M&A Talk: #1 Podcast on Selling a Business
M&A Talk is the #1 podcast for business owners looking to sell and maximize the value of their companies. Hosted by Morgan & Westfield, a boutique M&A firm, the show features actionable insights from experts with real-world experience in buying and selling businesses. Each episode covers topics such as valuation, deal structure, and negotiation strategies. The podcast is tailored for owners of small to mid-sized companies in the USA.
Episodes
What to Expect When Selling to a PE Firm as Part of a Roll-up
Industry roll-ups: What are they? How do they work? What's in it for the business owner? Brandon Blewett, Head of M&A at Pave America, discusses what you can expect when selling your business to a PE firm as part of a roll-up. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Why Do Companies Acquire Other Businesses? Earnouts When Selling or Buying a Business | Complete Guide
Resolving Co-Owner Disputes Maximizes Your Final Sale Price
When you sell your business, co-owner friction can destroy your hard-earned equity. This episode breaks down how internal disagreements affect your exit and why transparent communication with buyers preserves your leverage. You will discover how to resolve deep-seated stalemates through professional mediation, restructure uneven family roles, and implement robust buy-sell agreements. View the comp
How Transaction-Ready Accounting Increases Your Business Value
In this episode, we discuss how financial due diligence is different from your regular compliance bookkeeping and how to clean up your books to secure the highest possible purchase price. You'll discover how simple accounting mistakes can destroy trust with buyers, lead to sudden price reductions, and even kill a deal. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? The Role o
Unlock Value by Selling a Piece of Your Business
If your business has multiple divisions or product lines, selling a piece of it — without selling everything — could unlock serious value. This episode breaks down exactly how carve-out transactions work, what makes them complex, and how to prepare before a buyer ever shows up. Walk away knowing what separates a smooth deal from an expensive mess. View the complete show notes for this episode. Wan
Streamline Your Sale to Stop Your Deal from Collapsing
Discover why managing human dynamics and transaction timelines is just as critical as the legal paperwork when you sell your company. Learn how an experienced lead advisor protects your purchase price from collapsing when technical gridlocks, net working capital adjustments, or due diligence delays threaten your exit. This episode delivers the actionable strategies you need to keep your advisory t
Cash In on the Silver Tsunami and Sell Your Business Safely
Discover how the massive influx of retiring owners is shifting the market and why a new wave of highly sophisticated, funded buyers wants to acquire your business. Learn how to spot the perfect buyer who will preserve your legacy, protect your team, and pay top dollar for your company. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition: Insigh
Maximizing Your Business Valuation with a Sell Side QofE
Unprepared business owners leave millions on the table or watch their deals collapse at the finish line during buyer due diligence. Discover how a proactive financial review shields your profits, forces buyers to take your asking price seriously, and protects your hard-earned wealth post-closing. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Quality of Earnings in M&A – The
Why Moving Faster Can Save Your Business Sale
Learn how to keep more of your hard-earned money by outperforming traditional private equity timelines. This episode reveals how to compress your exit strategy from years into months while maximizing your final payout. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Selling a Business: A High-Level Overview How Long Does it Take to Sell a Business? EBITDA | Definition, Formu
The New Rules for Selling Your Business
Selling your business today requires more than just good financial statements; you need to understand the macro forces that shift buyer behavior. Learn how to navigate shifting interest rates, the AI revolution, and political uncertainty to ensure you exit at the highest possible value. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Business Exit Plan & Strategy Checklist |
Finding a Buyer Who Values Your Legacy
In this episode, we explore the rapidly growing world of search funds and why these hungry entrepreneurs might be the perfect buyers for your business. Discover how selling to a searcher allows you to protect your legacy, cash out on your terms, and ensure your company thrives under fresh, dedicated leadership. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? M&A Guide | The 4
