“I have decided it’s time I step away from my business, and I want to sell it to my employees.” Linda (not her real name) invited me to her plush office to discuss her retirement plan and to show me the awards her professional services company had won over the years. It was impressive, but I was more impressed when she started telling me about her side business, real estate investment.  In 2004, Linda and her husband Read More

“After 15 years of work, I wanted to leave something for my kids and grandkids. But it sounds like that isn’t possible.”  Sandra (not her real name) was not in good health. We met at her house because getting to the office was difficult for her. But what she lacked in physical mobility, she more than made up for with mental mobility and attitude. Sandra had a big smile on her face when I walked in, and she seemed Read More

Randy (not his real name) had been trying to buy a business in the Nashville area since early 2015. A few weeks ago, he called to ask if he could retain me to assist his search effort. Though he had met with about 25 business owners over the past two years, Randy had nothing to show for it; he was ready to be more professional and intentional about his search process. Randy was not a novice. He had run his family's Read More

“I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.” If you are 60 or older, you probably recognize that comment frequently spoken by J. Wellington Wimpy. This character from the Popeye cartoon series seemed to be a successful businessman (after all, he wore a suit and tie). But curiously, Wimpy never had money in his pocket to buy his favorite lunch. He seemed to always be saying “you can trust me, I’ll have it in Read More

  “Do I need to wear a tie to this meeting? Hell, I haven’t had a tie on since Mama died.” Getting fired from Ryder Trucks in 1984 ended up being the best thing to happen to Andy (not his real name). Truck fleet management was all he knew, so he had no choice but to go into business for himself. Fast forward 30 years, Andy was ready to sell the business since both of his children were interested in practicing Read More

Mason (not his real name) and I met about six years ago during a men’s Bible conference at the church we both attend. We meet every so often at the church coffee shop to talk about life and family.  About a year ago, Mason was telling me about some stresses in his business. I suggested he join a peer networking group or put together an advisory board. I told him my belief that every business owner needs third-party Read More

When Bob (not his real name) called me, I could tell he was tired.  He was ready to sell his family business, but he didn’t know how to find the right buyer and make sure he got a fair value for his life’s work. Bob started a machine shop business in 1981, and eventually found a thriving niche manufacturing plumbing components.  But at age 74, Bob was ready to sell his business and spend more time with his ailing Read More

I admire an aspiring entrepreneur who wants to enter the world of business ownership via the search fund model. You see, I was once that guy. Decades before the term "search fund" was even invented, I left a great job in Orlando with the Walt Disney Company to buy a bankrupt radio business in Nashville. Looking back on it, it was a crazy decision, but for a variety of reasons (some beyond my control), it worked out Read More