Defenders of Business Value

The majority of deal conversations focus on big cities and private equity groups, but small towns have businesses too. Many of these companies are facing transition challenges because the buyers and advisors they need aren't there. This is what Dane Chapman and Joe Rust of SPARK Capital are working to solve. They are building a model designed to keep legacy businesses in their communities by colla...

Entrepreneurship isn't just for adults, and Hunter Beale is proof that it's never too early to start. Hunter is the Executive Director of High School Hustle , a fast-growing movement that helps students across Indiana build real businesses and learn through hands-on experience. In just one year, the program has grown from 17 to over 2,000 students, generating nearly $1 million in revenue. What beg...

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...

More entrepreneurs are turning to franchises, and it's easy to see why. With proven systems, recognizable brands, and built-in support, franchises make both ownership and resale less risky. Alyssa Hernandez , Vice President of Franchise Resales at Neighborly , leads the team that manages transitions across 19 brands and nearly 10,000 franchise owners. Her team helps owners exit smoothly while guid...

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...

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...

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...

Most owners think selling a business is only about numbers, but Denise Logan knows it's more complicated than that. Known as the "Seller Whisperer," Denise has helped hundreds of sellers navigate the complex emotions that can affect deals. It's not uncommon for business owners to experience identity loss, family conflict, shame, and the fear of "what's next". Denise's journey from therapist to law...

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...

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,...

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...

Selling your business doesn't always deliver the financial security or fulfillment you expect. So what if there was another option? Jim Muehlhausen , founder of Half-Retire , has worked with thousands of owners facing this exact dilemma. In this episode, he shares how business owners can step back from day-to-day operations without giving up income, legacy, or control—and why it's a viable exit op...

For years, we've been told that retiring business owners would flood the market with companies for sale. The truth is that most of them are holding on longer and for good reason. In this episode, Ed Mysogland shares market data that explains why owners are staying put. He explains the investment math influencing their choices and the costly mistakes made when they stop reinvesting in their busines...

In this episode, Ed Mysogland shares key insights from the latest quarterly Deal Stats report on business valuation trends. He discusses how EBITDA multiples have returned to typical levels after fluctuating during the pandemic. Ed also analyzes sector performance and highlights contradictory trends in private company sales multiples. Learn about typical discount levels, officers' compensation ben...

Join Ed Mysogland in a deep dive into the world of online business valuation calculators. Unravel the complexities and limitations of these tools as Mysogland discusses the challenges of applying market data to private companies and highlights the drawbacks of relying solely on digital solutions. Discover the pros and cons of each, alongside insights into their accuracy and lead generation potenti...

One of the primary reasons businesses don't sell is that the business owner is the person with all of the sales relationships. Most buyers have to reduce the value or offer a risk-mitigated structure to get comfortable with the existing owner's role post-acquisition. I often lament about how, as dealmakers, we can address this sooner in the exit planning process. Enter ​ Hunt Big Sales ​ ' Preside...

I regularly get asked about how best to prepare a company for sale. The first challenge is time. Most business owners understate how long it takes to get out. The second is what this episode is about - what little things can you do to make your business ready for sale. It takes time, but it is worth it when you enter the marketplace. If listening isn't your thing, the notes I worked on the show ar...

Exiting a business is a pivotal moment filled with complex emotional and financial decisions. This podcast episode dives into a structured 5-step plan to ensure a successful and fulfilling exit. We explore the significance of understanding your motivations, aligning your exit strategy with your goals, determining your financial needs, deciding on your post-exit involvement, and utilizing an Exit M...

The "Telescopic Observation" provides an insightful overview of a strategic framework designed to enhance the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis by offering a more structured approach to examining an organization's internal and external environments. It emphasizes the need for a more focused, inclusive, and systematic methodology to better understand business environment...

In this fresh episode, we explore the Q4 2023 DealStats Value Index, providing a detailed analysis of current business valuation trends. Notably, we've spotted a significant shift: EBITDA multiples are moving towards a normalized figure, landing at 3.4x in Q3 2023, indicating a stabilizing market. Additionally, net sales multiples have slightly risen to 0.49x. A standout observation is the higher...

In my 30-year journey through the world of deal-making, I've had the pleasure of conducting thousands of business valuations and working alongside some of the most talented appraisers across the United States. In this podcast episode, we're diving into a common confusion in the business valuation process—what you expect versus what you actually get. Most of my work revolves around preparing busine...

In this episode, we join Ed Mysogland as he explores the crucial aspects of Confidential Information Memorandums (CIMs) in the context of M&A transactions. Ed illuminates their essential role in the smooth execution of business sales. The episode offers an in-depth look at critical components of CIMs, including a detailed business overview, industry analysis, and the nuances of business valuation....

In this episode, Ed Mysogland welcomed Adam Hoeksema, a seasoned professional in the field of financial modeling and business projections. Adam shared his journey from an accounting background to becoming an entrepreneurial force in the financial industry. He emphasized the pivot of his business, Projection Hub, from a subscription model to offering specialized Excel spreadsheet templates and cust...

I wanted to introduce you to the  BizSaleByOwner platform. BizSaleByOwner's sole purpose is to serve small business buyers and sellers who deserve and are demanding more...More transparency, flexibility, choice, and more control. BizSaleByOwner.com is a self-directed business sale platform that provides business owner support, buyer efficiency, and ad hoc exit advisory services. Our innovative exi...