How Private Equity Values Your Business
Stop guessing what your business is worth and start understanding what dictates your sale price. This episode reveals how private equity firms categorize companies by EBITDA and why the lower middle market is currently the goldmine for savvy sellers. Learn how to position your company as a high-value platform or a strategic add-on to secure the best possible deal. View the complete show notes for
How to Tell Your Employees You're Selling
Sharing the news of a sale is the one topic that keeps business owners up at night more than taxes or price. If you disclose the news too early or without a strategy, you risk destabilizing your team, triggering key departures, and even killing the deal entirely. This episode provides a tactical roadmap for timing your announcement, building trust with your leadership, and ensuring your staff stay
What Private Equity Buyers Really Want in a Business
Your business might be a diamond in the rough for the right investor. Learn how private equity firms identify operational gaps and the specific steps you can take to double your value before hitting the market. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? EBITDA | Definition, Formula & Example – A Complete Guide The Role of Family Offices in M&A Negotiating an M&A Purchase
Why Buyers are Searching for Your Professional Service Business
This episode reveals how professional service firms, from accounting to consulting, can break free from the billable hour trap to command massive exit multiples. Learn the exact blueprint for transitioning your firm to a recurring revenue model that attracts private equity and ensures your business survives and thrives long after you hand over the keys. View the complete show notes for this episo
Getting to a $10M Valuation
To net $10 million when you sell, you must grow your company's value to at least $15 million to cover taxes and fees. This episode reveals how to break through the revenue glass ceiling and decentralize your business so it thrives and sells without you. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Business Exit Plan & Strategy Checklist | A Complete Guide Reducing Concentra
Build a Business That Sells Without You
Stop being the bottleneck in your own company and start building an asset that high-value buyers actually want to acquire. Learn the "golden rule" of sellability and how to transition from a stressed owner-operator to a successful investor with multiple eight-figure exits. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? M&A Guide | The 4 Types of Buyers of Businesses Selling
Avoid the Trap of Golden Handcuffs After You Sell
Don't let your dream exit turn into a corporate nightmare. Learn how to protect your team and your sanity when staying on post-sale. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? After the Sale – Planning a Smooth Integration with the Buyer Negotiating the Letter of Intent The M&A Training & Transition Period Additional Resources: Selling your business? Schedule a free
Will Private Equity Gut Your Team? Ending the Day One Layoff Myth
Stop worrying that selling your company means handing your loyal staff a pink slip. Learn how growth-minded buyers actually protect your workforce to secure their investment and scale the business. This episode reveals the best time and ways to announce a sale to your employees. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? M&A Guide | The 4 Types of Buyers of Businesses
M&A Earnouts for VC-Backed Companies
Learn how to bridge the price gap when selling your company without losing control of your future payments. This episode reveals why you should never rely on verbal promises and how to lock in your earnout through ironclad legal protections. Discover the secrets to maintaining your budget and team after the deal closes so you actually get paid every dollar you deserve. View the complete show notes
Why Most Founders Fail to Sell and How to Fix It
Most business owners unknowingly lower their company's value by staying too involved in daily tasks. Learn how to remove yourself and build a self-sustaining asset that attracts premium offers. This episode reveals the systems and leadership structures you need to attract high-value buyers and ensure a smooth transition. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Adjust
How a Quality of Earning Protects Your Multi-Million Dollar Exit
Don't let a buyer slash your purchase price during the final days of a deal because you failed to prepare your financials for heavy scrutiny. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Quality of Earnings in M&A – The Ultimate Guide Most Common Deal Killers When Selling Your Business M&A Due Diligence | Checklist & Overview Additional Resources: Selling your business?
