In this SaaS Buyers' Club Episode 18, your hosts, Software as a Service (SaaS) mergers and acquisitions (M&A) lawyers Omeed Tabiei and Joe Prencipe from Optimist Legal interview Ron Skelton who is the host of the How2Exit podcast. 

After interviewing almost 200 people on his How2Exit podcast, Ron shares 10 key insights that he's learned from his interviews of the world's foremost experts on M&A. Key points in his discussion revolve around the essential nature of establishing rapport, understanding deal structures, and placing value on team dynamics in successful business acquisitions. He also discusses the hard-to-ignore truth about 'get-rich-quick' illusions prevalent in the M&A industry. Lessons from his interviews with various stakeholders in M&A deals reveal the importance of due diligence, long-term planning, and flexibility in deal-making, including seller-financed transactions. Through intriguing anecdotes, Skelton presents the complex world of business acquisitions in an accessible way.

00:06 Introduction to the Sassbuyers Club
00:14 Meet Ron Skelton: Serial Entrepreneur and Podcast Host
00:48 Ron's Journey: From Lawn Mowing to Entrepreneurship
01:35 Military Experience and Transition into Tech Space
02:36 Venturing into Mergers and Acquisitions
04:39 The Importance of Podcasting and Learning from Others
05:02 Behind the Scenes of the 'How to Exit' Podcast
05:23 The Art of Interviewing and Dealing with Boring Guests
06:10 The Impact of Imposter Syndrome
06:22 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: A Personal Journey
07:51 The Power of Surrounding Yourself with the Right People
08:57 The Role of Rapport in Business Transactions
13:40 The Importance of Understanding the Business You're Buying
19:05 The Emotional Ties of Business Owners to Their Businesses
20:44 The Importance of Active Listening in Business Negotiations
41:45 The Importance of Due Diligence in Business Deals
41:55 Negotiating Business Deals: A Real-Life Example
42:43 The Art of Turnarounds in Mergers and Acquisitions
43:05 The Role of Good Business Practices in M&A
45:19 The Importance of Employee Engagement in Business Success
46:14 The Role of Due Diligence in Intellectual Property
46:40 The Impact of Licensing on Business Operations
47:36 The Art of Negotiating Business Deals
48:23 The Importance of Knowing Your Business
50:37 The Reality of Passive Income in Business
57:49 The Role of Team Players in Business Success
58:04 The Impact of Business Structure on Valuation
01:01:56 The Reality of Zero Down Business Deals
01:07:09 The Importance of Planning in Selling a Business
01:11:52 The Arbitrage in Mergers and Acquisitions
01:15:44 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Follow the Guest: Ron Skelton

► https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronskelton
► https://twitter.com/ronaldskelton
► https://www.how2exit.com/
► https://www.facebook.com/RonaldSkelton/

Follow the Host: Omeed Tabiei 

► https://www.linkedin.com/in/Omeed-Tabiei

► https://www.facebook.com/omeedt

►https://www.instagram.com/saasbizlawyer

Follow the Co-Host: Joe Prencipe

► https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeprencipe

How to reach Optimist Legal about your SaaS M&A transaction to explore working with us

► https://www.optimistlegal.com

►Omeed@OptimistLegal.com

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About Optimist Legal:

Optimist Legal is a SaaS Mergers and Acquisitions buy-side focused law firm with extensive experience in M&A. In fact, M&A is all we do, and it's what all of our lawyers at our firm have focused on for their entire careers. When you work with Optimist Legal for your next SaaS M&A transaction, you can rest assured that you're working with diligent experts that are going to get you the best deal possible.