How2Exit: Buy, Don't Build - M&A of Small Businesses Podcast Por Ronald P. Skelton arte de portada

How2Exit: Buy, Don't Build - M&A of Small Businesses

How2Exit: Buy, Don't Build - M&A of Small Businesses

De: Ronald P. Skelton
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 Welcome to How2Exit, the premier podcast for entrepreneurs, advisors, and everyone in between who wants to dive deep into the world of buying, growing, and selling small businesses valued below $20 million. Our mission is to equip you with the insights and strategies you need to succeed in the small business M&A space.

Join us as we talk to the best in the industry and explore the full process of buying, growing, and selling businesses. You'll gain invaluable knowledge from interviews with successful entrepreneurs who have navigated the M&A journey and experts who offer their wisdom on sourcing deals, building rapport, conducting due diligence, closing transactions, integrating acquisitions, and preparing for a successful exit. We cover it all, so you can make informed decisions and take calculated risks.

At How2Exit, we pride ourselves on providing an unmatched resource for those looking to thrive in the small business M&A world. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, an aspiring business owner, or an advisor helping clients navigate the complex process, our podcast is your go-to source for the latest tips, trends, and real-world case studies.Tune in and discover the secrets to mastering small business M&A and achieving your goals in the world of entrepreneurship. Don't miss a single episode of How2Exit – subscribe now and unlock the full potential of your next business venture!

Keywords: small business, M&A, entrepreneurs, advisors, buying businesses, growing businesses, selling businesses, due diligence, sourcing deals, rapport building, closing transactions, integrating acquisitions, preparing to sell, interviews, experts, case studies, How2Exit.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/how2exit-buy-don-t-build-m-a-of-small-businesses--4859429/support.Copyright How2Exit Economía Finanzas Personales Gestión y Liderazgo Liderazgo
Episodios
  • E283: Callum on Building Trust, Board Power, and the Agglomeration Exit Strategy for Entrepreneurs

    E283: Callum on Building Trust, Board Power, and the Agglomeration Exit Strategy for Entrepreneurs
    Jun 6 2025
    About the Guest:Callum Laing is not your average M&A expert. A serial entrepreneur and the author of four books (Agglomerate, Progressive Partnerships, Boardroom Blueprint, and Entrepreneurial Investing), Laing is also the founder of Unity Group, the Veblen Director Program, and Guild. His work focuses on democratizing board access, simplifying capital raising, and helping legacy business owners scale without losing control. His innovation in the agglomeration model challenges the assumptions of private equity and redefines how small businesses can achieve scale and liquidity.Summary:In this episode of How2Exit, guest host Roger Glovsky dives into the nuanced world of M&A and business trust-building with Callum Laing—an entrepreneur, author, and architect of the agglomeration model. With over 100 M&A transactions under his belt, Laing reveals why the most valuable asset in business isn’t capital—it’s trust. From forming influential board networks to designing incentive-aligned holding companies, Laing explains how deeply human psychology shapes scalable business outcomes, especially when preparing to exit. The conversation spans innovative M&A structures, the underestimated power of personal connections, and why tech-savvy entrepreneurs must still master the art of building real relationships—especially in an AI-driven world.Key Takeaways:Boards as a Competitive Advantage: A functional, diverse, and supportive board not only adds credibility during an exit but also ensures operational continuity—making a business more attractive to acquirers.Access vs. Opportunity: The Veblen Director Program was designed to break barriers for overlooked professionals (e.g., those without elite credentials), helping them land their first board seats and contribute meaningfully.Guild as a Capital-Raising Network: Laing’s second venture, Guild, evolved to teach entrepreneurs how to raise capital by first understanding investor needs—flipping the traditional pitch-first model on its head.Trust Multiplies Velocity: Trust accelerates deal flow, reduces friction, and increases the efficiency of capital and collaboration. Building a public profile plays a critical role in earning it.Give First, Gain Later: Inspired by concepts like the Boulder Thesis and Adam Grant's Give and Take, Laing emphasizes building relationships by offering value before asking for anything in return.The Agglomeration Model: Laing’s signature innovation—business owners join a public holdco by exchanging private shares, keeping operational control while benefiting from scale, liquidity, and mutual incentives.AI Will Amplify the Human: As AI automates tasks, the human edge will lie in trust-building, empathy, and long-term relationship management—skills no algorithm can yet replicate.Longevity Over Hype: Contrary to Silicon Valley’s growth-at-all-costs model, Laing designs business systems with staying power, informed by centuries-old governance principles.--------------------------------------------------Contact Callum onLinkedin:Website:--------------------------------------------------💰If you’d like additional ways to support this podcast, you can become a paid subscriber here: https://how2exit.substack.com/►Visit Our Website: https://www.how2exit.com/📧For Business Inquiries: Me@4sale2sold.comDon't Forget to SUBSCRIBE to the How2Exit channel and press (🔔) to join the Notification Squad and stay updated with new uploads.✨👇🏻SUBSCRIBE HEREhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ONnhwaKSTPFt2nOxKoXXQ?sub_confirmation=1𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬...?▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬👍 Like the video (it helps a ton!)💬 Comment below to share your opinion!🔗 Share the video with anyone you think might help :) ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬📱Stay Tuned On Our Social Media :» Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronskelton/» Twitter - https://twitter.com/ronaldskelton» Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/How2Exit» Newsletter - http://deeper.how2exit.com/🎬SUGGESTED VIDEOSDon't forget to watch 📽 Our other videos. Please check them out :▶️Previous Episode:▶️E135: Sam Rosati On His Journey From Being A Lawyer To Becoming An Entrepreneur In The ETA Space - https://youtu.be/D2qJOidptRA▶️E100: CEO Of Flippa Blake Hutchison Discusses Innovations In Buying And Selling Digital Assets - https://youtu.be/R1D5guQU9Z0#How2Exit # # 💖Thanks for watching! 💖Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/how2exit-buy-don-t-build-m-a-of-small-businesses--4859429/support.
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    55 m
  • E282: How to Build a Sellable Business: Profit-First Marketing & Exit Strategy with Andy Seeley

