Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of The Moss HR Minute, Nicole Moss, Co-Founder of Moss Consulting HR Services, sits down with John Franklin Wiley, a CEPA certified exit strategist and value acceleration advisor based in Scottsdale. Joined by Preslie Deusenbery, Moss Consulting’s Phoenix Area HR Manager, this conversation tackles the high-stakes reality of business transitions and why most owners wait too long to prepare for a sale.

John reveals a staggering statistic: 8 out of 10 businesses in the United States that go on the market fail to transact. He explains that this is often because owners build "lifestyle businesses" rather than "value acceleration businesses," leaving them with little to sell when they are ready to exit. The discussion provides a roadmap for shifting from founder-dependency to a scalable organization, using John’s signature "fire drill" analogy to measure readiness.

Key topics discussed in this episode include:

• The Maturity Question: Why the percentage of the business that depends on the owner’s presence is the ultimate indicator of valuation.
• 4 Forms of Intangible Capital: The hidden assets that do not appear on a balance sheet but determine the quality of a deal.
• The "Fire Drill" Assessment: Why every business owner needs an annual readiness drill to identify "cracks" before a buyer’s lender finds them.
• 90-Day Value Sprints: How to systematically "de-risk" a company in manageable increments to increase the multiplier.
• The Identity Trap: Navigating the emotional and spiritual challenge of extracting a founder’s identity from their company.
• Fractional Depth: Utilizing experts to provide "wraparound care" for businesses valued under $50 million, allowing them to compete with the "big boys".

This episode is essential for any founder or operator who wants to reclaim their time, increase their profitability, and ensure they don’t become part of the 80% that fail to sell. John provides clear, actionable steps for building a business that can thrive without you—delivered within one Moss Minute.

Guest Information

John Franklin Wiley, Exit Strategist & Value Acceleration Advisor

Website: www.johnfranklinwiley.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnfranklinwiley/

Phone: 602-550-3175

Contact Moss Consulting

Book time with Nicole to talk about your HR needs:

https://mossconsulting.com/book-a-free-consultation

Learn more about Moss Consulting HR Services:

www.mossconsulting.com

Follow the show

@TheMossHRMinute