3 Ways to Increase the Value of Your Business
Stop running a lifestyle business and start building a high-value asset that investors and acquirers will compete to buy at a premium price. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Should I Use SDE or EBITDA to Value My Business for Sale? Business Valuation Standards of Value & Fair Market Value Increasing the Value of Your Business | The RVD Model Additional Resour
How to Avoid Predatory Buyers
When you decide to sell your business, you're entering a high-stakes arena where the person across the table buys companies for a living. To them, you are prey to be out-negotiated; to you, this is the most important financial event of your life. This episode pulls back the curtain on the tactics sophisticated buyers use to lure sellers into lopsided deals, from discouraging the use of advisors to
4 Mistakes That Will Kill Your Deal
Learn the absolute biggest mistakes sellers make, straight from a buyer who has acquired over 20 businesses and sees thousands of deals. Prepare for your business exit by fixing these mistakes now to secure your ideal closing price. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Adjusting Financial Statements: A Complete Guide Business Broker & M&A Advisor Agreements | A Com
How Cleaning Up Your Books Increases Your Business Value
Stop letting questionable add-backs and messy books cost you hundreds of thousands on your business sale. Learn exactly what bank lenders, especially those focused on SBA 7(a) loans, will and will not accept when calculating your actual Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE). Discover the concrete steps you must take now to ensure your financials are clean, verifiable, and support the highest multi
How To Achieve a Higher Valuation And Sell Your Business Smartly
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. Vi
Slash Your Tax Bill When Selling Your Business
Don't miss the boat on massive tax savings when you sell your company—most business owners wait too long and pay millions more than they should. Discover a powerful, decades-old strategy to legally defer nearly all your capital gains taxes and secure a lifelong income stream after your business exit. Learn when to act and exactly which experts to assemble for your winning exit planning team. View
How to Avoid the Deal Killers During Financial Due Diligence
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.
This Buyer is Perfect if You're Ready to Sell Your Business and Retire
You already know about independent sponsors and search funds, but the entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) trend is transforming the market. These buyers are sophisticated, well-funded entrepreneurs who buy businesses and ensure a quick succession plan and a smoother closing process for owners ready to retire. Listen to learn why these educated buyers are a powerful, focused group actively l
3 Trends You Will See During Due Diligence
Finding a buyer for your business is only half the battle, and due diligence can feel like a daunting hurdle. This episode explores three major trends you can expect in your due diligence process. You'll learn how AI is revolutionizing the process, why specialization matters, and how to get ahead of buyers by doing your own sell-side diligence to get a better price and a faster close. View
How to Sell Your Business But Stay in Control of It
Did you know that you can sell your business without giving up your brand, your team, and your legacy? This episode introduces a unique type of buyer, one who invests in your business without taking it over. You'll learn how to get paid, keep running your company with its brand and culture intact, and have multiple opportunities for additional cash in the future. View the complete show note
How to Sell Your Business to a Private Investor
Ever wondered what goes on in a private investor's mind when they're evaluating your business? This episode takes you behind the curtain to get a buyer's perspective on what truly matters in a deal. You'll learn how to overcome a stubborn mindset, the importance of transparency, and why a buyer partnership might be exactly what you need. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Le
How to Stop Running Your Business and Start Building It
It's time to stop focusing on the day-to-day of your business and start thinking about how you want to exit in the future. This episode explores the mindset you need to have to exit your business on your own terms successfully. You'll learn how to build tangible value, empower your team, and define your life beyond the sale. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn
Financial Issues that Make Buyers Walk Away and How You Can Fix Them
Ever wondered what a buyer is really thinking when they evaluate your business? This episode takes you behind the scenes with a CEO who's acquired 11 businesses. You'll learn what makes a company more valuable, the financial red flags buyers watch for, and how to prepare your business to attract the right buyer and close the deal. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More
How to Grow Your Business and Maximize Your Sale Price
Are you ready to grow your business fast before selling? This episode breaks down how growth equity can help you boost your company's value and secure a much better business exit. Learn the essential components of these deals so you can control your sale and maximize your final payout. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Accelerate Your Company's Growth Seller's D
How to Sell Your Family Business
Selling a family business is a unique challenge that can present unexpected hurdles. This episode reveals the complexities you'll face and gives you actionable advice on how to handle them. You'll learn how to navigate family disagreements, plan for your legacy, and prepare for a successful sale that satisfies all involved. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Busi
Prepare for Buyer Integration to Save Money and Close Faster
Don't let integration problems shrink your payout. This episode guide you through merger integration, revealing how preparing before closing is the secret to a smooth, profitable exit. Learn to proactively shape the transition, de-risk the deal for buyers, and ensure your team stays focused to maximize your sale value. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? The M&A
A Private Equity Fund Bought Your Business – What Happens When They Don't Want to Sell It?