    E282: How to Build a Sellable Business: Profit-First Marketing & Exit Strategy with Andy Seeley
    May 30 2025
    Watch Here: https://youtu.be/8WBIPpmXVVYAbout the Guest: Andy is the CEO and co-founder of Creatively Disruptive—a “revenue growth agency” that helps small businesses scale sustainably. His background is as varied as it is inspiring: from rugby coach to pizza delivery driver to sales manager at CarMax, to eventually buying and selling his own businesses. Today, he helps over 110 small businesses reach profitability through consulting, marketing, and strategic advisory. With clients ranging from gymnastics gyms to local banks and contractors, Andy’s team becomes the trusted growth partner business owners call when they're staring at the ceiling at 3am.Summary:In this episode of How2Exit, host Ronald Skelton sits down with Andy Seeley, CEO and co-founder of Creatively Disruptive—a marketing firm built with the heart of a small business owner in mind. From his humble beginnings delivering pizza and coaching rugby, Andy takes us on a journey through his first business acquisition, the painful lessons of the Great Recession, and the creation of a marketing agency dedicated to not just ads, but sustained profit and legacy-minded growth.This conversation isn’t just about marketing—it’s a playbook for anyone looking to grow a business that can be sold, scaled, or succeeded. Whether you’re looking for marketing advice, trying to build a business that isn’t just a glorified job, or prepping for an eventual exit, Andy brings real-world wisdom, tactical insight, and a lot of heart.Key Takeaways:Build your business like you’re going to sell it—even if you don’t. Creating a business with an exit mindset forces smarter systems, better financial tracking, and a more independent team.Know your numbers. Track your metrics. Too many small business owners fly blind. Understanding lead cost, client lifetime value, and profitability changes everything. Profit beats revenue—every time. “Revenue is vanity, profit is sanity.” Andy’s agency prioritizes actual business growth over hollow vanity metrics.Most businesses aren’t failing—the owner’s systems are. Drawing from the “dog whisperer” analogy, Andy says it’s not the marketing or the platform—it’s usually the operator. And changing behavior is key.Hire an agency that thinks like a partner, not a vendor. Look for agencies that consult on financials, profitability, and goals—not just ads.AI is a business owner’s multiplier—but you still need a BS meter. AI can do wonders, but it takes wisdom to know when it’s wrong and when it’s working.Build a team. Business is a team sport. Success doesn’t come from solopreneurship—it comes from surrounding yourself with mentors, consultants, and staff who elevate your game.Don’t hand over your business systems. Own them. Even if you hire experts, Andy stresses that business owners must know enough to make smart decisions. Never fully abdicate responsibility.--------------------------------------------------Contact Andy onLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyseeley/Website: http://www.creativelydisruptive.com/--------------------------------------------------💰If you’d like additional ways to support this podcast, you can become a paid subscriber here: https://how2exit.substack.com/►Visit Our Website: https://www.how2exit.com/📧For Business Inquiries: Me@4sale2sold.comDon't Forget to SUBSCRIBE to the How2Exit channel and press (🔔) to join the Notification Squad and stay updated with new uploads.✨👇🏻SUBSCRIBE HEREhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ONnhwaKSTPFt2nOxKoXXQ?sub_confirmation=1𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬...?▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬👍 Like the video (it helps a ton!)💬 Comment below to share your opinion!🔗 Share the video with anyone you think might help :) ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬📱Stay Tuned On Our Social Media :» Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronskelton/» Twitter - https://twitter.com/ronaldskelton» Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/How2Exit» Newsletter - http://deeper.how2exit.com/🎬SUGGESTED VIDEOSDon't forget to watch 📽 Our other videos. Please check them out :▶️Previous Episode:▶️E135: Sam Rosati On His Journey From Being A Lawyer To Becoming An Entrepreneur In The ETA Space - https://youtu.be/D2qJOidptRA▶️E100: CEO Of Flippa Blake Hutchison Discusses Innovations In Buying And Selling Digital Assets - https://youtu.be/R1D5guQU9Z0#How2Exit # # 💖Thanks for watching! 💖Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/how2exit-buy-don-t-build-m-a-of-small-businesses--4859429/support.
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    1 h y 4 m
  • E281: Escaped a Cult, Built Digital Empires, and Acquired a Motorcycle Business Turnaround

    E281: Escaped a Cult, Built Digital Empires, and Acquired a Motorcycle Business Turnaround
    May 23 2025
    53 m
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