicago based web development and optimization agency approaching its 25th year in business. Orbit has grown to a team of fifty five and more than eight million in annual revenue. Andy is also one of the most respected voices in content marketing, with millions of readers, hundreds of speaking engagements each year, and a reputation for teaching real strategy instead of recycled tactics. In this episode, we'll discuss: Slow, organic for consistent agency growth. What a failed agency partnership can cost you. The hire that gives an agency founder their time back. Learning when "yes" becomes the problem. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. How Slow, Organic Growth Built a 25-Year Agency Andy was working as an IT recruiter in the nineties and found himself bored at his day job. He didn't get to build anything in that position and he had a lot of ideation urging him to do something else. Luckily, the internet offered him that chance. He could build a website and channel his creative energy through that side project. But could he do it full time? He had no resume and no portfolio to present to a potential employer. He realized it was easier to get a client to take a chance on him than it was to convince an employer to hire him. So he and a high school friend started building sites. The first partnership failed fast and then the second attempt grew slowly, quietly, and steadily for 25 years. The secret was not paid ads or cold outreach. It was content. Consistent publishing, useful insights, and a commitment to organic channels long before that became mainstream advice. When Agency Partnerships Go Wrong and What It Really Costs There are many stories of successful partnerships in the agency world, but overall the disaster stories are much more common. As Jason says, you either know the bad partner or you are the bad partner. Andy lived through one of the toughest versions of that story. He had three partners for a while. One of them ran an unprofitable department. Responsibilities were unclear. Values were not aligned. And when it came time to clean up the mess, a poorly written shareholder agreement became a bigger problem than the partner himself. Andy had to mortgage his home and personally lend the company money to buy out the partner. The agreement used the wrong valuation formula. The partner dragged his feet and what should have been a difficult but clean process turned into a long, expensive, emotionally draining separation. Looking back, Andy says something most founders never admit. A handshake would have been better than the shareholder agreement they had. The real mistakes came earlier: saying yes to a partner who did not share the same values, not slowing down long enough to evaluate the deal, and being hungry for growth and ignoring misalignment. The Leadership Hire That Gave the Founder His Time Back Around this time of misalignment between partners was when a long time client turned management consultant stepped in. He saw tension inside the partner group, so he moved to do a 360 review and surfaced the problems that no one wanted to say out loud. Andy was quick to spot that he would be a great addition to the agency, and so eventually, he became the CEO. That single hire changed everything. Andy was doing all the sales and marketing. Meetings all day. Proposals all night. Burning energy on tasks someone else should have owned years earlier. Once his new CEO came on board, he built systems, built a sales process, hired strategists to handle qualification and scoping. Suddenly Andy had 20 hours a week of his life back. He poured that time into content and went right into work. He doubled publishing frequency, launched a conference, wrote a book, held monthly live events, shot videos. The brand exploded. Their reach multiplied. The inbound engine went from effective to unstoppable. This is the founder shift so many agency owners avoid. Letting go. Delegating the work that drains you. Investing your best energy into the work that grows the company, not the work that maintains it. Saying Yes, Saying No, and Protecting Your Energy Andy admits he still overcommits. He still says yes to speaking engagements because he loves the stage and it generates leads, even though the constant travel wears him down. This is something many agency owners have to face. You may want the brand, speaking gigs and reach. But you also want to protect your energy so you do not turn into the hero who disappoints people when they finally meet you. At some point, you have to choose where your yes goes. Andy chose articles, newsletters, LinkedIn, webinars, a conference, and in person events. He let go of podcasting. He narrowed his focus so he could go deeper. That discipline, more than any tactic, is what keeps his inbound engine healthy 25 years later. The Tension Between Culture and Profit How do you balance loyalty to your team with the need for profit and EBITDA? Andy is still trying to figure this out. His team has an average tenure of eight years. Some team members have been there twenty. Andy cares deeply about them and their families. But agencies face moments when bonuses, salaries, utilization, and capacity collide. Where doing right by people and doing right for the business feel like competing priorities. There is no perfect answer. But there is a direction. Take care of your people first. Trust them to help you solve the profit problems. Fix leaks. Raise rates. Tighten scope. Operate like owners. And when the agency wins, let your team win with you. Culture breaks agencies faster than anything else. Profit can be fixed. Culture cannot be patched over. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.
O presidente do Flamengo, Luiz Eduardo Baptista, o Bap, apresentou nesta terça-feira (24) números históricos do clube. O Rubro-Negro alcançou metas financeiras cinco anos antes do previsto, registrou o melhor resultado da história com a Adidas e consolidou as redes sociais como um ativo estratégico de comunicação e receita.Neste vídeo, analisamos os dados de licenciamento, varejo, EBITDA, caixa, além do crescimento da Flamengo TV e das plataformas digitais, que colocam o clube como a maior potência esportiva digital das Américas.QUER FALAR E INTERAGIR CONOSCO?: CONTATO I contato@serflamengo.com.br SITE I serflamengo.com.brTWITTER I @BlogSerFlamengoINSTAGRAM I @BlogSerFlamengo#Flamengo #NotíciasDoFlamengo #Adidas
Joel Dolisy, CTO at WellSky, joins the podcast to reveal why organizational design is the ultimate "operating system" for scaling tech companies. This conversation is a deep dive into how engineering leaders must adapt their strategies when moving between the hyper growth of Venture Capital and the disciplined profitability of Private Equity.Building a high performing team is about much more than just hiring. Joel explains the necessity of maximizing the "multiplier effect" where the collective output far exceeds the sum of individual parts. We explore the pragmatic reality of digital transformation, the "art" of timing disruptive technology adoption like Generative AI, and how to use the Three Horizons framework to keep your core business stable while chasing the next big innovation. Whether you are leading a team of ten or an organization of hundreds, these insights on design principles and leadership context are essential for navigating the complexities of modern software delivery.Core InsightsShifting the perspective of software from a cost center to a core growth enabler is the fundamental requirement for any company aiming to be a true innovator.Private Equity environments require a specialized leadership approach because the "hold period" clock dictates when to prioritize aggressive growth versus EBITDA margin acceleration.Scaling successfully requires a "skeleton" of design principles, such as maintaining team sizes around eight people to ensure optimal communication flow and minimize overhead.The most critical role of a senior leader is providing constant context to the engineering org, ensuring teams understand the "why" behind shifting constraints as the company matures.Timestamped Highlights01:12 Defining the broad remit of a CTO from infrastructure and security to the unusual addition of UX.04:44 Treating your organizational structure as a living operating system that must be upgraded as you grow.10:07 Why innovation must include internal efficiency gains to free up resources for new revenue streams.15:01 Navigating the massive waves of disruption from the internet to mobile and now large language models.23:11 The tactical differences in funding engineering efforts during a five to seven year Private Equity hold period.28:57 Applying Team Topologies to create clear responsibilities across platform, feature, and enablement teams.Words to Lead By"You are trying to optimize what a set of people can do together to create bigger and greater things than the sum of the individual parts there".Expert Tactics for Tech LeadersWhen evaluating new technology like AI, Joel suggests looking at the "adoption curve compression". Unlike the mid nineties when businesses had a decade to figure out the internet, the window to integrate modern disruptors is shrinking. Leaders should use the Three Horizons framework to move dollars from the core business (Horizon 1) to speculative innovation (Horizon 3) without making knee jerk reactions based solely on hype.Join the ConversationIf you found these insights on organizational design helpful, please subscribe to the show on your favorite platform and share this episode with a fellow engineering leader. You can also connect with Joel Dolisy on LinkedIn to keep up with his latest thoughts on healthcare technology and leadership.
What Your Business Is Worth: Valuation Drivers for Tech-Services FirmsValuation vs. EBITDA multiple: why they're not the same thingBuyers price future performance and confidence in future cash flowsRevenue quality premiums/discounts: recurring/contracted revenue, churn, concentrationAdjusted EBITDA + add-backs: what's “clean” vs. what gets rejectedSpecialization + growth consistency: vertical expertise can drive premiumsValuation killers: messy books, contracts, founder dependencyHow to increase value in 1–2 years: positioning (incl. AI), revenue quality, leadership/operating model The Sell Side Masterclass for Tech Services Founders Series:Part 1. Knowing When It's Time to Sell: Listen now >>Part 2. Get Your House in Order: Listen now >> Our Podcast playlist for Sellers: https://www.revenuerocket.com/podcast-episodes-for-sellers/ Listen to Shoot the Moon on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Buy, sell, or grow your tech-enabled services firm with Revenue Rocket.
