Imagine spending most of your life building a business, only to watch it fall apart when you're finally ready to sell. That's exactly what happened to a 70-year-old business owner whose poorly handled sale caused employees to leave, customers to disappear, and decades of hard work to unravel. It's also the story that inspired Ed Mysogland to write his book.

In this episode of Defenders of Business Value, Ed Mysogland introduces the first part of Done Deal: Exit Without Regret and shares what every business owner should understand before entering the sale process. From knowing your business's worth to seeing it through a buyer's eyes, Ed explains how thoughtful preparation can protect everything you've worked so hard to build.

In this episode, you will:

• Discover the costly mistakes that can derail a business sale before it begins

• Understand what buyers really look for and how those factors influence your business's value

• Learn why valuation, tax planning, and the right deal team are essential to a successful exit
  
  

Highlights:
(00:00) Welcome to the Defenders of Business Value

(00:28) Introducing "Done Deal: Exit Without Regret"

(02:57) The cautionary tale of a botched business sale

(04:52) Buyers have more reps

(05:07) Prepare: know your number and timeline first

(06:35) The emotional side of selling a business

(07:35) Your leverage declines as you approach closing

(08:11) The buyer does not care about what you built

(10:18) Must you work yourself out of a job?

(14:38) Tax consequences matter more than headline price

Resources:
Ed Mysogland's book "Done Deal: Exit Without Regret": https://a.co/d/023R5uOH
For past guests, please visit https://www.defendersofbusinessvalue.com/

Follow Ed:
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmysogland/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/defendersofbusinessvalue/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bvdefenders