When a private equity firm buys your business, what happens if they don't want to sell it before their fund ends? This episode dives into continuation vehicles, a tool firms can use to extend their ownership of your company. We'll explore how firms might use this vehicle and how it could affect your post-sale life and earnout. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? M
What to Expect When Selling Your Business to an Independent Sponsor
If you're thinking about selling your business, you might attract an independent sponsor, a specialized buyer that operates differently from traditional private equity firms. This episode explores how independent sponsors operate, their deal structuring approach, and what they seek in a potential acquisition. Listen to this episode to learn if independent sponsors are a good buyer for you, or if y
Can you sell your business and pay $0 in federal income tax?
Please note this show was recorded in May 2025, before changes were made to the QSBS regulations. Did you know that a tax benefit, the Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) tax exclusion, can save you millions? Discover how properly structuring your company from the start can lead to a tax-free sale of your C Corporation, potentially saving you millions. You'll learn the crucial steps to take now
Accelerate Your Company's Growth
Looking to supercharge your business and unlock its full potential? This episode reveals how growth equity can be the key to rapid expansion, even if you don't think you need the capital. Discover the strategic reasons why a growth equity investment can lead to a more lucrative exit in a shorter timeframe, and learn how to prepare your company for a successful partnership that fuels your future.
How to Negotiate the Most Important Clauses in your LOI
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when selling your business is not negotiating the letter of intent (LOI). Join M&A Attorneys Mital Makadia and David Siegel while we discuss your negotiating leverage, common mistakes, and problematic clauses in the LOI. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? M&A Basics | The Letter of Intent Negotiating the Letter of Intent T
How to Build a Saleable Business
How can you build your business with the plan to sell it in the future? Join Saul Cohen, a CPA and acquisitions advisor, as we discuss how saleable businesses are intentionally built for sale and typically have higher valuations, with multiples increasing from 2-3 times those of lifestyle businesses. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? M&A Basics: Building a Sella
How Your Life Will Change After Selling Your Business
How much had you thought about what life will be like after you sell your business? Join serial entrepreneur and private equity operator Jim Evanger to learn about the life changes after selling a business. Jim shares his experience of selling his first business, the emotional impact, and the subsequent transition to new ventures. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More
What To Expect When Selling Your Business To A Search Fund
Have you heard about Search Funds and wondered what sets them apart from other investment-based buyers? Join us and Abdel Rahim, a search fund investor, as we discus the search fund model for selling businesses and how it offers founders a smooth transition, flexibility, and potential equity rollover for sellers. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Entreprene
How Will the "Big, Beautiful Bill Act" Impact Your Business Sale?
Have you been wondering what the "Big Beautiful Bill Act" means for the sale of your business? Join returning guest Bill Weirsema as we discuss the changes that are designed to make M&A transactions more attractive, reduce tax burdens for both buyers and sellers, and stimulate more activity in the market. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Allocation of Purchase
The Most Stressful Part of Selling Your Business
What is the most stressful part of selling your business? Join us as we discuss the recent acquisition of National Pavement Partners and the balance they had to strike between completing due diligence and looking after their customers during their busiest season. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? M&A Reps & Warranties | A Complete Guide Indemnification in Pu
Major Changes to SBA Loans (July 2025)
Learn all about how the new SBA loan standard operation procedures will influence your sale. Steve Mariani, a financing intermediary, emphasized the importance of understanding these changes, particularly the equity injection rules and the impact on vehicle liens, to navigate SBA transactions effectively. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? SBA Financing When B
How to Increase Your Business's Value and Attract Buyers
What do buyers look for in a business, and how can you increase the value of your business by focusing on these areas? Join us as we discuss strategies for increasing the value of your businesses to attract buyers with Justin Goodbread, a business coach and financial advisor. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? M&A Guide | The 4 Types of Buyers of Businesses Opt
Should you invest in real estate after selling your business?
