Brent Beshore and Emily Holdman discuss the various types of buyers in the market for private businesses, including private equity firms, fundless sponsors, search funds, family offices, and strategics. They explore their incentives for buying, financing structures, operational preferences, and practicalities of working with each type.

Private company transactions come in a variety of flavors, but most fit into two major buckets: buyouts and recapitalizations.  In this episode, we discuss the differences between the two transactions and provide a helpful and comprehensive list of questions for business owners who are becoming minority owners to help set expectations with their buyer.  Discussion with Brent Beshore and Emily Holdman starts @ 3:47.

If there’s an unexpected area where we see people stumble, this is it.  Making wise decisions about who knows about your transaction and when is critical.  In this episode, we step through each group of stakeholders and discuss considerations about the content and timing of your message to each one.  Discussion with Brent Beshore and Emily Holdman starts @ 5:42.

Prospective buyers will ask you some of the most challenging and personal questions you’ve encountered.  Can you trust them and answer honestly?  In this episode we take a look at the issue of confidentiality and how legally bound mutual trust makes a transaction possible.  Discussion with Brent Beshore and Emily Holdman starts @ 1:14.

All businesses have issues and buyers will figure them out eventually.  The good news is the vast majority of them can be addressed.  In this episode, we lay out the main categories of potential deal killers and how to proactively deal with each one before they derail the sale of your business.  Discussion with Brent Beshore and Emily Holdman starts @ 4:09.

Bad news always travels faster and further.  The rumor mill tends to exaggerate, but typically contains an element of truth as well.  In this episode, we step through five of the most common rumors about the selling process, what their nugget of truth is, and how to avoid the horror stories.  Discussion with Brent Beshore and Emily Holdman starts @ 4:48.

All humans are messy and emotional.  So it follows that selling your business will be a messy and emotional process.  In this episode, we unpack common sources of stress and talk through healthy ways to prepare yourself for the inevitable messiness of doing a deal.  Discussion with Brent Beshore and Emily Holdman starts @ 2:24.

Brent Beshore, an experienced business strategist, and Emily Holdman, a consulting expert, dive deep into why some business owners should reconsider selling. They dissect the financial pros and cons of selling versus retaining ownership, using a hypothetical manufacturing company as a guide. The conversation covers risk assessment, the complexities of deal structures, and the potential benefits of keeping a stake in your business post-sale. Their insights challenge the conventional wisdom about selling, making a compelling case for staying put.

Brent Beshore, a specialist in business transitions, and Emily Holdman, an expert in strategy development, dive into the emotional motivations behind selling a business. They reveal seven core reasons for this significant decision, highlighting that it's not all about financial gain. The duo discusses the challenges of timing a sale, the importance of legacy, and how personal circumstances play a crucial role. They even liken the selling process to dating, emphasizing self-awareness and finding the right buyer.

In this episode, we get specific about our target audience for this book.  What does their business look like?  How involved is the owner in day-to-day operations?  And what circumstances might lead them to consider selling?  Discussion with Brent Beshore and Emily Holdman starts @ 2:13.