FREE TRAINING: 3 Keys to Sell Your Business with Confidence
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Is Your Business Your Dialysis Machine?

Cindy (not her real name) has a good thing going. Her business is growing at a steady pace, and she’s been able to pocket around $500,000 a year the past several years. We sat down recently to discuss her interest in selling. “I just became a grandmother. My daughter and her husband are going to need more of my time than I can give if I’m still running the company. I’d like to sell it now and live off the Read More

What You Don’t Learn Investing in Real Estate

“You know what they say, you make money as long as you can buy right. No way I’m paying more than five times earnings for that business.” Sean (not his real name) is a real estate investor who has done exceedingly well the past decade. We recently had lunch to discuss his interest in redeploying some of his investment dollars into an operating business. “I still love opportunities in real estate, but I want to be Read More

Nobody Can Do What the Rainmaker Can Do

“My husband and I have a terrific business relationship. I make the business run well, and he’s the rainmaker who brings in the business.” I met Doris (not her real name) during a meeting at the church we attend. We had never met, but we have a mutual friend who introduced us. During a break in the meeting, she told me she and her husband were ready to sell the business they had owned for 25 years. “We wholesale Read More

You May Kiss the Bride, The Wire Transfer is Complete

It’s all we talked about around our house for nine months. My daughter was getting married, and she and her mom (my wife) had plenty of time to plan a wonderful celebration for family and friends. My daughter is very responsible; I gave her a wedding budget, and for eight months and two weeks, she reported her spending with precision and confidence. I was so proud of the way she managed the process, staying upbeat Read More

The Buyer’s Stretch Marks

“We were told if our revenue was greater than $5 million, we’d be an attractive acquisition target. We got there, but we’ve had to sacrifice profitability.” I met Charlie (not his real name) at the office of his wealth planner. They were developing a retirement plan for Charlie and his wife. They asked me to help them determine his company’s market value and discuss timing to sell it for maximum value. Charlie was Read More

The Hocus Pocus of Business Valuation

“All this talk about multiples makes me dizzy. Multiples of revenue, multiples of EBITDA, multiples of net earnings. Which multiple should I focus on to know my business value?” Rod (not his real name) owns a profitable healthcare services business. Though just 37 years old, he has assembled an organization and methodology that no longer requires his active involvement in the business. He called me for advice after Read More

Momma Was Right, Do Your Homework Before the Test

“If I don’t handle this right, it could cost me millions and leave me bored to tears. Can you help?” I get a question like this from a business owner about once a month. The types of businesses are different, but the situation is the same...the owner has a successful business and they have been approached by a credible third party with an unsolicited, though compelling, offer to sell their company. The second Read More

The Longsufferring CFO

“I’ve been his CFO for ten years. I’m 55 years old, if I don’t see his plan for transition in the next few months, I’ll have to go find another job. Gosh, for all I’ve put into this company and the good people here, that’s the last thing I want to do. But I might not have a choice. Given the pace we’re on, I don’t see us making it much longer.” David (not his real name) has been CFO of the company for ten years and Read More

The Business Owner’s 3:00AM Wake-Up Call

Every four years Americans go to the polls to elect a president. There is one issue that seems to come up during every election, and that is how each candidate would handle the “3:00AM wake-up call.” The question centers on how the candidate would handle a crisis so severe that they’d need to be awakened in the dead of night. Truth be told, many people make their decision for whom to vote based on how they feel about Read More

The Thin Line Between Warm & Fuzzy and Hot & Messy

“My partner and I have grown apart. He isn’t the same fantastic guy he was when I offered him a full partnership in 2007. He plays favorites with the employees, he comes and goes as he pleases. His arrogance is creating a toxic environment. If we don’t separate soon, it will kill our business. Can you help?” Archie (not his real name) asked me to meet him and his wife at their home to assure full confidence in the Read More