In this episode, host Alex Rawlings speaks with Eric Wiklendt, Managing Director at SpeySide Equity, a private equity firm focused on lower middle-market manufacturing businesses.Eric shares his “fix and build” value creation strategy, the key elements of successful human capital alignment, and why cost accounting is the hidden killer in many portfolio companies. With deep operational experience, Eric offers a grounded perspective on how to avoid overcomplicating PE value creation.
In this episode, Michael sits down with Jay Bourgana, a turnaround expert and business builder who went from immigrant roots to overseeing $350M in real estate sales—and now focuses on acquiring and scaling profitable private businesses. Jay breaks down how buying established companies can accelerate wealth creation, how to structure acquisitions without becoming the day-to-day CEO, and why this strategy pairs naturally with syndication and real estate investing. If you're curious about business acquisitions as a scalable, high-cash-flow complement to multifamily, this episode is for you. Key TakeawaysBuying established businesses can outperform real estate on cash flow, with acquisitions often priced at 2–4x EBITDA and significant upside on exit.This strategy is not passive — business acquisitions are best suited for operators with experience, systems thinking, and the ability to build teams.The goal isn't to run the business forever: acquire, stabilize, install leadership, and step back from day-to-day operations.Three systems drive every successful business: customer acquisition & retention, talent acquisition & retention, and financial visibility.Debt can dramatically amplify returns when paired with strong cash flow, including SBA loans and seller financing.Recurring-revenue businesses are ideal, especially those with an install + maintenance model that creates predictable long-term income.Connect with MichaelFacebookInstagramYouTubeTikTokResourcesTheFreedomPodcast.com Access the #1 FREE Apartment Investing Course (Apartments 101)Schedule a Free Strategy Session with Michael's Team of AdvisorsExplore Michael's Mentoring ProgramJoin the Nighthawk Equity Investor ClubReview the Podcast on Apple PodcastsSyndicated Deal AnalyzerGet the Book, Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing by Michael Blank For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session503/
Brandon Schuh sits down with Dean Hildebrandt, President and CEO of Assurex Global, to explore how mega-broker consolidation is reshaping the insurance brokerage landscape. As consolidation accelerates in 2025, with mega-brokers absorbing smaller firms through billion-dollar acquisitions, including Willis Towers Watson's $1.3 billion purchase of Newfront and Baldwin Group's $1 billion acquisition of CAC Group, the conversation reveals how private equity is driving transactions that, while profitable for financial sponsors, leave clients, carriers, and employees bearing the costs. Dean brings two decades of expertise from his leadership at Associated Benefits and Risk Consulting and his pivotal role at Ahmann-Martin before joining Assurex.Dean challenges the prevailing narrative around these mega-deals, arguing that the real winners aren't clients or carriers but private equity firms extracting value through EBITDA portfolio plays. Throughout the episode, he details how consolidation is accelerating talent acquisitions and market share gains for independent, regionally-focused brokers like those in the Assurex network, firms that prioritize relationships, client service, and stability over spreadsheet metrics. The discussion also highlights Assurex's structural innovation: the launch of AG London, a first-of-its-kind London wholesale broker owned by 30 Assurex firms that operates under perpetual independence and cannot be acquired or sold.As the industry looks ahead to 2026-2027, Dean and Brandon examine how technology and AI will reshape brokerage operations while emphasizing that true competitive advantage lies in understanding the full value chain. The episode underscores a fundamental tension in modern insurance. Whether consolidation will create better client outcomes or simply enrich financial sponsors while destabilizing the very firms and relationships that hold the industry together. For independent brokers navigating this landscape, the conversation offers both cautionary lessons and a compelling vision of an alternative future.Chapters02:30 – Wine recommendations and AI tool comparisons07:00 – Introduction to Dean Hildebrandt and his background10:00 – Dean's entry into brokerage and early career with Ahmann-Martin14:00 – Overview of 2025 consolidation trends and mega-broker activity16:30 – Willis Towers Watson acquires Newfront for $1.3 billion19:00 – Baldwin Group purchases CAC Group for $1 billion22:00 – Private equity's role in driving M&A transactions26:00 – How consolidation impacts clients, carriers, and employees31:00 – The absence of client perspective in private equity discussions35:00 – Deal sizing and EBITDA economics in mega-acquisitions39:00 – Why independent brokers are thriving amid consolidation42:00 – Introduction to Howden's US market entry strategy46:00 – Assurex's strategic response: AG London launch and structure51:00 – Dean's journey to Assurex Global leadership54:00 – Technology, AI, and automation in brokerage operations58:00 – How carriers are adapting to industry transformation61:00 – Conclusion and future outlook for independent brokerageConnect with RiskCellar:Website: https://www.riskcellar.com/Brandon Schuh:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552710523314LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-stephen-schuh/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schuhpapa/Nick Hartmann:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickjhartmann/ Dean Hildebrandt - President & CEO, Assurex GlobalWebsite: https://www.assurexglobal.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-hildebrandt-09810baAbout Assurex Global:Founded in 1954, Assurex Global is the world's largest privately held commercial insurance, risk management, and employee benefits brokerage group, combining local expertise with global reach across more than 600 partner office
Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you'll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- Are you running your business, or is it running you? In this episode, we sit down with Alexis Sikorsky, co-founder of Nightscale, who reveals the brutal truth about the "Grind" and the specific strategies he used to exit his banking software company for a massive multiple. If you are a founder stuck at the $5M–$10M revenue plateau, this episode is a masterclass in cashing out. Alexis breaks down the "$50 Million Mistake", a calculation of the money and time he lost by not knowing the secrets of Private Equity earlier, and how you can avoid it. What You'll Learn: The "Fish and Chip" Trap: How Private Equity firms lure founders with high valuations only to chip away at the price during due diligence—and how to stop them. Nominal EBITDA vs. EBITDA: The financial metric that matters more than your bottom line. Learn how "dressing the bride" and identifying add-backs can instantly increase your valuation. The Magic Number: Why a $40M valuation is the specific target for a lifestyle where you never have to touch your capital again. The Due Diligence Reverse Card: How to investigate a PE firm by calling the founders they don't want you to talk to. Escaping the Operator Trap: Why you need to fire yourself from day-to-day operations to make your company sellable. -- Alexis Sikorsky is a seasoned entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and #1 international best-selling author who helps founders and SMEs scale with confidence, make smarter strategic decisions, and prepare for long-term growth and successful exits. Over his career, he has founded, scaled, and led multiple companies, including building and selling a software business to private equity in a nine-figure transaction. He is the founder of Sikorsky Consulting Ltd. and a co-founder of KnightScale Partners, where he works closely with founders as a true operator partner, providing experienced, founder-to-founder guidance on scaling, leadership, and value creation. Holding an EMBA from Oxford University, Alexis blends real-world entrepreneurial experience with strategic insight to help business owners future-proof their companies and navigate critical inflection points. Website - https://www.knightscalepartners.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-sikorsky-consulting/ -- Time Stamps: (01:11) Surviving the 2008 crash: Losing 75% of revenue overnight. (03:46) The "Unbelievable" Offer: Selling for 11x EBITDA based on a future plan. (06:00) Calculating the $50 Million / 5-Year Mistake. (08:59) When is the right time to sell? (The mathematics of the exit). (14:00) Red Flags: Detecting the "Fish and Chip" strategy. (20:30) How to boost valuation using Nominal EBITDA and non-recurring costs. (27:30) Why you should do M&A earlier than you think. -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You'll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/
