Books & The Biz

[00:00:24.06] - Alice Welcome to Books in the Biz, the show where real-world business meets real-world results. It's Hosted by business strategist Dan Paulson and veteran CFO Richard Beltry, this podcast breaks down the stories, trends, and financial insights shaping today's company. Dan brings decades of experience helping leaders simplify operations, build strong cultures, and scale with...

The Silver Tsunami is happening and everyone from Private Equity to individual investors are calling. The question is are you prepared to sell, or are you better building your enterprise further. In today's final episode for 2025, we explore the strategy behind the big deals being thrown around to determine if they are the best opportunity for you. We will also share some alternatives to bette...

Business is growing. You are getting bogged down with too much, but you lack the experience on your team to get what you need done. Maybe it's time to go out and hire that talent you need to scale. Not so fast. Many companies don't need, nor can afford, a full-time executive to lead growth. So what do you do when you need help? Think Fractional. When you look at the costs of hiring a full...

Happy Thanksgiving! It seemed like a good time to do a top 10 list and we came up with several actions you should dig into before 2026. Check out this episode to learn what you should prepare for in the new year as you wrap up 2025. Be sure to Like, Share, and Subscribe!

AI investment may be showing signs of a correction. On Tuesday, November18th, the Stock Market took a significant dip of over 8% fueled by the concerns that Artificial Intelligence may be hitting a roadblock. Like other new industries before it, corrections are bound to happen. So what could this mean to you? Uncertainty in the stock market combined with ongoing tariff concerns, political pressure...

Artificial Intelligence is the new buzzword in business. Today there is a story in every newsfeed about the power this new technology has to reshape our world. Many are concerned that AI will lead to massive job losses and ultimately hurt our economy. So is AI the next new thing, a tech bubble, or a job killer? Today's show will share our insights and where AI may help, or hurt, your business....

Success in business doesn't need to be complicated. That is why we have developed the M.A.A.X. System. The goal was to focus on four key areas of financial and operational performance that truly drive business growth. Today we dig into the M.A.A.X. principles and show where, when utilized successfully, they lead to unprecedented growth for small to medium-sized companies. Please like, share, a...

The power of Add Backs. In our final roundtable for October, we bring Paul Curtiss back on to talk about add backs and how spending money on people and operations can actually INCREASE the money you get at sale. We will discuss where many business leaders spend money that actually take equity away from the deal instead of maximizing dollars in the offer. Learn about why hiring executives and inves...

Join us for this succession round table discussion. We invite Paul Curtiss to continue our succession discussion in this multi-part series that dives into the three areas we believe are important for putting the most money in your pocket when it's time to sell. Here we will each share our thoughts on Operations, Finance, and finally Structuring the deal so you as an owner can step away and gai...

So you are considering selling your business. Or maybe you had a call from someone offering to buy your company. How do you know what the best alternative is for your situation? To start, you should know the differences between the different agents you could be speaking to and what they offer. In today's episode, Paul Curtiss from EBIT Associates will join us to help explain the differences an...

One of the biggest obstacles to growth and long-term success isn’t a lack of strategy—it’s the lack of clarity. Too often, business owners assume their team understands expectations, but when roles and goals are unclear, confusion, duplication of effort, and costly mistakes follow. In this episode, we dive into how unclear roles and undefined goals silently erode productivity, we...

The SBA released a notice on September 18th that could be a sign of help for small manufacturers. In order to build our industrial base, the Trump administration is considering a one-year waiver incentives return that could reduce loan fees to zero when borrowing $950,000 or less. That could save a business owner thousands. This episode will focus on the possible change and how we believe it may i...

Success in business is offering a better produce or service than a competitor. The same applies when you look at succession. You need to be more attractive than another company to maximize your value. Being prepared for the next move is critical. Today we will share some Books & The Biz experiences that show what happens when you fail to prepare your company for succession. This is especially...

Are you looking to sell your business? Maybe you've had private equity come knocking on your door. Some industries are seeing PE firms flashing incredible numbers for valuations that can be quite attractive as a business owner. But what should you watch for? As they say in business, "buyer beware". There are some great and reputable PE firms out there. Depending on your situation, se...

A recent guest pointed out that about 70% of business owners looking to sell have no plan and want to get our as soon as possible. Now Books & The Biz shares a real world example of how complex a seemingly simple business sale can impact the overall transfer of wealth in the family. Succession is a process and needs to be planned well in advance of the actual transfer of business. Other factor...

So you sold your company for a huge multiple - Now what? Private sales, PE, and VC money can leave business owners with a huge windfall, but it also can have serious tax implications that could take a lot of that money out of your pocket. Today we bring in Will Sutherland, CEO and President of Three Pillars Wealth Management who believe in educating his clients on the critical importance of planni...

Today we talk about why being proactive in your succession planning can make the difference between retiring comfortably and falling short on your investment goals. A 2024 article from The Economic Times highlights the importance of proper planning, and the fact that it is a detailed process to get the results you want. Rich and I highlight what that lack of planning could cost you not only tomorr...

You've probably heard us say that roughly 80% of all businesses will be sold at a discount if they are sold at all. For many owners who are counting on that sale to help fund their retirement, they are seeing a problem. These are companies that may even have decent profits and show potential. So why is that the case? This Books & The Biz will look at the hard truths many business owners ha...

Being profitable in the trades doesn’t take an MBA. Both owners and employees need to understand how adding values can increase profits AND take-home pay for owners and employees alike. Leah Kallas from Great Lakes Skilled Trades will join us to share her observations as we compare what successful companies do to maximize revenue and retain talent. About Leah: Leah Kallas is an industry prof...

As we approach the end of July, we are looking at the future of business for the remainder of the year. The Big Bill has passed and we ponder the impact on business growth. We are also looking at what companies are doing at this time and want to share our observations, because it's not looking good. This episode of Books & The Biz will take a look forward and discuss what you as a business...

Talk to most business owners and they will tell you that hiring and retaining talent is tough. What you probably don't realize is you can be highly competitive getting good people. It's all on your approach. In this episode, we will talk with Shelly Dretzka, owner of aHRrow. About Shelly: After 25 years on the “inside” of HR—navigating everything from high-stakes employee...

As a business owner, a good accountant is something we all need. But have you noticed some changes in the services you are receiving from your firm? More and more leaders are seeing statements showing up later or not at all. More mistakes are being made which has impacted some from a tax standpoint. Less guidance from CPAs while at the same time expanding services. In addition, more outsourcing ov...

Business owners are always facing new challenges. For our Independence Day edition, we are counting down our top 10 actions you can take to significantly improve your operation and finances. Join is to learn how you can create your own fireworks in your company and finish the 2nd half of the year on a strong note.

It's human nature to procrastinate. We all do it. The problem is procrastination can be very costly in business. When we are finally forced to act, we can spend 3 - 5 times more. Today we look at the challenge to acting now instead of waiting until later. Join us today to learn how to avoid making costly mistakes.

One moment you are fine and seemingly healthy. The next, instant you are in the hospital and unable to work. As a leader you can no longer do the tasks once simple to you. Your world has come to a halt and your business has stopped. Employees are doing their best to keep the engine running but are struggling? How prepared are you? Many of us think we will forever. The reality is we never know what...