Once you've sold your business, you need to think about how to best secure your future. John Paul Szita, an entrepreneur and real estate investor, suggests allocating at least one-third of your proceeds to real estate investing alongside experienced partners. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? How to be Happy After Selling Your Company How to Be Financially Free a
Build the Right Deal Team to Avoid M&A Mistakes
Wondering how to build an M&A team that will help you maximize your business's value? In this episode, Dustin Williamson, CFO, discusses the importance of seeking good advice from experienced professionals. He highlights the critical stages of the M&A process, including the need for financial advice, investment banking, and legal counsel who specialize in M&A. View the complete show notes for th
Raising Series A Financing in a Challenging Market
Ever wondered what it's like to raise capital in a Series A round? Listen to Guillaume Thomas, founder and CEO of Martingale Cognac, discuss his experience raising capital for his cognac startup. Find out how he convinced people to invest, what his greatest challenge was, and what he learnt from his investors. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? The Impact of AI
A Seller's Guide to Employee Agreements
One of the biggest challenges of selling your business is figuring out when and how to tell your employees. Announcing too early or too late can create a lot of headaches for both you and the buyer. You'll need to sort out big questions like: Will existing employee contracts continue, or will new ones be needed? What happens to their stock options and accrued leave? Should you ask them to sign non
How Properly Prepared Finances Could Earn You $1M
Half of business sales fail due to issues buyers uncover during financial due diligence, but being prepared for due diligence can lead to higher sale prices and a smoother transaction. In this episode, CPA and due diligence expert Bill Wiersema discusses inaccurate revenue recognition, non-compliance with state and local tax laws, and how sellers can increase their business's value by addressing a
For New Sellers: Crucial Tips On Succeeding at Due Diligence
Are you prepared for the due diligence phase of selling your business? What sort of information will a strategic buyer want access to? In this episode, strategic buyer Michael Seitz shares his advice on selling your business, from ensuring your landlord is on board with the sale, to setting realistic price expectations, to how you should pick your attorney. View the complete show notes for this e
For New Sellers: How to Handle Partner Conflict When Selling Your Business
What happens when you and your partner have different ideas about your business's sale? What if that business partner is also a family member? In this episode, we talk with Chris Younger, an investment banker, about the challenges and potential solutions when selling a company due to partner conflict. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? M&A Basics | Why Do Business
For Sellers: 7 Ways to Increase Your Company's Value
What really makes a buyer take notice of a business? This episode delivers actionable steps to make your business irresistible to buyers and highlights what matters most to them. Guest Jon Martinka, a veteran M&A Advisor, also offers practical advice on how to attract buyers and maximize your exit. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Increasing the Value of Your
For New Sellers: How to Be Financially Free after You Sell Your Business
How much money do you need to live the life you want after you sell your business? How can you make sure that you get it? Wealth manager Joe LoPresti discusses how you can prepare for the future you want and how to build a team of advisors who proactively help you manage your wealth after the sale. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? The Role of Family Offices i
For Buyers: How to Buy a Business with Your Retirement Funds
Did you know that you can use your retirement funds to buy a business? Jeremy Ames, co-founder and CEO of Guidant Financial, explains how individuals can invest in a business using a 401(k) rollover. This episode of M&A Talk covers the basics of a 401(k) rollover, including the requirements, the risks, and how to replenish your 401(k) after the sale is done. View the complete show notes for this e
