M&A Talk: #1 Podcast on Selling a Business

Guillaume Thomas, with 25 years in corporate M&A, shares valuable insights on valuations, multiples, due diligence, and entrepreneurship. He discusses the importance of realistic valuations, financial transparency, and emotional challenges transitioning from corporate to entrepreneur. Topics include building brand resonance, maximizing value through strategic buyers, and the significance of sales and marketing in the consumer industry.

Mahmoud Hmouz, an M&A professional, shares insights on what PE firms look for in B2B acquisitions. Topics include success stories, key metrics like growth and profitability, common seller mistakes, and the importance of transparency in deal-making.

View the complete show notes for this episode. Learning from your mistakes is an important life lesson. Learning from the mistakes of others is smart business. Jim Stevenson shares a high-level overview of two M&A transactions that have gone wrong and points out the lessons that can be applied to any transaction. His suggestions include going after the smart money, not just the most money, performing risk assessment and research on the buyer’s track record, running a company while managing the sale, and creating an integration plan, not just a timeline.  What You’ll Learn What: Lessons from two struggling transactions involving overleveraging debt, creating an integration plan rather than a timeline, and expecting too much from a cultural merger.  Why: Common reasons why M&A deals fail and what to look for before closing the deal. How: Suggestions on how to avoid potential problems or deal killers in the transaction. When: Lessons around the implications of deals gone wrong, managing risk, and steps to take. Want More? Related Resources:  Most Common Deal Killers When Selling Your Business Earnouts When Selling or Buying a Business | Complete Guide Process for Screening Buyers When Selling a Business Additional Resources: Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download a free PDF copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business, Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue, and Food and Beverage M&A: An Insider’s Guide to Selling a Food or Beverage Manufacturing, Distribution, or Grocery Business. Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal Listen to Other Episodes Understanding Private Equity – A Primer for Sellers with Jeff Hooke Expert Advice on Avoiding Disputes Post-Closing with Bill Wiersema An Expert’s Views on Effective Post-Merger Integration Strategies with Ben de Haldevang

View the complete show notes for this episode. A fairly new investment model for investing in online businesses is gaining strength and interest. Justine Cooke discusses this fractional ownership program, which is accessible online and available to retail investors. In this model, investors seek passive income through fractional ownership of online businesses, with operators receiving equity and investors receiving majority returns. Justin highlights the benefits of this model for both investors and operators, including increased exposure and investment capital.  What You’ll Learn Online Businesses: Hear about the differences in investing and operating online businesses. Investment Fund: Learn what sets an investment fund apart when it focuses on matching passive investors with operators. Challenges: Focus on finding operators and investors, then putting together the right team. Business Growth: Hear about the growing pains and opportunities that came with starting Empire Flippers and WebStreet. Want More? Related Resources:  How to Sell an Online Business: A Case Study A Guide to Valuing Tech, Software & Online Businesses Top 5 M&A Value Drivers for Tech & Software Companies Additional Resources: Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download a free PDF copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business, Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue, and Food and Beverage M&A: An Insider’s Guide to Selling a Food or Beverage Manufacturing, Distribution, or Grocery Business. Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal Listen to Other Episodes Preparing to Sell a Digital Company with Yury Byalik The Inside Scoop on Tech M&A with Barr Blanton Case Study – How Two College Kids Monetized Social Media and Made Millions with Harry Gestetner and Simon Pompan

Entrepreneur shares journey from law to $80M offer in cannabis industry. Challenges of international business, importance of quality equipment. Marketing tactics in competitive market, building strong company culture. Leadership impact on culture, motivating employees.

Explore deal killers and makers in private equity, including customer concentration, off-balance sheet liabilities, and cyclicality. Learn how to address risks through sales strategies and why exit planning is crucial. Gain insights into private equity fund sizes and deal requirements. Discover tips on making your company attractive to private equity and navigating creative accounting in deals.

View the complete show notes for this episode. Accountant Kyle Smith shares expert insights into optimizing a business’s financial health before going to market. This includes understanding and tracking five key performance indicators (KPIs) and financial metrics to evaluate a business’s financial health and valuation, the need for cost control analysis, benchmarking against industry averages, and monitoring revenue, gross profit, and sales mix to identify areas for improvement and maximize profits. What You’ll Learn: Pre-Sale Financial Due Diligence: Strategies for optimizing your company’s financial performance before a potential sale. KPIs: Critical key performance indicators (KPIs) every business owner should track regularly. Revenue Metrics: Techniques for understanding trends in your gross profit percentage and revenue drivers.  Financial Documents: Importance of analyzing discrepancies between your income statement and cash flow statement. Want More? Related Resources: Quality of Earnings in M&A – The Ultimate Guide M&A Due Diligence Preparation: The Importance of Preparing for Due Diligence Adjusting Financial Statements: A Complete Guide Business Valuation & Return on Investment (ROI) Additional Resources: Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download a free PDF copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business, Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue, and Food and Beverage M&A: An Insider’s Guide to Selling a Food or Beverage Manufacturing, Distribution, or Grocery Business. Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal Listen to Other Episodes What You Need to Know Before Selling to a PE Firm with Brent Paris and Jim Evanger Avoiding Pitfalls in Financial Due Diligence When Selling a Business with Bill Wiersema How to Maximize Your Company’s Value with Jon Taylor

