Serial entrepreneur Ryan Buckley returns to M&A Talk to discuss lessons learned as he moves from bootstrapping to seeking venture capital backing with his current company, Shovels. Ryan talks about his decision to pursue climate tech as his next project, how the idea of mining and analyzing building permit and inspection data can help people make better decisions about contractors they work with, what went into his decision to pursue VC money, and the importance of focusing on providing the most value. View the complete show notes for this episode. Learn More: Business Valuation & Return on Investment (ROI) 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: Download a free pdf copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business. Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal | Acquired Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today. To suggest guests, topics, or questions for future podcast episodes, contact Morgan & Westfield. Contact Morgan & Westfield to request a free copy of Jacob Orosz's latest book, Food and Beverage M&A: An Insider's Guide to Selling a Food or Beverage Business. Listen to Other Episodes: Case Study – Lessons Learned From Selling Multiple Tech Companies Improving the Value of Your Business with Technology Case Study – From Lawyer to Multi-Million Dollar Tech Entrepreneur  

What can an M&A attorney bring to the table when selling a business? Jessica Fairchild, a corporate and M&A attorney for over 20 years, answers this question and many more. She discusses why it is so important to work with a lawyer who knows how the M&A process works, knows what your goals are, and understands the key issues of your business when they are negotiating for you. She highlights the need to prepare for a sale as early as possible and build a team of good advisors to help you throughout the sales process. View the complete show notes for this episode. Learn More: M&A Basics | The Letter of Intent Business Exit Plan & Strategy Checklist | A Complete Guide The Role of M&A Lawyers When Selling Your Business Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) | A Complete Guide for M&A Jessica Fairchild Discusses Key Considerations for Founders Looking to Sell Their Business Additional Resources: Download a free pdf copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business. Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal | Acquired Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today. To suggest guests, topics, or questions for future podcast episodes, contact Morgan & Westfield. Contact Morgan & Westfield to request a free copy of Jacob Orosz's latest book, Food and Beverage M&A: An Insider's Guide to Selling a Food or Beverage Business. Listen to Other Episodes: First Time Selling a Business? Here’s What To Expect. Behind the Scenes – A Look at the Human Side of M&A Law How to Plan the Sale of Your Business from Start to Finish  

What are the two most important things to know before starting the journey to sell your business? Chris Younger, with Class VI Partners, answers this question and many more. He discusses the fundamentals of selling a middle-market company, the importance of preparation and planning ahead, looking for a buyer with the right fit, building a growth plan that can survive due diligence, and the amount of stress involved in a sale and what an owner can do to manage the stress and inevitable problems that crop up. View the complete show notes for this episode. Learn More: M&A Due Diligence | Checklist & Overview M&A Due Diligence Preparation M&A Basics | Why Do Business Owners Sell Their Business? Business Exit Plan & Strategy Checklist | A Complete Guide Additional Resources: Download a free pdf copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal | Acquired Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today. To suggest guests, topics, or questions for future podcast episodes, contact Morgan & Westfield. Listen to Other Episodes: How to Get the Highest Price for Your Company Do You Need to Prepare for Due Diligence When Selling Your Business? How to Plan the Sale of Your Business from Start to Finish

Consider the M&A world as science versus art. This fascinating discussion looks at acquisitions as transformations. Jay Goldman, author, and co-founder of Sensei Labs, defines enterprise and portfolio orchestration, discusses how automation, collaboration, and software can help build more value in an organization, looks at how a company can execute better on value creation and go beyond closing the deal to place the emphasis creating a more durable, repeatable, and scalable model for long-term value creation. View the complete show notes for this episode.  Learn More: Tech & Software M&A Dynamics Additional Resources: Download a free pdf copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal | Acquired Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today. To suggest guests, topics, or questions for future podcast episodes, contact Morgan & Westfield. Listen to Other Episodes: M&A for Virtual and Augmented Reality Companies The Impact of AI, Fintech, and Fundraising on M&A 8 Simple Ways to Increase the Value of Your Business

In this insightful discussion, Ed Gardner heads corporate development at Descartes, while David Leland is the founder of GroundCloud. They share the journey of GroundCloud's acquisition, detailing each phase from initial meetings to post-closing strategies. Key topics include the significance of cultural fit and safety in logistics, the role of investment banking, and the necessity of clear communication during transitions. Their experience offers valuable lessons for tech companies navigating the complexities of mergers and acquisitions.