For Experiences Sellers: How to Balance Risk and Reward When Disclosing Information to Your Buyer
When are you obligated to disclose information about your business to the buyer? In this episode, attorney Darshan Kulkarni emphasizes the need to understand risk and be transparent about material information. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Negotiating an M&A Purchase Agreement | M&A Tips M&A Due Diligence | Checklist & Overview The Role of M&A Lawyers When
For M&A Professionals: Part 2 of A Finance Veteran's Career From Wall Street to Emerging Markets
What is happening in the world of corporate finance? How did we get where we are today and what does the future hold? Jeff Hooke returns to M&A Talk to continue the conversation about the most important lessons he has learned over 40 years in the investment banking world. He discusses trends over the past 10-20 years and relates where he thinks the markets are heading today. View the complete show
For New Sellers: Five Myths About Hiring an Investment Banker
Do you know how an investment banker can help you sell your company? Do you know the questions to ask to find the right one to help close the transaction? Bill Snow, an experienced Investment Banker, offers his insights into the top five myths surrounding hiring and working with an investment banker. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Net Working Capital (NWC)
For Buyers: How Acquire.com is Transforming Tech Startup Acquisitions
Take a look behind the curtain at how Acquire.com got started and how it is changing the M&A marketplace. Andrew Gazdecki, CEO of Acquire.com, discusses his platform's role in helping bootstrap SaaS startups be acquired and selling multimillion-dollar software companies. He shares stories, insights, tips, and predictions of AI in the M&A world. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want
For New Sellers: How Solving Your Client's Problems Can Increase Your Company's Value
How do you increase your company's value? Is it as simple as raising prices? Pricing expert Mark Stiving explains how to explore the value that your product or services offer your customers and how you can turn that value proposition into more value in your company. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Increasing the Value of Your Business | The RVD Model Selli
For New Sellers: How Being Prepared for Due Diligence Can Help Sell Your Business
How can preparing for due diligence help sell your company? Will being prepared actually help close the deal? Rosco Graves, an accountant and due diligence expert, shares his insights into why preparing for due diligence is crucial to a smooth sale process. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? M&A Due Diligence | Checklist & Overview The Importance of Preparing for D
For Experienced Sellers: Selling to a PE Firm as Part of a Roll-up
Industry roll-ups: What are they? How do they work? What's in it for the business owner? Brandon Blewett, Head of M&A at Pave America, discusses what you can expect when selling your businesses to a PE firm as a part of a roll-up. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Why Do Companies Acquire Other Businesses? Earnouts When Selling or Buying a Business | Complete G
For Experienced Sellers: How to Maximize Your Return and Sell to a PE Firm
When you're considering selling your company, you want to get the most value for your business, right? Well, some exit paths are more lucrative than others. How can you determine the best path for your situation? Are PE firms an option? Get inside tips from M&A expert Adam Coffey about why the world of private equity has been growing so rapidly in recent years, learn the general blueprint on how P
Critical Financial and Estate Planning Strategies When Selling Your Business
Thinking of selling your company? What is your plan for the windfall of money you'll get once you complete the sale? Wealth advisor Jason Gordo discusses seven points to keep in mind as you create a financial plan and a wealth strategy before beginning the sale process. Build the right team of advisors to discuss your post-transaction life plan, set goals, and think about the things you should do
You've Sold Your Company. Now What?
