Build Better Business Podcast with Chuck Crumpton

Trust you will enjoy my conversation with Eric. If you're thinking about selling your business in the next 10 years, we should talk. Why leave money on the table? Let's talk: Talk to Chuck Key Success Factors for selling a business: Gaul emphasizes two critical elements for business owners preparing to sell: Clean Books : Clean financial records "de-risk the business" because buyers and banks perc...

The discussion extensively covers organizational culture, with Frank defining it as "creating systems that develop trust, communication, organizational skills, the ability to operate efficiently so that you can innovate, orchestrate, and quantify and improve". He uses Disney as a prime example, where he worked during their four-year streak as America's best company to work for. Disney's philosophy...

Owen emphasizes that around 80-85% of companies are not ready to go to market. Before deciding to sell, business owners need to understand the listing price and how it was determined, identify what they want in a buyer, understand the 6-12 month process timeline, and maintain business performance throughout. Common Valuation Misconceptions: A major misconception involves confusion between two diff...

Andrew explains that Vestigo focuses on "mission-based businesses", believing that companies with missions beyond financial objectives often become stronger businesses.   The firm receives approximately one deal per day as inbound opportunities and completes roughly 5-6 deals per year on average. They evaluate companies based on both financial metrics and impact criteria, looking for businesses th...

Rich describes himself as "unfiltered, transparent, and pretty damn open". He lost everything to gambling and "didn't have a penny to my name" when he entered Gamblers Anonymous. Rich emphasizes that "picking a partner is like picking your wife" and stresses the importance of aligned interests.    As a buyer, Rich looks for "people, the owner, the management, the market, the product".   He believe...

 Trust you will enjoy the conversation between myself and Greg. If I can help you or your business in anyway, please let me know. Chuck StrategicAdvisoryForum.com Greg Merrill is a strategic growth and transformation executive from San Antonio, Texas and former global head of Digital Transformation for Nike.  Merrill holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University. He emphasizes that successful busines...

Marc shares his profound personal story that transformed his business approach to deal making.  In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, he received a stage four cancer diagnosis with six months to live. While recovering from surgery and battling COVID contracted in the hospital, his 10-year-old son Tommy made a pivotal observation. When Adams explained that nine out of ten companies they evaluate don'...

In my opinon, partnerships are like marriages without love. Ryan challenged my view. He has had two successful exits - first with Redwood Global (sold in 2014) and most recently with Core Resources (sold in February 2025 for over 6x EBITDA multiple)  Both companies operated in the staffing/human capital space, with Core Resources focusing on IT professionals for banks and financial institutions. P...

These are a few of the points Hal and I discussed during our conversation. Reach out to us to help you scale your business before exiting; Chuck Crumpton 864.915.0066 Strategic Advisory Forum, LLC Major Pitfalls Before Selling Owner dependency: Many businesses are built around the owner rather than being sustainable operations Lack of preparation: Business owners often too busy working "in" the bu...

Frank Cottle  is the founder and CEO of Alliance Virtual Offices with over 50 years of M&A experience. He has been involved in numerous transactions on both buy and sell sides, including acquiring 44 companies in a 3-year period while working with Deloitte in the late 1990s. He challenges the traditional "win-win" approach, arguing that successful deals require each party to believe they got t...

Capitivating conversation with Hampus. You're gonna like this guy and his story! Some of the episode details are below. Let me know if we can help your business grow and get ready for an exit like he enjoyed. StrategicAdvisoryForum.com Key Takeaways: Founder alignment is crucial - invest in structured communication processes Focus on strategic value, not just financial metrics Build relationships ...

This conversation between Chuck and David Frankel, founder of Perky LLC, focusing on entrepreneurship, product development, and the challenges faced by inventors.   David shared his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the significance of trust.  David highlighted the low success rate of patented products reaching the market, attributing this to inventors' hesitance to face rejection and their lac...

This is a conversation between Chuck Crumpton (host) and Christine Nicholson, a UK-based business mentor who has been voted UK Business Mentor four times and is based in the London area. Key Topics Discussed The Ripple Effect of Small Business. Christine emphasizes that small business owners are the backbone of society, creating economic benefits that extend far beyond their immediate operations:...

Jeff DeGarmo from Tulsa, Oklahoma joined the podcast to share his entrepreneurial journey. He's a USC and University of Colorado graduate with degrees in aerospace technology, Navy veteran, father of five children (ages 13-30), and triathlon enthusiast who accidentally discovered the sport through friends. Career Transition Jeff made an interesting pivot from a highly technical aerospace backgroun...

In this episode of the Build Better Business Podcast , host Chuck Crumpton speaks with Meg Newhouse about leadership, culture, and preparing organizations for long-term success. Meg shares her expertise on engaging teams, building resilience, and aligning purpose with performance. Listeners will gain practical strategies for cultivating strong workplace cultures, leading through change, and creati...

If you're a business owner—especially in the service or agency world—this episode is a masterclass in scaling, selling, and stepping back. Jason Swenk built and sold his digital agency for millions, and in this conversation, he shares the exact strategies that helped him do it. You'll learn: 🔑 How to grow an agency that doesn’t rely on you 💰 The real metrics buyers look for in service-based busi...

John scaled the business to nearly $10 million in revenue, with impressive EBITDA margins of 20–40%, before selling to a private equity firm executing a roll-up in the test prep space. While the sale was a financial success, the emotional aftermath caught John off guard. Post-exit, he found himself unanchored and questioning what came next. Curious whether other founders shared the same experience...

Jon Pole is the President and Co-Founder of My Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) headquartered in Toronto. He and his team have acquired over 20 radio stations and is currently one of the fastest growing companies in Canada. This is a great episode because Jon unpacks his growth model in an "unsexy" industry and gives us his unique perspective from the "mind of an acquirer". You'll love his philosoph...

 ChatGPT is shaping the future of how we work, think, and communicate—and the Forum Formula podcast lets you explore that world through stories, strategies, and real-world use cases. Why listen: 1. Unlock Practical Applications Learn how others are using ChatGPT for marketing, sales, writing, coding, customer service, and more. Hear real examples of businesses saving time, cutting costs, or scalin...

You are going to love Kimmy! She is a powerhouse entrepreneur, visionary leader, and strategic thinker who has redefined success on her own terms. As the owner of Woodhouse Day Spa, she built her business from the ground up, transforming a bold idea into a thriving, multi-million-dollar enterprise. What began as a passion project quickly evolved into a nationally recognized brand, known for its in...

We don't normally talk politics or religion on the show, but this was a very interesting conversation between Chuck Crumpton and Lt. Governor Pam Evette. Pam shares insights on how the State of SC operates, particularly how it functions in a business climate. She also unpacks her very successful exit with the company her and her husband David recently sold. The conversation moves along nicely and...

John Sterling, software industry executive, business owner, and host of Noob School Podcast interviews Chuck Crumpton, President of Bull Street Forum. Chuck shares some very imtimate moments about starting 2 of his own companies and the challenges he faced against all odds. Chuck offers practical advice for entrepreneurs—from boosting business value to nailing a successful sale. You’ll leave with...

At age 28, despite being millionaires and debt-free, Justin's life "falls apart" during what he calls "seven years of tribulation". The family faced multiple devastating challenges: a lawsuit that almost broke them, three third-trimester miscarriages, five members of their wedding party either died or committed suicide, and his father's unexpected death.  This is his story, from riches to rags to...