Show Summary: 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 | An Overview Small Business Acquisition Financing 18 Differences Between Valuing Public and Private Businesses Additional Resources: Selling your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Download Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue If you have any topic or guest suggestions please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com.

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 also look at a few key actions you can take to dramatically improve your business’s value. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More?  Should I Use SDE or EBITDA to Value My Business for Sale? EBITDA | Definition, Formula & Example – A Complete Guide Quality of Earnings in M&A – The Ultimate Guide Earnouts When Selling or Buying a Business | Complete Guide Additional Resources: Selling your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Download Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue If you have any topic or guest suggestions please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com

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 businesses and time their sales strategically and stresses the significance of cultural fit in successful acquisitions. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More?  M&A Reps & Warranties | A Complete Guide Indemnification in Purchase Agreements | M&A Basics M&A Negotiating Tactic #1 – Honesty Additional Resources: Selling your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Download Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue If you have any topic or guest suggestions please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com.  

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 this episode.  Want To Learn More?   Punctuation M&A Guide | Selling Your Business to a Competitor How To Maintain Confidentiality When Selling Your Business Additional Resources: Selling your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Download Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue  If you have any topic or guest suggestions please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com.  

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 focuses on integrating systems and roles, often requiring a 100-day plan. He also highlights the importance of alignment on expectations, having a clear plan, and the seller’s role in due diligence. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More?  The M&A Training & Transition Period M&A Negotiating Tactic #1 – Honesty Additional Resources: Selling your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Download Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue If you have any topic or guest suggestions please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com.

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 notes that successful sellers start early, educate themselves, and share their passion and enthusiasm with potential buyers. Nate also stresses the need to be honest about the motivation to sell and to prepare emotionally. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More?  Informing & Retaining Employees When Selling a Business Why is Selling a Business so Hard? M&A Negotiating Tactic #1 – Honesty Additional Resources: Selling your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Download Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue If you have any topic or guest suggestions please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com.  

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 the acquisition, emphasizing the importance of staffing, integration, and franchisee relationships. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More?  The Role of a Franchisor When Selling a Franchise M&A Due Diligence | Checklist & Overview Additional Resources: Selling your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Download Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue If you have any topic or guest suggestions please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com.  

VC investor Sandeep Patil discusses the nuances of selling a company to a VC-backed business. VC acquisitions often prioritize growth potential and talent quality over immediate returns. Sandeep emphasizes the importance of understanding the acquirer’s objectives, the integration strategy, and the long-term growth prospects. He notes that VC-backed companies typically prefer equity swaps due to limited cash reserves and advises sellers to perform thorough due diligence on the acquirer’s growth potential and exit strategy. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? A Guide to Valuing Tech, Software & Online Businesses Business Valuation Methods in a Nutshell Additional Resources: Selling your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Download Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue Download Food and Beverage M&A: An Insider’s Guide to Selling a Food or Beverage Manufacturing, Distribution, or Grocery Business. If you have any topic or guest suggestions please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com.

Blake Hutchinson, CEO of Flippa.com, discusses the evolution and challenges of the online business marketplace. The Flippa platform facilitates the sale of online businesses in five core business models: online publishing, e-commerce, SaaS, iOS/Android apps, and YouTube channels, with 425,000 AI matches weekly. Blake highlights the importance of supply acquisition, the growing interest from institutional investors, and the demand for quality assets focusing on traditional, recession-proof industries. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More?  Tech & Software M&A Dynamics Top 5 M&A Value Drivers for Tech & Software Companies A Guide to Valuing Tech, Software & Online Businesses Additional Resources: Selling your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Download Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue Download Food and Beverage M&A: An Insider’s Guide to Selling a Food or Beverage Manufacturing, Distribution, or Grocery Business. If you have any topic or guest suggestions please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com.  

SBA loan expert Tom Lyons talks about everything related to SBA loans. He discusses recent changes to SBA guidelines, such as allowing partial ownership changes and zero down payment options. Tom shares advice and insights into the process of acquiring a business, qualification and compliance challenges, guidelines for an owner to remain involved in the business, contingent seller notes, how landlords impact the loan terms, and the importance of working with a preferred lender for smoother compliance and approval. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More?  SBA Financing When Buying or Selling a Business Small Business Acquisition Financing Business Valuation Guide: Do I need a Valuation? Additional Resources Selling your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Download Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue Download Food and Beverage M&A: An Insider’s Guide to Selling a Food or Beverage Manufacturing, Distribution, or Grocery Business. If you have any topic or guest suggestions please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com.