When you've finally sold your business, can you jump on the next cruise ship and sail away? Nope. You'll leave money on the table, or worse still, sink the deal if you do that. Matt Coyne, an experienced M&A Advisor, explains how planning ahead for the transition period can make the deal go more smoothly and potentially add value to your company. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want
Why You Need an M&A Attorney and How to Work with Them
If you are selling your business, you need an attorney. But do you know how to hire one? Get insider tips from Jude David, an Investment Banker and former M&A Attorney, on the biggest mistakes to avoid, what experience to look for, how to set expectations, tips on fees, and much more so you can get the right M&A attorney to help sell your business. View the complete show notes for this episode. Wa
How to increase the value of your business by improving sales
As an owner, what's your biggest block to improving sales? How can fixing this improve the value of your company? We discuss the biggest problem that companies face in their sales and marketing teams with sales and marketing expert Derek Johnson. He says that many companies fail by focusing on tactics, not vision. Start with a vision, develop a strategy, then execute the strategy with precision. T
For M&A Professionals: A Finance Veteran's Career From Wall Street to Emerging Markets: Part 1
Jeffrey Hooke, a former investment banker and private equity executive, discusses his career trajectory, emphasizing the challenges and lessons learned in finance. He highlights the complexities of working in large organizations like Lehman Brothers, the differences in deal-making between developed and emerging markets, and insights from his time at the World Bank. Jeff stresses the importance of
For New Sellers: How to Master the M&A Purchase Agreement
The purchase agreement – getting it right from the beginning with the LOI helps a smooth closing. Gerry Williams, an M&A attorney, outlines a purchase agreement's key components and four main sections: the preliminary section (purchase price, working capital, earnouts, post-closing adjustments), reps and warranties, covenants, and indemnification. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the
For Experienced Sellers: How to Unlock Equity and Debt Financing
Why do some companies struggle to raise funds while others don't? Investment banker Richard Luftig explains how mid-sized companies can access the funds they need. We discuss the challenges and strategies for raising money through either equity (i.e., selling shares) or debt capital (i.e., borrowing). View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? The M&A Purchase Agreement
For New Sellers: The Impact of Subjective Factors on the Value of Your Company
Is valuing your business simply a numbers game? If not, how do subjective factors impact the value of your business? Jacob Orosz and Joe Bergin discuss the complexities of business valuation, which extends beyond simple EBITDA multiples. They discuss the impact of subjective factors, such as clean financials, a solid leadership team, and diversified customer base on the value of your company. They
For Professionals: Lessons in Flexibility, Trust, and Founder Engagement
Luke Smith, CEO and founder of Croud, a digital marketing agency with five global offices, discusses the unique nature of M&A deals. He shares Croud's M&A journey, detailing five acquisitions ranging from small data businesses to larger digital marketing firms. Luke highlights the importance of flexible deal structures and maintaining trust with founders. He advises sellers to value their business
For Experienced Sellers: How to Minimize Risk When Selling to a Competitor
Should I sell my business to a competitor? How do I know if they're sincere, or trying to steal my information? Jonathan Baker, an M&A advisor specializing in marketing firms, discusses the nuances of selling your business to a competitor. Jonathan highlights the risks of sharing sensitive information with competitors and how to tell if their interest is sincere. View the complete show notes for
For Experienced Sellers: A Guide to a Smooth Transition When Selling Your Business
What's your role in the transition process when selling your business? Expert Joan Helmer discusses the transition period from the seller's perspective – how to prepare, expectations, what can go wrong, and its phases, from the LOI to the closing. He emphasizes that the pre-closing phase involves aligning strategic elements, departmental roles, and operational gaps, while the post-closing phase fo
For New Sellers: The Emotional Rollercoaster of Selling Your Business
Why can selling a business be such an emotional process, and what can you do to make it less stressful? Nate Pratt, a financial services wealth advisor, discusses the emotional journey of selling a business. He highlights the importance of cultural alignment, focusing on retaining the top talent in a company, and the long-term impact of an acquisition on the business's teams and clients. Nate note
For Professionals: Navigating the Complexities of a Franchise Acquisition
Mina Haque, CEO of Tony Roma's, spent almost nine months on legal due diligence, learning the ins and outs of the corporation, and building strong relationships with franchise owners. This led to her being named CEO of the company, focused on continuing the stabilization and growth of this global brand. She highlights the challenges of maintaining brand consistency and shares her insights through