Check if your dental practice qualifies for capital allowances here >>> https://www.dentistswhoinvest.com/chris-lonergan———————————————————————UK Dentists: Collect your verifiable CPD for this episode here >>> https://courses.dentistswhoinvest.com/smart-money-members-club———————————————————————The rules of dental practice value are changing, and we're pulling back the curtain on what matters now. After a decade of corporate consolidation and a pandemic‑fuelled private boom, the market has cooled to a healthier balance: fewer bidding frenzies, more scrutiny on profit, and a meaningful opening for independent buyers who know their numbers. We're joined by Oliver Snowden, an ex‑corporate M&A director now co‑leading a bespoke brokerage, to decode how associate‑led EBITDA works, when to use principal‑led assumptions instead, and why multiples peaked in 2022 before settling into a more sustainable range.We walk through the levers that move price: sustainable profit margins, lease quality, lender sentiment, and the real impact of interest rates. Oliver shares candid benchmarks—why 17 to 22 percent is the sweet spot for associate‑led margins—and what buyers expect to see in management accounts and compliance files before they take a deal seriously. If you're planning to sell, you'll hear exactly how to prepare: engage a dental specialist accountant and solicitor early, build a complete due diligence pack, and get ahead of landlord consents that can quietly add months. If you're buying, learn to compare valuations under both models, challenge costs that don't scale, and test whether the business stacks up without the current owner's clinical time.We also dig into marketing spend, where many practices now invest three to five percent of turnover without clear measurement. The buyers who win ask simple questions: what's the cost per enquiry, how many convert, and which channels actually generate profitable cases? A solid CRM, a disciplined recall and reactivation plan, and a habit of recording “How did you hear about us?” can move growth from guesswork to proof—and that proof supports value.Whether you're eyeing an exit in 2026 or gearing up to acquire your first site, this conversation gives you a grounded playbook for price, process, and performance. Enjoy the episode, then subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a quick review to tell us what topic you want next.———————————————————————Disclaimer: All content on this channel is for education purposes only and does not constitute an investment recommendation or individual financial advice. For that, you should speak to a regulated, independent professional. The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you invest. The views expressed on this channel may no longer be current. The information provided is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and all tax rules may change in the future. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment, you should speak to a regulated, independent professional. Investment figures quoted refer to simulated past performance and that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results/performance.Send us a text
Parliamo di una sigla che, se avete letto anche solo un bilancio o una notizia economica, avrete sicuramente incontrato: EBITDA. In questo episodio andrò ad approfondire il significato di EBITDA, che rappresenta il guadagno operativo “puro” di un'azienda, prima che entrino in gioco le imposte, gli interessi sui debiti e i costi contabili legati agli ammortamenti. Sembra una parola complicata, ma non lo è affatto.Buon ascolto!--------------------------------------Unisciti anche tu a "Natale ad alto impatto":https://bit.ly/natale_ad_alto_impatto_benefficienza_sormani--------------------------------------Inserisci i tuoi contatti per poter fare una call gratuita e senza impegno con un tutor di Piano Finanziario:Info call gratuita Piano FinanziarioEffettua ora il tuo check-up finanziario a soli 95€ (anziché 197€) utilizzando questo link (se non dovesse funzionare, inserisci il coupon SORMANI50):https://www.pianofinanziario.it/federicosormani--------------------------------------Scarica gratuitamente il foglio excel per analizzare la tua pianificazione finanziaria:https://bit.ly/corretta-pianificazione-finanziariaScarica gratuitamente il foglio excel col calcolatore dell'interesse composto: https://bit.ly/calcolatore-interesse-compsoto-PACvsPICScarica gratuitamente il foglio excel per calcolare il tuo stato patrimoniale: https://bit.ly/calcola-il-tuo-stato-patrimonialeScarica gratuitamente la mappa concettuale sintetica su come superare la paura di investire:https://bit.ly/Come-superare-la-paura-di-investire--------------------------------------Se vuoi, puoi entrare a fare parte del mio progetto finanziandolo e ottenendo in cambio ulteriori servizi e vantaggi: https://bit.ly/tipeee-federicosormaniUn ringraziamento personale ai miei tippers: Noemi Cenni, Marina Manzoni, Gabriele Contini, Paola Sormani, Giovanni Pianigiani, Edoardo Tofi, Jacopo Fumanti Petrini, Francois Mickel, Aldo Sandroni, Daniele Cogoni.--------------------------------------Per metterti in contatto con me (feedback/consigli/critiche/interviste/collaborazioni):untoldmoney.podcast@gmail.comhttps://bit.ly/linkedin-federicosormani
Most founders believe the value of their business lies entirely inside their operating company. In this episode, Jason Bush joins Jerome Myers to challenge that assumption and expose one of the most overlooked exit-planning risks: real estate misalignment. Drawing from Jason's two exits, his background in engineering, business advisory, and commercial real estate, and his work at Linville Team Partners, this conversation unpacks how poorly structured leases, ownership entities, and rent strategies can quietly destroy enterprise value. You'll hear real-world horror stories, surprising valuation math, and a powerful framework for turning real estate from a liability into a strategic wealth-building lever before an exit ever hits the market. [00:00 – 07:00] From Engineering to Exit Clarity Jason shares his early career as a civil engineer and his first successful business exit Why one exit worked and another failed despite strong income The difference between owning a “job” and building a sellable enterprise [07:01 – 15:00] Why Exits Fail Even When the Business Looks Strong Most exits fail due to lack of clarity, not lack of revenue Why a liquidity event rarely changes how people think about life The danger of exiting without a clear “what's next” [15:01 – 24:00] Brokerage vs Advisory: A Critical Distinction The difference between business brokerage and real estate brokerage Why advisory work starts long before any transaction How advisors miss value when real estate is treated as an afterthought [24:01 – 33:00] The Real Estate Horror Story Every Founder Should Hear A real example where a multimillion-dollar business became unsellable How month-to-month leases can destroy buyer confidence Why M&A advisors often overlook real estate risk until it's too late [33:01 – 42:00] OpCo, PropCo, and the Valuation Blind Spot Why operating companies and real estate must be separate entities How under-market rent inflates EBITDA but reduces real exit value The hidden cap-rate advantage of moving value into real estate [42:01 – 52:00] Turning Real Estate into Optionality, Not Risk How paying market rent can increase total enterprise value Why real estate is often more valuable than the business itself The power of optionality when exits are structured correctly Key Quotes: “Real estate is often valued at a higher multiple than the business, yet it's treated like an afterthought.” - Jason Bush “Most founders don't realize they have two businesses to exit: the operating company and the real estate.” - Jason Bush Connect with Jason!Website https://www.ltpcommercial.com/brokers/jason-bush/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-bush-value-advisor/ Join industry leaders shaping the future and secure your spot at the Exit Planning Summit today! https://exitplanningsummit.com/speakers Ready for your next chapter?Start Your Assessment Now
In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson and Jack break down what “smart investing” actually looks like for home service operators—starting with the truth most owners miss: if you run a business, you're already an investor. You're investing money, attention, and people every day.They start with a practical framework for P&L investing (software, headcount, SG&A): if your business sells for a multiple, then any new expense should produce a return that justifies that multiple—otherwise, you may be quietly reducing enterprise value.From there, they unpack the difference between balance sheet investments (trucks, equipment, inventory) vs P&L investments, why banks and buyers mostly care about EBITDA, and how focusing on fewer initiatives can drive more profitable growth.Then they shift into the “outside the business” conversation: when diversification helps, when it's a distraction, and how operators can think in two buckets—cash-flow assets that fund life, and enterprise-value assets that build wealth.If you're adding software, hiring leaders, buying equipment, or debating real estate vs reinvesting in the core business—this episode gives you a clean way to think about ROI, focus, and capital allocation.What You'll LearnWhy every operator is an investor (capital, people, and attention allocation)A simple rule for P&L expenses: should this generate a 3x+ return based on your business multiple?The difference between investing on the balance sheet vs the P&L
When buyers evaluate a software or tech company, they don't just look at top-line growth or EBITDA. Buyers dig into the quality of your revenue. Is it recurring? Diversified? Sustainable? These factors play a critical role in determining valuation and can mean the difference between an average and extraordinary outcome. In this webcast, we break down what acquirers really look for in revenue streams, how quality impacts valuation and what CEOs and founders can do now to strengthen their company's long-term value. Webcast Agenda: CEO Desk: 10 AI Traps to Avoid with M&A Presentations Special Report: Quality of Revenue—The Key to Your Value Review of key deals in September 2025 Valuation trends across the six technology sectors --------------------------------------------------------------- Corum's Tech M&A Monthly is a regular podcast series for software company owners, executives and CEOs. Each month, Corum Group, the world's leading M&A firm for software and related technology companies, examines the world of Tech M&A. In addition, Tech M&A Monthly includes special reports on buyers, markets and the M&A process itself. This thirty-minute podcast is a must for owners and CEOs considering Tech M&A, whether now or in the future.