What is the current state of fintech, fundraising, and private capital markets? David Frank, founder and CEO of Stonehaven, a company that’s developed a fintech operating system for investment bankers and investors in private capital markets, shares insights he sees through his company. From a high-level look at fintech and the future of AI to developing a global workforce and differences between venture capital, private equity, and public markets – this is much more than a high-level fintech conversation. View the complete show notes for this episode. Learn More: The Fungibility of Businesses as an Investment Tech & Software M&A Dynamics A Guide to Valuing Tech, Software & Online Businesses Additional Resources: Download a free pdf copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business. Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal | Acquired Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today. To suggest guests, topics, or questions for future podcast episodes, contact Morgan & Westfield. Listen to Other Episodes:  Going Public? 3 Ways to Raise Funds What’s Different About Selling a High-Growth Company? Understanding Private Equity – A Primer for Sellers 

Employee stock ownership plans have long been an exit strategy for companies, but they are still misunderstood. Kelly Finnell shares his passion and expertise with ESOPs from his 40 years of specializing in them. Beyond the definition of an ESOP, Kelly offers his insights into the history of ESOPs, the tax benefits they present to owners and employees, what metrics a company should have for an ESOP, what companies would be poor candidates for an ESOP and stories of the successes and challenges involved with an ESOP. View the complete show notes for this episode. Learn More: Should I use SDE or EBITDA to Value a Business? Additional Ways to Market Your Company for Sale Additional Resources: Download a free pdf copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal | Acquired Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today. To suggest guests, topics, or questions for future podcast episodes, contact Morgan & Westfield. Listen to Other Episodes: Should You Consider an ESOP When Selling Your Business?  Selling Your Business to Your Team Through an ESOP  Healthcare M&A – ESOPs Made Clear  

Employee stock ownership plans, known as ESOPs, are an M&A alternative that places shares of a company in the hands of employees. This complex topic is the focus of Michael Bannon and Jordan Burg, ESOP experts in the healthcare industry with boutique investment bank CSG Partners. They discuss considerations around structuring an ESOP, advantages to owners and employees, the impact ESOPs can have on increasing employee happiness and tenure, and advice that goes beyond companies in the healthcare space. View the complete show notes for this episode.  Learn More: Business Exit Plan & Strategy Checklist | A Complete Guide Additional Resources: Download a free pdf copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal | Acquired Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today. To suggest guests, topics, or questions for future podcast episodes, contact Morgan & Westfield. Listen to Other Episodes: Should You Consider an ESOP When Selling Your Business? Selling Your Business to Your Team Through an ESOP Healthcare M&A – Recent Changes and Predictions Healthcare M&A – Creating Value, Synergies, and Sales  

When it comes to buying a business, what are the top considerations and pitfalls to avoid? Jon Stoddard, an investor, serial acquirer, and host of the podcast Top M&A Entrepreneurs, joins M&A Talk to discuss buying small businesses, including the risks, lessons he has learned, and the rewards of dealing with start-ups. Jon discusses the differences in on-market vs. off-market deals, the importance of deal flow, raising capital, finding investment money, and the idea of buying a business with no money down. View the complete show notes for this episode. Learn More: M&A Seller Financing: A Complete Guide SBA Financing When Buying or Selling a Business Small Business Acquisition Financing Can I Sell My Business for All Cash? Additional Resources: Download a free pdf copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal | Acquired Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today. To suggest guests, topics, or questions for future podcast episodes, contact Morgan & Westfield. Listen to Other Episodes: An Insider’s Perspectives on Growing a Business Through Acquisitions 48 Deals in 2.5 Years – Here's What I Learned Case Study – From Lawyer to Multi-Million Dollar Tech Entrepreneur

Integration is a critical component of any acquisition, and IT integration, in particular, is key to achieving a successful integration. Uma Nidmarty is a specialist in IT integration and shares her 25+ years of experience in the world of M&A acquisitions. The discussion includes an explanation of some of the terminology, the impact integration can have on the value of a deal, major deal killers, the elements and costs involved in IT integration, and some examples of integrations gone wild. View the complete show notes for this episode. Learn More: Most Common Deal Killers When Selling Your Business Tech & Software M&A Dynamics Additional Resources: Download a free PDF copy of The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Purchase your copy now of A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation | The Exit Strategy Handbook | Closing the Deal | Acquired Planning to sell your business? Schedule a free consultation today. To suggest guests, topics, or questions for future podcast episodes, contact Morgan & Westfield. Listen to Other Episodes: An Insider’s Perspectives on Growing a Business Through Acquisitions The Good, The Bad & The Ugly of Growth by Acquisition Corporate Carve-Outs – Tips on Selling Part of Your Company Helping the Buyer Integrate Your Company with Theirs