As a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and a veteran of over 450 transactions, I’ve refined the art of the “Silent Exit.” We keep the business stable, the employees focused, and the competitors in the dark—right up until the day the keys are handed over.
exitplan
Is Your Tampa Business Worth More Than the “National Average”?
If you’ve spent any time on the national business-for-sale portals lately, you’ve probably seen the standard “rules of thumb.” You know the ones: “Restaurants sell for 2x SDE,” or “HVAC businesses trade at 3x.” But here’s the reality I see every day on the ground: Tampa isn’t a “national average” market. With 170 people moving […]
Beyond the Balance Sheet: The 7 Surprising Habits of Business Owners Who Secure Winning Exits
Selling a business is one of the most complex endeavors an entrepreneur will ever undertake. Most assume the outcome is dictated by the numbers on a spreadsheet—revenue, profit margins, and prevailing market conditions. While these fundamentals are critical, they only tell part of the story. A successful sale isn’t just a financial transaction; it’s a […]
Owner Dependence & Transferability: Why Buyers Discount Businesses That Can’t Run Without the Owner
One of the most common value leaks I see when business owners go to market isn’t revenue, margins, or even industry conditions—it’s owner dependence. Owners often believe their deep involvement is a strength. Buyers and lenders see it differently. To them, owner dependence represents execution risk, transition risk, and earnings risk. And risk is always […]
Timing Your Exit: Why Readiness Matters More Than the Market
Many business owners assume timing an exit is about watching the market—interest rates, buyer demand, or headlines about deal activity. In reality, the biggest determinant of a successful sale is not the market at all. These things matter of course but this is not a binary thing of you do x and get y. There is a far more heady issue at hand.