Professional sports franchises are some of the most recognizable brands on earth, yet many operate with negative annual cash flows. This deep dive moves past the scoreboard to explore the "Billion-Dollar Paradox": how trophies worth billions can lose money on paper while their valuations double every decade.The Pillars of Team RevenueModern sports finance has moved far beyond ticket sales and hot dogs. Today, revenue is driven by long-term, stable engines:Media & Broadcast Rights: The "stability engine" of sports. Leagues like the NFL have secured over $100 billion in media deals with giants like Amazon and ESPN. These deals provide a guaranteed income floor that supports high valuations regardless of on-field performance.Stadium Economics & Premium Seating: The real differentiator is controlling the "premium experience." Teams like the Dallas Cowboys generate over $600 million annually through high-margin luxury suites, club access, and naming rights deals (e.g., the $700M crypto.com Arena deal).The Real Estate Play: Sophisticated owners now build "entertainment districts" around stadiums. The Atlanta Braves' development, The Battery, actually generates more operating profit than the baseball team itself due to steady rental income and higher margins.The Financial Drains: Why Teams "Lose" MoneyDespite massive revenue, the high cost of competitiveness creates a brutal balance sheet:The Cost of Winning: Player salaries typically account for 50% to 60% of total revenue. This is a gargantuan fixed cost compared to other industries.The Luxury Tax: Leagues use this penalty to discourage runaway spending. Teams like the Golden State Warriors have paid hundreds of millions in penalties just to keep a championship-caliber roster together, viewed as an investment in long-term brand equity.Infrastructure Debt: Modern stadiums cost between $1B and $5B. These are financed with massive debt packages tied to future media revenue, making interest payments a significant recurring cost.Valuation vs. ProfitabilityIn sports, traditional metrics like EBITDA are often useless because they are volatile or negative. Instead, finance teams use:Revenue Multiples: Valuing a team based on total annual revenue divided by the sale price. Because revenue (from media) is predictable and growing, this provides a more stable anchor for billionaires and private equity firms.Asset Appreciation: Owners view teams like fine art or exclusive real estate. The scarcity of franchises (fixed supply) combined with rising global demand drives valuations up even when the income statement is in the red.Case Studies: Strategy on the SpreadsheetFC Barcelona: A cautionary tale of brand strength failing to protect a team from a "debt trap" caused by rigid player contracts and heavy infrastructure loans.Phoenix Suns: A textbook turnaround showing how modernizing ticketing analytics and stadium monetization can skyrocket a team's valuation before a single game is won.Oakland Athletics (Las Vegas Relocation): A pure infrastructure strategy—abandoning a money-losing venue for a new stadium they control in a high-tourism market.
Jen Gaster: How she sold her business to her team (and kept the tax bill at zero)Jen Gaster launched HR Heads in 2008 at the height of the financial crisis with a six-month-old baby and zero income security.17 years later, she runs three brands, 22 people, and just completed an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) transaction.Tax-free exit, 5-year payout. The employees own the business when the mortgage is paid off.One week after they completed the deal, Rachel Reeves changed the rules.EOT payments are now taxable for anyone doing it after the budget.Jen got in just in time.But here's what makes this story different.She built the business with her husband Rupert. Same office but separate brands and working processes (They've literally only attended one client meeting together in their entire lives!)This week on The RAG Podcast, Jen tells the full story.We cover:Starting a business during the 2008 financial crash with a babyWorking with your spouse without destroying your marriageWhy she admits "I don't think I'm a brilliant man manager"The EOT transaction and how they structured a tax-free exitHow Rachel Reeves' budget changed the rules one week after they completedWhy legacy mattered more than a trade saleThis isn't about building an empire.It's about a founder who wanted to reward the people who built the business with her and managed to do it without a tax bill.If you've ever wondered whether there's another way to exit, this episode has the blueprint.__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: AtlasAdmin is a massive waste of time. That's why there's Atlas, the AI-first recruitment platform built for modern agencies.It doesn't only track CVs and calls. It remembers everything. Every email, every interview, every conversation. Instantly searchable, always available. And now, it's entering a whole new era.With Atlas 2.0, you can ask anything and it delivers. With Magic Search, you speak and it listens. It finds the right candidates using real conversations, not simply look for keywords.Atlas 2.0 also makes business development easier than ever. With Opportunities, you can track, manage and grow client relationships, powered by generative AI and built right into your workflow.Need insights? Custom dashboards give you total visibility over your pipeline. And that's not theory. Atlas customers have reported up to 41% EBITDA growth and an 85% increase in monthly billings after adopting the platform.No admin. No silos. No lost info. Nothing but faster shortlists, better hires and more time to focus on what actually drives revenue.Atlas is your personal AI partner for modern recruiting.Don't miss the future of recruitment. Get started with Atlas today and unlock your exclusive RAG listener offer at https://recruitwithatlas.com/therag/__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: HoxoEvery recruitment founder is investing in LinkedIn.Spending thousands on Recruiter licences.Building connections. Posting content. Growing networks.But here's the question almost no one can answer:How much revenue is LinkedIn actually bringing into your business?Most founders have thousands of connections but no clear process to turn that attention into cash.That's the problem we solve.At Hoxo, we help recruitment founders build predictable revenue systems on LinkedIn, not just noise or vanity metrics.Our clients are turning LinkedIn into £100K–£300K in new billings within months, using their existing networks and a simple repeatable process.To show you how it works, we've created a short training video exclusively for RAG listeners.In less than 10 minutes,...
In this company introduction, Alex Black, Executive Chairman of Rio2 (TSX:RIO | OTCQX:RIOFF), discusses the company's transition from developer to producer. Rio2 is nearing first gold production at its Fenix Gold Project in Chile, while simultaneously acquiring the Condestable Copper Mine in Peru to provide immediate cash flow. Project Highlights Fenix Gold Project (Chile): First Production: Construction is nearly complete; first gold pour is scheduled for January 2026. Initial Scale: Phase 1 targets 100,000 oz/year via run-of-mine heap leaching. Growth: A massive 5-million-ounce resource supports expansion to 300,000 oz/year by 2030. Condestable Copper Mine (Peru): Strategic Acquisition: Rio2 is acquiring this producing mine for $241M USD, returning to the jurisdiction where the team previously built and sold Rio Alto Mining for $1.2B. Financial Strength: Projected to generate $145M USD annual EBITDA at spot prices, funding gold expansions with minimal dilution. Stability: Features over 10 years of reserves and a 45,000-hectare underexplored land package. Key Financials & Team Fully Funded: Closed an upsized C$191 million bought deal in December 2025 to fund the copper acquisition and general growth. Proven Team: Led by Alex Black and President and CEO Andrew Cox, a management group with a history of successful multi-billion dollar exits in Latin America. If you have any follow up questions for Ian or want more information on any of the projects please email me at Fleck@kereport.com. Click here to visit the Rio2 website - https://www.rio2.com/ ------------------ For more market commentary & interview summaries, subscribe to our Substacks: The KE Report: https://kereport.substack.com/ Shad's resource market commentary: https://excelsiorprosperity.substack.com/ Investment disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, an offer, or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. Investing in equities and commodities involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Guests and hosts may own shares in companies mentioned.
Robert Gayden worked for over a year to buy a home care business. Revenue kept growing but the price remained the same.Register for the webinar: What Killed Deals in 2025 - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/44r1pH5Topics in Robert's interview:Influence of his late fatherThe “go bigger” search philosophyAppeal of the home health care industry17-month acquisition processChoosing to operate “in the weeds” of the businessLeading with high expectationsFocusing on increasing salesAchieving 15% growth in 8 monthsWorking capital dynamics in home careInvesting in employeesReferences and how to contact Robert:LinkedInAizik Zimerman on Acquiring Minds: Founder Mode for ETA $6m to $25m in 3 YearsMorgan McCauley on Acquiring Minds: How to Buy a $2.5m Home Care BusinessDevin Fitzgerald on Acquiring Minds: Buying $5m of Revenue with $50k of EquityRobert Graham & Aaron Blick on Acquiring Minds: How to Build a Roll-Up to $60m RevenueJérôme Bouillon on Acquiring Minds: How to Buy & Double a Home Care AgencyGet a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):Book a call with Tim or hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring MindsDownload the New CEO's Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.comGet complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron
UNLOCK THE 13 SYSTEMS EVERY AGENCY OWNER NEEDS TO REACH 8 FIGURES:https://bit.ly/41Sm05NIn this episode, Jordan Ross sits down with Todd Taskey to unpack what really drives the value of a digital marketing agency when it's time to sell. They explore how AI, tech enablement, and recurring revenue models are reshaping business valuations and exit strategies. Todd breaks down the financial levers like EBITDA, buyer types, and strategic acquisitions that can dramatically affect an agency's sale price. Whether you're preparing for a near-term exit or planning long-term growth, this episode offers a roadmap to positioning your agency for maximum value in a rapidly evolving market.ChaptersIntroduction to Business ValuationMarket Trends and Valuation MultiplesThe Impact of AI on Agency ValuationStrategic Acquisitions and Market PositioningRevenue and Retention as Key MetricsNavigating the Future of Agency GrowthThe Role of Strategic BuyersConclusion and ResourcesTo learn more go to 8figureagency.coTo reach out to Todd go to www.towerpartners.comTo listen to Todd go to SecondBitePodcast.com
El episodio conversa con Javier, cofundador y CEO de Grupo LMssLM (“La Mafia se sienta a la mesa”), sobre cómo han construido un grupo con cuatro patas: un gran obrador propio en San Mateo de Gállego de 14.000 m² y tres marcas, La Mafia, De Italy y Boutique Trattoria Viajera. El obrador, creado en 2014, produce casi todo el producto para las marcas para garantizar homogeneidad y calidad en toda la red. La Mafia acaba de cumplir 25 años y sigue siendo el buque insignia del grupo. En números, el grupo cerró el último ejercicio en unos 115 millones de euros y va rumbo a 128–130 millones, con un EBITDA cercano a 5 millones. Reparten el resultado entre un obrador que factura ~13 millones y aporta alrededor de 1 millón de EBITDA, unos nueve locales propios con otro millón y las centrales de franquicia con ~3 millones, todo ello con una política de reinversión fuerte en el obrador.El modelo de franquicia se apoya en un CAPEX típico de 500–550 mil euros (con acuerdos de financiación bancaria), un royalty del 5% más un 1% de marketing y márgenes operativos que dependen mucho de la “tasa de esfuerzo” del alquiler.
