Selling Your Business, Part 1: Start with the Exit (w/ Steven Cohen)

In Part 1 of our “Selling Your Business” series, Luke sits down with Steven Cohen, an industry veteran and former owner of BCLS, to map out what owners should do long before a sale is on the horizon. We cover the only three ways a business ends (succession, sale, or shutdown), why exit planning belongs in your first decade, and how to build a company buyers actually want.

In this episode

• The three possible endings of any business—and how to pick yours early
• What to put in a 5–10 year exit plan (and when to tell your team)
• Financials and documentation: what buyers and brokers will demand
• Revenue mix that maximizes valuation (recurring maintenance vs. project work)
• Private equity vs. strategic buyers vs. brokers: who fits which company
• Due diligence realities: why “no deal is done until the wire clears”
• Culture and communication during a sale without spooking the market

Who this is for

• Owners who say “I’m never selling” (and want optionality anyway)
• Leaders 3–10 years out from a potential exit
• Operators who want higher multiples and smoother diligence

Guest: Steven Cohen (former owner, BCLS)

If this episode helped you, please rate and review The Green Dream and share it with an owner who should start their exit plan now. Tune in next for Part 2—and don’t miss daily shows across Turfs Up Radio for more lawn and landscape insights.