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Michael Michelini
5.0 out of 5 stars Makes me never want to sell! ;)
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2018
Verified Purchase
Thanks Dan for this counter-intuitive advice. I was also fortunate enough to hear his speech about this at DCBKK and it was nice to read it through in detail here. SO many entrepreneurs are “blinded by the light” of raising investment and then the exit - they forget about the middle - doing the actual business. My favorite takeaway is treating a business like a platform to try new businesses and spin offs. Look forward to what Dan and Ian are upto next, I’m sure it won’t be as much of a struggle for them the next time around - but surely it is - as they say - harder to start from scratch than to use an existing business as a platform. Recommend.
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Sean M
5.0 out of 5 stars A Short Book of Valuable Insights for Entrepreneurs
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2018
Verified Purchase
"Before the Exit" was a short and easy read--exactly as long as it needed to be. A thought-provoking book that should be read by every entrepreneur that reads "Built to Sell" with stars in their eyes.

I feel like this book could be Dan Andrews's answer to Peter Thiel's question “What important truth do very few people agree with you on?” I've heard a lot on the subject of "you should definitely sell your business because of these reasons" and not a lot of thoughtful pushback on "here's what you really may be giving up by selling your business--make sure you think about this first."

Every active entrepreneur should consider these thought experiments as they build and grow their businesses. For myself, I can tell this will be one of those books I see myself coming back to as I move from one growth stage of my business to another.

Highly recommended.
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Ben Kim
5.0 out of 5 stars What did the GM comp look like? How were operations run
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2018
Verified Purchase
I have read this book a 2.5x times now on the Kindle while traveling around Bali. Overall it raised a lot of questions for me but I was with more questions on the specifics than answers on what to do. I think Dan should follow this up with how we managed + ran a multi-million dollar product business with only six hours of our time per week. What did the GM comp look like? How were operations run? If they didn't have the income from the DC, would they have still sold?
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Adii Pienaar
5.0 out of 5 stars Short & sweet. What I like most about this book is ...
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2018
Verified Purchase
Short & sweet.

What I like most about this book is that it asks the "non-obvious" questions that you will not often hear asked in mainstream media or in public circles. All exits/acquisitions/mergers are lauded, but the details are rarely completely known nor is the full "cost" ever considered.

This is the kind of book that I wish I had read before I sold out of WooThemes in 2013. Many of Dan's questions would've helped me go into that decision with greater awareness. It may not have changed my mind and ultimate decision, but I suspect that it would've helped me cope better in the months thereafter.
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Paul Carleton
5.0 out of 5 stars This book will help define your direction in life (and in business).
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2018
Verified Purchase
I’ve read this book twice already—it’s a brilliant short read that will change your perspective in a way you’ve never encountered from a business book.

Inside Before the Exit, author Dan Andrews takes a unique look at what it means to sell your business and covers what the practical steps are for ensuring you make the right decision—I’ll give you a quick rundown from a reader perspective:

It’s extremely applicable (much more so than your average business-orientated book), Dan runs the reader through thought-experiments and sets up “what if” scenarios for the reader to put themselves in that in reality—very few business owners fully consider when it comes to not only exiting a business, but even starting one.

But what if you’re nowhere near ready to sell a business?
This book is important for every stage entrepreneur. I’m nowhere near ready to sell my business, but I still got so much out of it. For example, Dan covers an important concept called the “lifestyle ladder” (pg 10) —which changed the way I thought about money, how much of it I needed, and what I could do with it.

And if you’re considering exiting a business then this is a must read. Because the truth is, more than half of entrepreneurs who have sold their business report being unhappy after the sale! Please, don’t be one of them! Spend an hour with this refreshingly honest entrepreneur who candidly shares his firsthand experience selling his business without considering all the options—so you can.

The book made me think about not only exit and end game for my business but what I wanted for my life.

Before the Exit has no fluff, won’t take much time—about an hour to read. Definitely check it out!
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5.0 out of 5 stars This book will help define your direction in life (and in business).
By Paul Carleton on May 5, 2018
I’ve read this book twice already—it’s a brilliant short read that will change your perspective in a way you’ve never encountered from a business book.

Inside Before the Exit, author Dan Andrews takes a unique look at what it means to sell your business and covers what the practical steps are for ensuring you make the right decision—I’ll give you a quick rundown from a reader perspective:

It’s extremely applicable (much more so than your average business-orientated book), Dan runs the reader through thought-experiments and sets up “what if” scenarios for the reader to put themselves in that in reality—very few business owners fully consider when it comes to not only exiting a business, but even starting one.

But what if you’re nowhere near ready to sell a business?
This book is important for every stage entrepreneur. I’m nowhere near ready to sell my business, but I still got so much out of it. For example, Dan covers an important concept called the “lifestyle ladder” (pg 10) —which changed the way I thought about money, how much of it I needed, and what I could do with it.