View the complete show notes for this episode. Thinking about retirement is different for a business owner. You want to ensure you continue living life with purpose and intent to make sure you are happy once you sell your business. Expert Elliot Kellen discusses how to avoid the vacuum that occurs after you sell your business. He offers strategies for clarifying your goals and vision for retirement to guide financial decisions, the components of an action plan, and putting together a team of advisors to help achieve a successful sale and retirement. What you’ll learn Exit Planning: The decision-making process for using the proceeds from selling your business. Retirement Plans: Consider what you want to do once you sell your company, from personal plans to leaving a legacy to charitable efforts. Action Plan: Learn the steps to take after you have defined your goals and are ready to put your money to work. Wealth Management: Tips for selecting the right team of advisors to assist throughout the sale process and tax planning for a business owner. Want More? Related Resources: M&A Basics | Why Do Business Owners Sell Their Business? Business Exit Plan & Strategy Checklist | A Complete Guide Should I Sell My Business? Additional Resources: Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download a free PDF copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business, Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue, and Food and Beverage M&A: An Insider’s Guide to Selling a Food or Beverage Manufacturing, Distribution, or Grocery Business. Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal Listen to Other Episodes: Will Selling Your Business Make You Happy? with Marco Robert Why Don’t Most Business Owners Plan Their Sale? with Wendy Dickinson What To Consider When Timing the Sale of Your Company with Dan Shea

View the complete show notes for this episode. What are the most common mistakes sellers make when it comes to selling a middle-market company? M&A expert Jim Stevenson shares tips and strategies for preparing a company for acquisition. He discusses common mistakes such as not planning for an exit or not presenting a company in the best possible light, the importance of cultural fit, the need for a clear and compelling business story to attract potential buyers, and the value of hiring experts in the M&A process to increase value and successfully sell. What you’ll learn: Preparing for Sale: Strategies to groom your business and prepare a go-to-market strategy.  Company Culture: Why it’s important to consider cultural fit between companies for operations and post-merger integration.  Customer Needs: The importance of understanding customer needs and how your product or service solves problems. Expert Advice: Why you need expert help to maximize value and sell your company. Want More? Related Resources: Business Exit Plan & Strategy Checklist | A Complete Guide Tips on Preparing Your Business for Sale M&A Basics: Building a Sellable Business Additional Resources: Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download a free PDF copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business, Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue, and Food and Beverage M&A: An Insider’s Guide to Selling a Food or Beverage Manufacturing, Distribution, or Grocery Business. Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal Listen to Other Episodes: An Expert’s Views on Effective Post-Merger Integration Strategies with Ben de Haldevang A Buyer’s Perspective — Why the Human Side is More Important Than Money in M&A Transactions with Austin King A Lawyer, a Banker, and a Seller Walk Into a Bar … with Michael Frankel Expert Advice from a Buyer – Why You Should Prepare Your Business for Sale with Scott Hile

A major consolidation in the Bitcoin mining industry occurred in November 2023 with the merger of Hut 8 and US Bitcoin. Learn what went on inside this deal from Asher Genoot, CEO of the newly formed Hut 8 Corp. He discusses what led to the decision to raise capital by merging a public Canadian company with a private US company, the mechanics of merging, the challenges of integration, the operational and financial objectives for each side, and how this will help with driving diversified growth going forward.  View the complete show notes for this episode. Want more?  Hut 8 and USBTC Announce Completion of Business Combination Why do Companies Acquire Other Businesses? Tech & Software M&A Dynamics Additional Resources: Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Download a free PDF copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business, Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue, and Food and Beverage M&A: An Insider’s Guide to Selling a Food or Beverage Manufacturing, Distribution, or Grocery Business. Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal Listen to Other Episodes: An Expert’s Views on Effective Post-Merger Integration Strategies with Ben de Haldevang The Role and Impact of Human Nature in M&A Transactions with Julienne Baron The Basics of International M&A Transactions with Amit Thakur The Inside Scoop on Tech M&A with Barr Blanton