https://www.wesellgyms.com/sell-your-fitness-business/exp/Thinking about selling your gym? From understanding EBITDA multiples to organizing financials and finding the right buyer without alarming your members, this episode walks gym owners through the essential steps of valuation and transition. Discover what makes a gym sale successful. We Sell Gyms City: Austin Address: 4515 Menchaca Rd Website: http://www.wesellgyms.com
In Episode 67 of the State of the Market for Law Firm Sales, Senior Attorney Match's Jeremy E. Poock, Esq. welcomes Seth Deutsch and Jordan McMillian of Samson Partners Group for an in-depth focus on the entry of Private Equity to the Personal Injury Law marketplace. This circa 45 minute podcast episode involves a Q&A format, in which Seth and Jordan discuss the following: 1. Why did Samson Partners Group identify Personal Injury Law as ripe for opportunities for Samson's Private Equity Legal Alliance? 2. Could you please share 5 factors that Samson considers when valuing a PI law firm? 3. As sales of PI firms continue to buzz throughout the industry, what range of multiples of EBITDA do you observe and foresee? 4. What is a MSO, and what role do you foresee for MSOs in the sales of Personal Injury Law Firms? 5. What do you foresee as opportunities for platform acquisitions and tuck-in acquisitions during the next 5 years?
"Efficiency is the new equity." In the traditional agency model, growth usually means hiring more people to do more manual work. This linear relationship eats into your margins, complicates your operations, and ultimately caps your agency's valuation. To truly scale, you have to break the link between revenue growth and headcount.My guest, Rodney Mattos Sr., returns to the show to break down the math behind this shift. In this episode, we explore how his platform allows agencies to move from "people hours" to "precision hours." We get into the financial mechanics of how reducing OpEx through automation doesn't just increase profit - it expands your EBITDA multiple, exponentially increasing your enterprise value. This is the strategy for building a predictable, high-value agency that investors love.▶▶ Sign Up For Your Free Discovery Callhttps://calendly.com/aneary/strategy-sessionKEY MOMENTS(00:00:00) How AI Multiplies Agency Value (00:16:18) The "Post Office" Solution: Solving Data Gridlock (00:23:41) The Mirror Effect: Technology That Reflects Human Judgment (00:35:28) The Math: How Efficiency Expands Your Multiple (00:41:47) The Shift From "People Hours" to "Precision Hours" (01:05:03) The Goal is Freedom, Not Fewer PeopleCONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY
Com a chegada da IA, um novo ativo ganha mais valor nas empresas: a experiência das equipes que vão lidar com ela. Se você já conhece ROI, EBITDA e NPS, chegou a hora de conhecer o ROEx - Retorno sobre Repertório Acumulado - uma métrica inovadora que permite calcular o valor do conhecimento e da experiência das equipes e indivíduos. CONVIDADOS: Fran Winandy, CEO da Acalântis Services, e Martin Henkel, fundador e diretor da SeniorLab.Links do episódioA página do LinkedIn de Martin HenkelA página do LinkedIn de Fran WinandyO artigo "ROEx: O retorno sobre repertório como capital estratégico", publicado na HSM ManagementO filme “Um Senhor Estagiário”, com Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway e Rene Russo, direção de Nancy MeyersO livro “A revolução da longevidade”, de Alexandre KalacheO blog “etarismo.com.br”O site do IBGE com dados demográficos e populacionaisO livro “Longevidade - Uma breve história de como e por que vivemos mais”, de Steven JohnsonO livro “A Trilha Da Longevidade Brasileira: Os segredos de quem alcançou a vida longa, plena, saudável e feliz”, de Martin Henkel e João SengerO livro “Sempre Repórter”, de Lilian Ross, traduzido por Jayme da Costa Pinto A The Shift é uma plataforma de conteúdo que descomplica os contextos da inovação disruptiva e da economia digital.Visite o site www.theshift.info e assine a newsletter
Scott Duncan endured brutal ups & downs — and personal depression — during his ownership of a doomed tool & die businessRegister for the webinar: How to Model an Investor-Backed Search Acquisition - TODAY! - https://bit.ly/3XysjZBTopics in Scott's interview:Wishing he had listened to his gutThe risk of EBITDA (vs. revenue) concentrationManaging highly skilled primadonnas Employee theftLosing key employeesLong sales cycles and fixed quotesForced Covid shutdownRazor and blade business modelFacing aggressive creditorsFiling Chapter 7References and how to contact Scott:LinkedInLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:The Acquisition LabGet complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamDownload the New CEO's Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.comConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron
2025年11月,特斯拉的股东投票通过了CEO马斯克的最新薪酬方案,如果实现了这份方案里的所有目标,马斯克在未来十年,可以获得累计1万亿美元的薪酬。这个数字不仅远超此前上市公司高管的薪酬纪录(此前这个纪录也属于马斯克),甚至可以在全球上市公司里排名前10。要拿到这笔钱,特斯拉届时的市值要达到8.5万亿美元,这个数字可以拍到全球GDP第三。比万亿美元更有趣的是,这个超乎想象的数字之所以被提出,是因为此前特斯拉给马斯克提供的一份薪酬,被法院否决了。于是特斯拉提出了一个更夸张的方案。| 主播 |肖文杰、约小亚| 时间轴 |02:31 这份方案之所以诞生,是因为上一份方案被否决04:07 12级台阶的“白金成就”08:27 EBITDA小课堂13:15 特拉华州的衡平法院可不一般17:15 “压倒性的影响力”22:27 谁支持,谁反对26:32 这份方案里比数字更反常的一个条款30:01 创始人CEO的悖论35:17 这份方案赌的只是特斯拉吗?| 延伸资料 |特斯拉董事会关于马斯克薪酬方案的公告https://ir.tesla.com/_flysystem/s3/sec/000093807625000017/fsbateslase-gen.pdf马斯克前后两份薪酬对比https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2025/09/29/the-trillion-dollar-man-comparing-musks-2018-pay-plan-to-his-latest-tesla-award/特拉华州衡平法院对2018版薪酬的判决https://law.justia.com/cases/delaware/court-of-chancery/2019/ca-2018-0408-jrs.html| 后期制作 |潘鑫| 声音设计 |刘三菜| 收听方式 |你可以通过小宇宙、苹果播客、Spotify、喜马拉雅、网易云音乐、QQ 音乐、荔枝、豆瓣等平台收听节目。| 认识我们 |微信公众号:第一财经 YiMagazine联系我们:thatisbiz@yicai.com
Have you ever thought about what happens to your business when you're ready to step away? In this episode, Erin Fenstermaker, certified exit planner and pet industry veteran, breaks down the key elements that make a pet business valuable and sellable. She discusses the importance of recurring revenue, documented systems, and building a team of employees over independent contractors. Erin also explains what EBITDA is, what influences it, and how emotional readiness impacts a successful exit. Whether you're brand new or 30 years in, this conversation offers a roadmap to long-term value and future-proofing your business. Main Topics Exit planning and unplanned events Employees vs independent contractors What makes a business transferable Understanding EBITDA and business valuation Emotional aspects of selling a business Main Takeaway: "Exit planning is simply good business strategy." Whether you're thinking of selling or not, building a business that can operate without you creates value, freedom, and peace of mind. From documented systems to employee-led teams, what you build today impacts your options tomorrow. Even if you never sell, you'll gain a stronger, more resilient business that supports your lifestyle. So don't wait until it's too late—start exit planning now, because it's really just smart strategy. About our guest: Erin Fenstermaker is a certified exit planner and business consultant with over 20 years of experience in the pet industry. Through her firm, EF Consulting, she helps pet service businesses improve their operations, convert from independent contractor models to employee-based teams, and prepare for acquisition or sale. Erin also works with larger pet product companies through Birdseye Advisory Group and brings deep knowledge of market trends, business valuation, and strategic growth. She's passionate about building sustainable, scalable businesses that are both profitable and people-centered. Links EARN 1 CEU for PSI or NAPPS Erinfenstermaker.com - Pet industry consultant & certified exit planner (CEPA) Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! Check out ProTrainings Code: CPR-petsitterconfessional for 10% off
