Most people don’t fail at buying a business because of price or revenue. They fail because the business can’t survive without the owner. In this episode of Sell Anything, JL Van Zyverden sits down with Amy Walker, founder of The Exit School, to talk about how salespeople can step into business ownership without accidentally buying themselves another full-time job. Together, they discuss what actually matters in business acquisition, including cash flow, due diligence, and how to spot businesses that are built to scale beyond the founder. If you’re a salesperson considering buying a small business or exploring acquisition as a path to ownership, this episode offers a clearer, more realistic framework for making that transition with confidence.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction

(02:14) Amy’s Story of Entrepreneurship

(05:26) Why Amy’s Business Fell Apart

(10:40) Starting Exit School

(20:42) Franchise vs Mom and Pop

(26:02) Dealing With Bad Acquisitions

(35:14) The Three Rules Amy Will Never Break Again

(41:54) Many Paths to Acquisitions

(46:02) The Only Thing You Actually Need to Start

What would you look for first to make sure a business doesn’t fall apart without the owner? Leave your answer in the comments.

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