And if you’re considering exiting a business then this is a must read. Because the truth is, more than half of entrepreneurs who have sold their business report being unhappy after the sale! Please, don’t be one of them! Spend an hour with this refreshingly honest entrepreneur who candidly shares his firsthand experience selling his business without considering all the options—so you can.

The book made me think about not only exit and end game for my business but what I wanted for my life.

Before the Exit has no fluff, won’t take much time—about an hour to read. Definitely check it out!
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Alec
4.0 out of 5 stars A refreshingly BS free take on the pros and cons of selling your company
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2018
Verified Purchase
Dan raises many key questions about selling your company in a refreshingly BS free take on the pros and cons of selling your company.

It has useful insights and stories of the pitfalls and gotchas to look out for.

In the next version I'd love to see:
- More case studies as the data is mostly anecdotal
- Resources besides their own group the DC
- A list of questions you should ask yourself, your broker, and potential buyers
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Nate Ginsburg
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful insight into seldom asked but important questions for entrepreneurs considering an exit
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2018
Verified Purchase
Last year I sold a business. Which was an amazing and positive event for my life and career. But, with it came some new, serious and very important questions. Did I make the right choice? What's next? What do I really want in life? Among others.

Dan speaks from the heart and shares his personal experience wresting with the above questions and more. And through his book provides valuable insight for other entrepreneurs considering an exit.

I highly recommend this book!!! It provided great insight and perspective for me. And know it can help a lot of other entrepreneurs considering their own business exits as well.
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Dennis Moons
5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful ways to think about selling before you're ready
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2018
Verified Purchase
I'm not considering selling my business yet. But I think it was the perfect time to read this book.

I understand what the daily grind of running a business does to a business owner. It can get you down, or bore you to death. Selling seems like the only answer. But is it?

How do you know that you're ready to sell? Why are you selling? What other possibilities are there?

I'm sure I'll often come back to the questions and thought experiments in this book.

Recommended for all business owners that want to take their business to the next level. (I've set aside time this week to explore the "my business as a platform" idea)
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Top reviews from other countries

Greg C
5.0 out of 5 stars this book came at great timing! I make a decent living but think ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 3, 2018
Verified Purchase
Very interesting and though provoking read that may well change the course of your current and future business decision making process.

As a business owner myself who in previous years thought I wanted an exit, this book came at great timing! I make a decent living but think I work too hard – I wanted a break to do nothing for a few years and also a safety net of a big chunk of cash in the bank. I hung around people who spoke about their large exits and how many millions they have in the bank and thought I wanted a bit of that too! I was narrow sighted

If I did sell, then what? I’ve built a good business; I enjoy what I do now. Why not change the business and experiment with ways to give me what I want in my personal life and still hold on to this wealth generator I have so painstakingly built for over a decade.

To quote the author, "hiring and training a CEO takes much less time than selling your business."

If you are thinking of selling, soon are further down the line the book offers some simple but effective thought exercises that are very helpful.

As a side note, you could probably also apply these thought exercises to other areas of your life. Before the exit could apply to a personal relationship that is shaky. Experiment and do something you normally would not do or that may normally be deemed risky! If the end game was likely the relationship ending, maybe this way of thinking can offer the best shot at saving the relationship.

An excellent read and well worth the minimal reading time investment.
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S. Langridge
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking and insightful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2018
Verified Purchase
This is a really interesting way of looking at how business sale decisions are made, whether they should be made at all and are there other potentially better options?
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Ian
5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable first hand exiting experience
Reviewed in Australia on April 2, 2018
Verified Purchase
What a timely read. Dan provides an honest and reflective insight into their exit. I am 8 months in to this process. My business partner and I have met with brokers, vcs, business strategists and lawyers and are running the full gamut of what Dan has written about here. First book that really rings true for what I'm going through, with some powerful strategies to help get ensure I get the best outcome. Great read from the guys at the Tropical MBA podcast.
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N Owen
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read- big topic - great insights
Reviewed in Australia on August 14, 2018
Verified Purchase
I wish I could have had this book back in 2006 when I went through these choices. It’s not about the cash as much as everything else so well described here by Dan. Prospective job quitters intending to start/buy a small business will benefit too from these words of wisdom. Best $3 on kindle for me and worth $1000’s to be able reflect and realise I am not alone- thank you.
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Christopher Gimmer
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read before selling your business
Reviewed in Canada on April 6, 2018
Verified Purchase
Amazing book for anyone considering whether or not to sell a business. While a bunch of cash in the bank sounds nice, there are tons of trade offs that you might not be thinking through. This book will help you understand exactly what you might be giving up and whether or not it's worth it.
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