Points of Interest00:00 – 01:30 – Introduction: Marcel welcomes M&A advisor Todd Taskey, who specializes in investment banking transactions for digital marketing agencies doing $1–5M in EBITDA.01:30 – 02:40 – What Investment Banking Actually Means for Agencies: Todd explains what “investment banking transactions” are in plain language, covering how his team guides owners from first conversations through closing and integration.02:40 – 06:30 – The “Second Bite” Thesis and Evolutionary Transactions: Todd introduces his “second bite” concept using real client stories, showing how selling part of an agency can be a strategic leap forward rather than the end of an owner's journey.06:30 – 09:20 – Private Equity as Growth Partner, Not Villain: Marcel raises common fears about private equity, and Todd contrasts horror stories of big corporate deals with growth-focused PE in the $2M EBITDA range that needs more good people, not fewer.09:20 – 12:30 – How Earn-Outs Go Right (or Wrong): Todd shares how unrealistic projections in a pitch deck can make earn-out targets impossible, and explains his playbook for setting conservative growth assumptions that founders can actually beat.12:30 – 16:30 – Inside the Private Equity Business Model: Todd breaks down how PE funds are structured, how they earn management fees and returns, and why growing EBITDA and achieving multiple expansion is central to their strategy.16:30 – 19:30 – Case Studies of PE-Backed Agency Growth: Using examples like Power Digital and other PE-backed platforms, Todd illustrates how tucking in specialized agencies (CRO, Amazon, etc.) can generate outsized returns for both founders and investors.19:30 – 24:30 – Why Private Equity Wins: Data, Rigor, and Talent: Todd describes the level of analysis PE brings to the table—cohort analysis, retention metrics, financial rigor—and how this “art and science” combination helps them repeatedly grow and sell agencies.24:30 – 28:40 – The Experience Imbalance and Need for a Real Process: Marcel highlights the experience gap between founders and professional acquirers, and Todd explains why running a structured process with multiple buyers is essential for true price discovery.28:40 – 33:10 – Free Consulting: What the Market Really Values in Your Agency: Todd outlines how conversations with 20–30 serious buyers surface recurring themes—“this, that, and the other thing”—that tell you exactly what to fix to increase valuation, even if you do not sell.33:10 – 38:30 – AI, Efficiency, and the Future of Agency Valuations: Todd shares his view that AI will most directly impact valuations through efficiency gains and margin expansion, allowing agencies to stack more clients on the same headcount and drive higher EBITDA.Show NotesConnect with Todd:LinkedInTower PartnersEmail: todd@towerpartners.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this Seller Master Class episode, the team digs into readiness: the unsexy work that makes or breaks your deal.Last time, they explored the decision to sell. This week is all about getting your house in order so buyers can move quickly and confidently through diligence.We cover why “time kills all deals” and how the vibrancy or cadence of a deal is driven by how fast you can deliver clean, accurate information.Financial readiness basics:Clean P&L with defensible add-backs and clear, normalized EBITDAMoving from cash to accrual accounting and resolving open issuesUnderstanding your revenue mix (recurring vs. one-time vs. resale, deferred revenue)Showing consistency over years, not just monthsPeople & leadership readiness:Reducing over-dependence on the founder across sales, operations, and deliveryDemonstrating a leadership team that can scale and executeSuccession planning — including “who's in the tent” during a transactionUsing data (e.g., sales leadership forecasting growth from customer intimacy) to prove leadership impactOperational readiness:Tool stack hygiene, systems that actually work, and useful dashboardsPSA/ticketing discipline and clarity on what makes up your gross marginTransferable contracts with clean renewal and termination languageCustomer satisfaction metrics buyers will want to seeCustomer & contract hygiene:Clear target market and GTM strategy (vertical, size, geography, problem-based, etc.)Demonstrating long-term, renewing, high-intimacy customer relationshipsMaking sure contracts and your chart of accounts tell the same story buyers see in the dataLegal and compliance housekeeping:Corporate and regulatory filings (e.g., secretary of state docs, LLC details)Clean cap tableFixing misclassified contractors, missing signatures, and expired MSAs before diligenceIf you only have 90 days to get ready:Prioritize financial readiness and third-party-vetted numbersTighten up contracts and leadership accountability (“who's who in the zoo”)Start building a data room with financial, contract, and operational data buyers will expect to seeTying it together with strategy:How “selling in” vs. “selling out” ties to your readiness storyShowing that your differentiation, GTM, and organization are well thought out — and executable with or without the founder in the seatThis episode is perfect for:Founders and leaders of IT services and MSP firms who see an exit on the horizon and want to avoid value-eroding surprises in diligence. Listen to Shoot the Moon on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Buy, sell, or grow your tech-enabled services firm with Revenue Rocket.
Helen Buchan-Connor on why she's building offshore teams and hitting $600K revenue"All I wanted to do was make £100,000. That's it"Helen Buchan Connor started her recruitment business in September 2020.Her husband had just been diagnosed with lymphoma.COVID had locked down Singapore a week earlier.She was working from her lift lobby because there was no space for an office.Most people would've waited for a "better time."Helen didn't have that luxury.First year: $350K revenue, $50K profit.But then 2023 hit. The market turned. She lost $200K.She'd taken investment. Signed a JV with a well-known player in the industry.The advice she got?"Work harder. Do more calls."But you can't bring UK-style metrics into Southeast Asia and expect them to land."In Southeast Asia, trust is built off relationships. In the West, it's built off performance."So Helen stripped it back. Looked at what the big tech companies were actually doing.Amazon. Google. The major media agencies.They were all offshoring. Quietly.She decided to do it loudly.Today:- Three-person team- $600K revenue- Phone off at 7 pm- Present mother and wife- Building offshore hubs for ad tech clients across Southeast AsiaThis week on The RAG Podcast, Helen breaks down exactly how she built it.We cover:- Why she started in the middle of a pandemic with a seriously ill husband- How she turned $350K Year 1 into a $200K loss in Year 3- Why the JV investment model failed her (and what she learned)- The Southeast Asia + Philippines combination that changed everything- How she's consulting clients OUT of hiring decisions (and still growing revenue)- Why "surviving is thriving" when you're a working parent building a businessThis isn't about grinding harder or scaling to 50 headcount.This is about building a recruitment business that fits your life.Not the other way around."Surviving is thriving. If you've got it together at the end of the week, you're good. If your kids like you, you're good. If you've got a couple of clients and you can invoice them, you're good."If you want to understand how to build profitably without sacrificing everything else, this episode is essential.__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: AtlasAdmin is a massive waste of time. That's why there's Atlas, the AI-first recruitment platform built for modern agencies.It doesn't only track CVs and calls. It remembers everything. Every email, every interview, every conversation. Instantly searchable, always available. And now, it's entering a whole new era.With Atlas 2.0, you can ask anything and it delivers. With Magic Search, you speak and it listens. It finds the right candidates using real conversations, not simply look for keywords.Atlas 2.0 also makes business development easier than ever. With Opportunities, you can track, manage and grow client relationships, powered by generative AI and built right into your workflow.Need insights? Custom dashboards give you total visibility over your pipeline. And that's not theory. Atlas customers have reported up to 41% EBITDA growth and an 85% increase in monthly billings after adopting the platform.No admin. No silos. No lost info. Nothing but faster shortlists, better hires and more time to focus on what actually drives revenue.Atlas is your personal AI partner for modern...
