Defenders of Business Value

We're taking a short summer break in July and August to focus on some exciting news — Ed's new book, Done Deal: Exit Without Regret. How to Prepare, Promote, and Protect the Sale of Your Business, launches on September 9. This is the ultimate guide for business owners who want a profitable, empowered exit without regret. Pre-orders are now open  [Pre-order link: https://a.co/d/0imeCz3D ] — we'd lo...

Navigating the business world requires immense grit, but knowing how to transition from a structured military playbook to a thriving business acquisition is where true enterprise value is unlocked. Courtney Zaugg is the founder of VentureVets and an economic development professional dedicated to building the infrastructure for veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs. She breaks down why veterans...

You don't have to build your own business from scratch to be an entrepreneur. You can buy one instead. Della Kirkman , CPA and founder of Shift-N-Gears , is on a mission to help 10,000 women become business owners through acquisition. After starting as a waitress at Cracker Barrel, Della worked her way up to owning and selling her own accounting firm. Now, she's teaching others how to achieve weal...

Most people think selling a business is just like selling a house. That's where they're wrong. George Wellmer , founder of Tupelo , clarifies the misconceptions sellers have about brokers and the deal process. George explains how technology and AI are simplifying administrative tasks, allowing brokers to focus on guiding clients through the most important transaction of their lives. He also shares...

Buying a business is exciting, but navigating the financing side without the right lender can cost you everything. Jared Johnson is an SBA lender and business acquisition specialist with nearly $900 million in closed deals. He breaks down what it takes to finance and close a business acquisition the right way. Learn why most buyers underestimate the importance of their lender choice and why taking...

Owners fixate on the purchase price of their exit, but the bigger loss to long-term income can come from how Social Security is handled. Get it wrong, and you can quietly lose six figures. Thomas Drapala , Director of Strategic Partnerships at Registered Social Security Analysts (RSSA) , explains why 96% of Americans leave money on the table when they treat Social Security as an afterthought. Draw...

Many business owners still feel trapped in the day-to-day because their companies rely too heavily on them. The Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) changes that by helping leadership teams build structure and accountability so businesses can run smoothly without the owner. Ashley Walters , Professional EOS Implementer at EOS Worldwide , explains how to align EOS with exit planning to build effi...

Building a business is challenging, but truly understanding its value and how to maximize it is where many entrepreneurs fall short. TK Herman , entrepreneur, four-time exit veteran, and Curator at The Halcyon Forum , breaks down what it actually takes to build and sell a business at maximum value. Learn why most founders leave money on the table, what TK would do differently across his four exits...

Getting access to deals is one thing. Getting taken seriously is another. George Wellmer , Founder of Tupelo SMB , shares what it takes to get noticed by brokers and win deals. With hundreds of buyers competing for the same opportunities, the process has shifted. Systems, speed, and credibility now determine who moves forward and who gets ignored. Learn how preferred buyer status works, why most b...

Most professionals in the M&A space have been closing deals for decades. But being young doesn't mean you can't bring value to the table. Morgan Tate , founder of Breakwater M&A , has built a reputation as one of the younger voices in the industry. He has helped facilitate over $250 million worth of deals and is now using automation to make the process faster and more efficient. From the lessons l...

Owning a business can feel isolating. Entrepreneurs face daily challenges and tough decisions without others who truly understand their experience. A strong support network makes it easier to create long-term success and prepare for a smooth exit. In this episode, Jared Luegers and Kevin King , co-founders of OWN Indiana , share how they're helping business owners in Indiana create a supportive co...

Managing a business is tough enough on its own. But add family dynamics in the mix, and things get even more challenging. As a strategic advisor at The Family Business Consulting Group , Amy Wirtz shares her expertise on navigating ownership transitions in multigenerational families. Amy discusses the challenges of balancing family relationships with business goals, offering insights on how to man...

