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As a business owner, you know what it’s like to lie awake at 2 a.m. Maybe it has happened when you are excited and full of new ideas for your business. More often, it’s because you are worried about issues you will face the next day. Sometimes, it’s because you just woke up with the solution to a problem. I’ve experienced all those emotions about my businesses over the years. Awake at 2 o’clock? is where I share them with you, and hopefully help with answers that will let you sleep.
John F. Dini, CExP, CEPA
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Small business owners are the Hunters of the 21st century. We are 3% of the US population, and yet we create over half of all American jobs. As Hunters, we may not be inclined to manage by the numbers or stick to systems. Are you a Hunter or a Farmer?
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How prepared are you to exit your company?
The Assessment breaks down the four major categories of exit readiness; Finance, Planning, Operations and Revenue/Profit.
Tag Archives: Exit Options
Business Buyers and Disintermediation
In the last post, we discussed the reluctance of many prospective business buyers to deal with the regulatory burden of being an employer or service provider. You may be among the lucky few whose profession doesn’t require licensing. Even better, … Continue reading →
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Life After Exit — Time is of the Essence
From time to time, we share real stories about life after exit from owners who have sold their businesses. Some are great and some… not so much. The have agreed to share their experiences to help other owners prepare for … Continue reading →
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Exit Planning – Maintaining Control
For many owners, their biggest concern in an exit plan is maintaining control. Whether they seek to sell to employees, family or a third-party, there is a fear that, once started, the process will have its own rules and momentum. My colleague John … Continue reading →
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Internal Transfers: Legacy vs. Lucre
Lifestyle vs. Legacy Why would I refer to the results of an internal transfer as “lifestyle vs. lucre?” Lucre is a pejorative term. While it is technically just a synonym for money, most dictionaries draw the parallel to its use in … Continue reading →
2 Responses to Internal Transfers: Legacy vs. Lucre
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Edward Lette says:
John,
I have seen this happen in leveraged ESOP transactions which is so sad.-
John F. Dini says:
Yes Ed, That’s clearly why the Department of Labor is so much more likely to find issues in ESOPs where an employee is the trustee. It is often a warning sign of influence on valuation by the seller.
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Quality of Earnings Part 3: Cash Flow
In the past few weeks we’ve discussed how quality of earnings audits look at your income and expenses, and their impact on company value. Since Revenue less Expenses equals Profit (P=R-E), you could be forgiven for thinking that we have picked … Continue reading →
One Response to Quality of Earnings Part 3: Cash Flow
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Marsha Kelly says:
Great detailed advice. Cash flow can make or break a small business. I know from my own experience and that of my clients. Run rates are a complex but necessary calculation.
Great post John. As we say at Successful Transition Planning Institute, you have to know your goals and address your fears to have a great business transition. Fears about disintermediation are not often raised by the owners, but a wise advisor must raise them. Otherwise the owner’s goals may simply be fantasy. For those owners whose business is likely being dis-intermediated, and cannot offer differentiation (or it is too late to do so without significant, risky investment), the owner can still set goals for winding down the business and protecting personal assets, as well as creating a meaningful life.
Scott: I ran into the same problem with ebay buyers trying to hold our feedback rating hostage by getting an undeserved partial refund. Our “full, unconditional refund rather than a “partial refund policy was set in stone during a rare 78 collection ebay sale. Although the collection was mint, untouched store stock and sold items were packed in expensive Uline 78 mailers several buyers claimed the 78″s arrived warped and wanted a partial refund. Statistically the number of “warped in shipping seemed way too high but we offered a full refund instead of a partial one to all buyers. Not one of them replied or sent their purchases back which made us assume they were all lying in order to get a refund. As Seinfeld said, “People, they”re the worst!.