If you've ever wondered what happens when you mix hustle, humility, a bit of chaos, and a moment of pure stage-fright… this episode has you covered.This week, I sat down with Tom James, Managing Director of Bill's Restaurants, and a man whose career has taken him from glass collector to running iconic hospitality brands with a detour involving an incident with Jamie Oliver. Is that really his name?it's every bit as painful and glorious as it sounds.But beyond the comedy gold, Tom brings serious insight on leadership, culture, brand evolution, and the real work behind transforming a casual dining business in a turbulent market.In This EpisodeThe 16 year old glass collector who instantly fell in love with the buzz of hospitalityWhy hospitality should count as national serviceThe mentor who changed Tom's life and convinced him to skip his degree for a bar manager job at 20Becoming a General Manager at 24 and the power of someone seeing potential in you before you see it in yourselfForgetting everything you think you know when joining a new business (and why it matters)The Padstow Hotel summer that taught him more in four weeks than the entire year beforeWhy casual dining's old “playbooks” no longer work in a market that changes every two monthsHow Bill's rebuilt its identity, doubled EBITDA, and refocused the business around culture, data and genuine hospitalityWhy six out of ten experiences are basically an invitation to try somewhere elseStand-Out Quotes“You've always got to find a way. The failures… what are the learnings? How can I do it better?”“The nicest, kindest, most generous man I've met in hospitality is Bill — he's still our cultural benchmark.”“Six out of ten is saying: try somewhere else next time.”“The best loyalty comes from emotional connection — not discounting.”“I learned more in four weeks running that hotel than in the entire year before.”Why ListenThis episode is a masterclass in:Leadership without egoCulture-driven transformationBrand identity in a challenging marketThe messy, human, hilarious reality of hospitalityAnd above all, Tom's story is a reminder of why this industry is so special:it takes good people, stretches them, teaches them, shapes them — and occasionally gives them stories they'll never, ever live down.Including Jamie OliverShow PartnersA big shout out to the first of today's show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud's time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philAlso, a massive shout out to our new show partners ApronRunning a hospitality business means juggling endless payments - from suppliers to staff - all while keeping cash flow in check. That's where Apron helps.With Apron Bill Pay, you can manage every supplier payment in one place, approve and schedule bills,...
In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Ken Goodrich — legendary home services operator, turnaround specialist, and former CEO/Chairman of Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing — to unpack what it really takes to build, scale, and successfully exit a home service business.Ken shares the origin story that shaped his entire career: buying his first HVAC business at 25, getting crushed by payroll tax mistakes, and discovering The E-Myth at the exact moment everything fell apart. That wake-up call turned into a repeatable business-building playbook — one he's used to build and sell six home service companies, including taking Goettl from $11M in revenue and losing $3M to $250M across 11 locations and 1,000+ employees.John and Ken dig into the real mechanics of multi-location growth: why most owners hit a wall, how daily scoreboards and call-by-call discipline keep branches aligned, and what changes before you have a full senior leadership bench. Ken also lays out his view on the “sweet spot” for exits, when to bring on capital, and why operators should treat every growth phase like a 1,000-day value creation sprint.If you're thinking about acquisitions, preparing for multi-market expansion, or asking “when is the right time to take chips off the table?” — this episode is the blueprint.What You'll LearnHow Ken used E-Myth systems to go from tech-owner chaos to scalable processThe multi-branch management cadence that keeps remote locations on-trackWhy “easy lead years” create sloppy habits — and how to run with a scarcity mindsetThe real EBITDA thresholds that change your exit options and multiples
Csatlakozz áremelés előtt: dec. 15-én bezár a BB PRO - https://bbpro.hu Ebben az adásban Adi és Zoli teljesen őszintén beszélgetnek arról, milyen volt a Brocasterz egyik legnehezebb, mégis legtanulságosabb időszaka. Adi elmeséli a teljes háttértörténetet: hogyan kellett a működést újratervezni, miért lett elengedhetetlen a csapat átszervezése, milyen hibákat követtek el a toborzásban, és hogyan alakult át a vezetői működése egy mikromenedzsmenttel teli időszak után újra stratégiai gondolkodássá. Közben Zoli a Nomád Cruise-ról jelentkezik be valahonnan Szamoa mellől, és hoz egy éles, üzleti szemléletformáló nézőpontot: hogyan kell EBITDA-módszerrel gondolkodni a cég valós profitjáról. Az epizódban érintjük a román Brocasterz update-et és Zoli cégátvilágítási-sztorijának tanulságait is arról, hogy hogyan nem lett cégeladás az ALH életében. Dolgozz velünk és tanulj tőlünk az adásokon is túl:
In this enlightening episode of MSP Business School, host Brian Doyle sits down with Brian Hoppe to dig deep into the dynamic world of Managed Service Providers. With decades of experience under his belt, Hoppe shares invaluable insights on navigating the tricky terrain of business growth, from the nascent stages to gearing up for exit strategies. The discussion opens up at IT Nation, a gathering close to Hoppe's heart for its opportunities to reconnect and expand within the MSP community, setting the stage for a conversation rich in experience and industry insight. Tackling the trajectory from startup to maturity, the duo explores crucial strategies for MSPs. Brian Hoppe emphasizes understanding financial fundamentals early on, like gross margin and EBITDA, which are vital for eventual scalability and exit readiness. He stresses the importance of evolving from a tech-oriented approach to a shareholder mindset, which ensures MSPs are not only viable but thriving engines of innovation and profit. This thought leadership episode is a treasure trove for MSPs at any stage of their journey, especially those eager to future-proof their operations amid constant technological evolution. Key Takeaways: Understand Financial Metrics: Early understanding of key financial metrics, such as gross margin and EBITDA, is essential for sustainable business growth in the MSP industry. Shift to a Shareholder Mindset: Transitioning from a technician-oriented mindset to a shareholder's perspective can dramatically reshape businesses' value creation and growth strategies. Develop a Sales Engine: Scaling successfully involves moving beyond owner-led sales to building a robust growth engine that isn't dependent solely on referrals. Focus on Leadership Development: As businesses grow, establishing a second tier of leadership and fostering a mature, scalable organization becomes crucial. Prepare for Exit Early: Exit strategies should be planned early in the business life cycle, ensuring maximum valuation and smooth transitions when opportunities arise. Guest Name: Brian Hoppe LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianhoppe/ Company: Brian Hoppe Coaching Website: https://brianhoppe.com/ Show Website: https://mspbusinessschool.com/ Host Brian Doyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandoylevciotoolbox/ Sponsor vCIOToolbox: https://vciotoolbox.com
Andy Rougeot launched remote territories of the blue collar business he bought, which led to $1.7m of EBITDA and an exitRegister for the webinars: How to Invest In SMBs (Without Buying One Yourself) - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/4rBI4NbHow to Model an Investor-Backed Search Acquisition - Dec 11th - https://bit.ly/4owBkNWTopics in Andy's interview:His experience as an Army intelligence officerWhen in doubt, do the dirtiest jobThe military concept of “left seat, right seat” trainingSearching from the public libraryVeterans are well-suited to blue-collar leadershipRewards of leading young menGaining warm leads in new marketsHis team's competitive edgeExiting his business to run for mayor of DenverInvesting in self-funded searchersReferences and how to contact Andy:LinkedInSearch Fund Secondaries GroupAndy's webinar: Liquidity Options for Search InvestorsWork with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:Pioneer Capital AdvisoryGet a complimentary IT audit of your target business:Email Nick Akers at nick@inzotechnologies.com, and tell him you're a searcherGet a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):Book a call with Tim or hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring MindsConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron
This episode is your essential guide to surviving financial due diligence, the number one hurdle in selling your business. Learn how to prepare your company's books before you go to market, ensuring buyers see a clean, consistent EBITDA that justifies your asking price. Stop leaving millions on the table and discover the expert moves that speed up the process and guarantee a successful M&A exit. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Most Common Deal Killers When Selling Your Business Preparing Financial Statements When Selling a Business M&A Due Diligence Preparation Additional Resources: Selling your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Sign up for an Assessment and Valuation of Your Business. Courses: The Art & Science of Selling a Business Download The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Download Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue If you have any topic or guest suggestions, please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com.
Interview with Trent Mell, CEO of Electra Battery Materials Corp.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/electra-battery-metals-tsxvelbm-pioneering-north-americas-critical-mineral-independence-7527Recording date: 5th December 2025Electra Battery Materials is progressing with construction of North America's first battery-grade cobalt refinery, marking a significant step toward reducing Western dependence on Chinese critical mineral processing. The Canadian facility, located just north of Toronto, targets production of 6,500 tons annually starting in 2027.CEO Trent Mell described the company's transformation as "Electra 2.0" following a comprehensive financial restructuring. The company raised $82.5 million in new capital from three levels of government, including the U.S. Department of Defense, alongside private investors. Simultaneously, lenders converted 60% of $67 million in debt to equity, demonstrating confidence in the project's viability. This recapitalization addresses the financial constraints that had paralyzed development over the previous two years.The brownfield refinery redevelopment carries an estimated capital expenditure of $69 million and is valued at over $250 million upon completion. At full capacity, the facility targets $30 million in annual EBITDA, with first-year production expected to generate $15-18 million during the 12-month ramp-up period.Commercial stability comes from a five-year tolling agreement with LG, the largest non-Chinese cobalt buyer globally. This contract covers 60-80% of production at fixed processing margins, insulating Electra from cobalt price volatility. Mell emphasized a conservative approach: "Don't get greedy. Lock in a margin. Let's just not mess it up."Demand fundamentals remain robust despite slower electric vehicle adoption rates. Mell noted that industrial and defense applications, including military drones and night vision goggles, would consume the facility's entire output even without EV demand. Indicative interest already stands at twice production capacity.The 2026 construction timeline includes contractor selection in December 2025, with detailed budgets released in January 2026. Cold commissioning begins late 2026, positioning the facility for commercial production throughout 2027. China currently controls approximately 70% of global cobalt refining capacity, making Electra's domestic processing capability strategically significant for North American supply chain security.View Electra Battery Metals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/electra-battery-metalsSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com
In this episode of Built to Sell Radio, John Warrillow sits down with Ujwal Arkalgud, who built the same company twice. Chapter one was a classic problem: a profitable, founder-heavy services firm with impressive EBITDA but a ceiling on valuation. Chapter two began when he turned that service into a productized offering, transformed how customers bought his work, and ultimately sold for more than 15x EBITDA — roughly three times the offer he received as a simple service provider.
