Unlocking Hidden Value: Turning Your Business Into an Asset

Too many business owners chase revenue while overlooking the bigger picture—building wealth and long-term value. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney speaks with Stephanie Hayes, business and exit strategist and founder of Assets to Exits. Stephanie explains why every business owner, regardless of size or stage, needs to think about an exit strategy—not just as a final step, but as a roadmap for smarter decisions and sustainable growth.

Listeners will learn:

• Why exit planning is not just for large corporations or retirement-bound founders
• How shifting focus from short-term revenue to long-term assets can reduce burnout and reignite passion for your business
• The different types of exits available—including partial, operational, and legacy exits
• How identifying hidden assets (like IP, content, partnerships, or communities) creates real value
• Why building with exit in mind helps you make stronger business decisions today

This episode will help business owners reframe their thinking—so instead of simply hustling for the next sale, they can build businesses with value, flexibility, and lasting impact.

Get Stephanie's free guide: 9 Types of Assets to Build in Your Service-Based Business

Stephanie Hayes is the founder of Assets to Exits, a strategic pathway that helps business owners shift their focus from chasing revenue to building wealth. As a business and exit strategist, she works with small business owners and solo expert brands to design asset-based business models that create long-term value and open the door to full or partial exits.

Drawing on over 25 years of experience in business model design, innovation strategy, and acquisitions, Stephanie shows entrepreneurs that exit planning isn’t just for Silicon Valley start-ups or large corporations—it’s a powerful tool for any business at any stage. She helps owners uncover hidden assets, align their growth strategies with long-term value, and ultimately build businesses that are profitable, sustainable, and transferable.

Stephanie is also an acquisition entrepreneur, having purchased her first business while continuing to run a software company she co-founded more than a decade ago. She shares her insights and real-world lessons through her work with clients, as well as on her podcast Real People, Real Business.

www.stephaniehayes.biz

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