Picture this: You're a business owner ready to sell your company. Your focus starts to shift from running the business to managing the deal. Soon, your numbers start to dip. The buyer notices and begins to question the value of your business. In this episode, Ed Mysogland breaks down the concept of the "Deal Distraction Tax. Whether you're in the middle of a deal or preparing to sell in the future...

In a business appraisal, the numbers will always matter — but how they're communicated can have just as much impact on value. Charlie Stanton , CFA and founder of Stanton Valuation Advisors , believes every valuation tells a story. Drawing from his work in estate planning, litigation, and succession, he explains how storytelling can transform the way a business's worth is understood. This episode...

One of the best things about running my own podcast is the freedom to experiment. Over the years, I've been first on a few things — building our original website from scratch, launching our first newsletter, and starting the podcast. Today, I'm trying something new again. I loaded several of our current business teasers into AI, and it generated a podcast episode around them. But here's what makes...

Many people think that once you buy a business, you're set for life. But the reality is, there's a lot of hard work that comes before you can reap the rewards. In this episode, Gabrielle Rubenstein takes us through her first year as an entrepreneur after acquiring Ace-Pak Products in 2024. From navigating the challenges of scaling to overcoming the growing pains that come with ownership, she share...

Selling your business to a new buyer isn't the only way to exit. What if you could transition ownership to your employees, rewarding their hard work while securing your legacy?  In this episode, Chris Fredericks , CEO at Empowered Ventures , discusses Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and how they offer a powerful alternative to traditional exit strategies. Chris explores the advantages of ES...

There's a common belief that selling a business is the ultimate jackpot—a one-time windfall that guarantees wealth and success. But is that the reality? In this episode I sit down with David C. Barnett , three-time best-selling author, entrepreneur, and former business broker, to unpack the realities behind buying and selling small and mid-sized businesses. David's journey began in advertising sal...

The small business market is stabilizing, but the story beneath the surface is complex.  In this episode, host Ed Mysogland breaks down the Q1 2026 data from BizBuySell and DealStats, revealing trends in transaction volumes, valuations, and buyer behavior. From the rise of new buyers to the influence of AI, Ed explains what these numbers mean for business owners considering a sale and how size, in...

Being a hands-on business owner is not the humble brag you think it is. To buyers, it signals a red flag: decisions bottlenecked at the owner, undocumented processes, fragile customer relationships, and a business that struggles to function without constant oversight. John Seiffer , founder of CEO Boot Camp and author of Output Thinking , explains why owner dependency drastically limits growth, tr...

A successful corporate executive leaves his high-paying job to buy a business, only to face a disaster leading to lawsuits and financial turmoil. That painful experience taught Ted Leverette valuable lessons and set him on the path to becoming the Business Buyer Advocate. In this episode, Ted shares his decades of experience, revealing what buyers really look for in a deal. He explains how buyers...

Most buyers slow down in their sixties. But not Gary Hentschel . He's out buying companies, doubling their value, and selling them again.  As a partner at The September Group and CEO at WSI Technologies , Gary brings decades of experience as a banker, entrepreneur, and operator. In this episode, he shares how he appraises businesses, what sellers get wrong about their company's value, and why good...

What really makes a business attractive to buyers? Buyers weigh more than just financials. They consider risk, operations, and whether the business can run without you. Colin King and Joe Van Deman , Principals at Circle City Capital Group, Inc. , know this firsthand. They've built a portfolio of 15 companies by acquiring businesses that many others have overlooked. Colin, a CPA and CFA, and Joe,...

Latino-owned businesses are one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. economy, yet many owners still struggle when it's time to sell or transition. Gaps in financial records, limited access to the right advisors, and the absence of an exit plan often lead owners to shut down or hand over their businesses without capturing real value. Rudy Bustamante , Financial Planner at OneIndiana Financia...

Owners fixate on the purchase price of their exit, but the bigger loss to long-term income can come from how Social Security is handled. Get it wrong, and you can quietly lose six figures. Thomas Drapala , Director of Strategic Partnerships at Registered Social Security Analysts (RSSA) , explains why 96% of Americans leave money on the table when they treat Social Security as an afterthought. Draw...