Tommy Mello, founder of A1 Garage Door, scaled his home-service company to more than $300M in annual revenue and over 1,100 employees. His journey spans two decades of failures, rebuilding, systemizing, and mastering leadership. In this episode, he breaks down talent acquisition, firing top performers, building an owner-mindset workforce, and the philosophy that helped him 10x EBITDA in under two years.A grounded, tactical conversation on scaling, discipline, mentorship, and the mindset required to build a dominant organization.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Frank and Jon unpack:• Why today's competitive landscape means growth-motivated buyers must approach deals differently.• The three core reasons advisors pursue acquisitions - and which ones actually lead to long-term success.• How leverage, bank financing, and EBITDA-based lending really work in practice.• Why “fixer-upper” books may offer the strongest ROI.• How elite buyers win deals by understanding the emotional side of selling a practice.• The art of creating a safe landing place for sellers, their teams, and their clients.• Why phased buyouts and seller glide paths often create better retention and better economics for everyone.Jon also shares numbers, structures, and stories that demystify the math behind buying a practice - and the mindset required to scale from practitioner to true enterprise builder.If you're a buyer, seller, or advisor considering M&A in any form, this episode is a blueprint you can't afford to miss.Resources:Jon Kuttin's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathankuttin Elite Consulting Partners | Financial Advisor Transitions: https://eliteconsultingpartners.comElite Marketing Concepts | Marketing Services for Financial Advisors: https://elitemarketingconcepts.comElite Advisor Successions | Advisor Mergers and Acquisitions: https://eliteadvisorsuccessions.comJEDI Database Solutions | Data Intelligence for Advisors: https://jedidatabasesolutions.comListen to more Advisor Talk episodes: https://eliteconsultingpartners.com/podcasts/Follow us on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/eliteconsultingpartners
When entrepreneurs think about selling a business, they picture a clean formula: EBITDA × multiple, a "strategic buyer," and a smooth six-month process that ends with a big wire hitting their account. What almost no one pictures is the real complexity behind an exit. The psychology, the timing, the identity shift, the risk calculus, and the reality that most founders aren't just selling a business… they're handing over a lifetime's work to someone else. That's the part nobody warns you about. Most owners obsess over valuation, but the real danger is preparing too late, choosing the wrong advisors, or stepping into negotiations with a fantasy number another broker promised them to win the listing. And the cost of that mistake? Years lost, deals collapsing, and owners discovering too late that they should have fixed their accounting, diversified their customer base, or tightened operations years before approaching the market. And underneath all of it is an even deeper truth: exits aren't just financial events; they're emotional ones. If you don't know what your life looks like after the wire hits, you're at risk of waking up with more money than you've ever had… and less purpose than you've ever felt. In this episode, I'm joined by Gregory Kovsky, president of IBA, one of the oldest and largest business brokerage firms in the Pacific Northwest. We dig into why the market is hotter than ever, how valuation actually works, the unique pitfalls sellers don't see coming, and why the real exit planning starts long before you think you're ready. Guest Bio Gregory Kovsky is the President and CEO of IBA (International Business Associates), the Pacific Northwest's oldest and largest business brokerage firm. Gregory has successfully negotiated the purchase and sale of over 300 privately held companies and family businesses in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, California, North Carolina, and Massachusetts since joining IBA as a mergers and acquisitions intermediary in 1994. He has also built a seven-figure, self-managing business across ten locations. He has successfully facilitated transactions involving manufacturing and distribution companies, industrial, marine, and automotive businesses, technology and software companies, and service, education, and retail businesses. A commercial real estate professional for over 30 years, Gregory commonly provides his clients with comprehensive representation in selling a business and the associated real estate. To learn more, visit https://ibainc.com/. About Your Host From pro-snowboarder to money mogul, Chris Naugle has dedicated his life to being America's #1 Money Mentor. With a core belief that success is built not by the resources you have, but by how resourceful you can be. Chris has built and owned 19 companies, with his businesses being featured in Forbes, ABC, House Hunters, and his very own HGTV pilot in 2018. He is the founder of The Money School™ and Money Mentor for The Money Multiplier. His success also includes managing tens of millions of dollars in assets in the financial services and advisory industry and in real estate transactions. As an innovator and visionary in wealth-building and real estate, he empowers entrepreneurs, business owners, and real estate investors with the knowledge of how money works. Chris is also a nationally recognized speaker, author, and podcast host. He has spoken to and taught over ten thousand Americans, delivering the financial knowledge that fuels lasting freedom.
In this episode the hosts walk through evaluating a potential acquisition of a Houston‑area elevator services company, debating whether a 7.5× EBITDA asking price can pencil out given the financing constraints and growth challenges.Business Listing - https://www.bizbuysell.com/business-opportunity/strong-cash-flow-elevator-services-business-houston-texas/2439153/?J=bot&bn=114637964&bd=20251110&utm_source=bizbuysell&utm_medium=emailsite&utm_campaign=htmlbotWelcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.
The latest edition of the retail industry's leading podcast features an in-depth conversation with Jason Buechel, CEO of Whole Foods Market and Vice President of Amazon Worldwide Grocery Stores, who shares Amazon's rapidly expanding grocery ambitions. Already surpassing $100 billion in gross sales, Amazon is leaning into grocery as a strategic category driven by frequency, loyalty, Prime stickiness, and the potential to unite all household purchasing into a seamless digital and physical ecosystem.Buechel explains how Amazon is transforming grocery shopping—a category in which consumers currently visit four to five retailers a month—into a single, unified experience. With more than 1,000 same-day grocery delivery locations today scaling to 2,300 cities, store-level innovations such as Whole Foods Daily Shop formats, and the integration of perishables directly into Amazon baskets alongside electronics or apparel, the company is erasing long-standing channel barriers. He also outlines the “one grocery” operational vision: unified supply chains, technology stacks, and customer journeys across banners, while preserving the brand trust and standards that Whole Foods customers demand.The episode opens with co-hosts Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc breaking down early holiday results. This year's hottest retail storyline, however, may be the sudden emergence of agentic AI. Tools such as Amazon's Rufus and ChatGPT are now influencing search and conversion decisions, helping fuel what the hosts dub “the most agentic Christmas yet.” With traffic gains from AI agents multiplying, the shift from traditional search to intelligent assistants is poised to accelerate dramatically in 2026.The discussion then turns to Kohl's, and the decision to name interim CEO Michael Bender to the permanent position. The hosts frame this as symptomatic of a deeper issue: a retailer with declining relevance in a shrinking total addressable market.On the heels of new quarterly earnings reports they also spotlight the theme of “profitless prosperity”—brands reporting modest sales improvements but sliding EBITDA as tariffs, promotions, and supply chain pressures erode margin—the overarching message: top-line growth is not victory unless gross profit dollars follow.The episode concludes with the remarkable rise of Google's AI game, and Sears inexplicably still operating a handful of stores (though likely not for much longer). SPECIAL OFFER for our listeners! SAVE 20% on registration for the all new Shoptalk Luxe event in Abu Dhabi January 27-29.For more info go to https://luxe.shoptalk.com/page/get-ticket and then register using our special code : RRLUXE20 About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.
This episode is sponsored by Troy Roofing Inc. LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/ Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/ In this Dropping Bombs episode, second-generation roofer and multi-million-dollar owner Troy Musulman reveals how blue-collar grit scales real companies. He exposes industry roll-ups, margins, and consumer traps, explaining how he escaped a wage ceiling and dominated the tear-off roofing niche. Troy also reveals why most "lifetime" warranties are actually just marketing. Action takeaways: pricing with discipline, strategic material sourcing, documenting installs, and unifying with solid operators to increase EBITDA and exit options. Learn how to evaluate offers, avoid slow-pay partnerships, and the simple phrase that saves thousands. Whether you own a home, run a crew, or just hate getting hustled, this episode shows how to keep more money—and more leverage—on your side.