In this episode of Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact, host Bret Schanzenbach sits down with Bennett Mann, valuation specialist and business broker with The Chase Group, to talk about what it really takes to build – and successfully sell – a small business.

Bennett, a San Diego native and SDSU economics grad with additional business analysis training from UCSD, shares his career path through valuation roles at Bank of America, CoreLogic, and consulting for Fortune 500 companies. He explains how those experiences led him to focus on privately held small businesses and helping owners plan their “third chapter.”

You’ll hear:

• Why only 15–30% of small businesses that go on the market actually sell
• How to avoid being one of the 70–85% that simply close their doors
• What a valuation specialist does and how Bennett helps owners understand their current market value
• The danger of being an owner-dependent “lifestyle business” vs. building a transferable company
• Why clean, credible financial records are non-negotiable if you want buyers to take you seriously
• How to turn your “secret sauce” into documented intellectual property and processes
• Different types of buyers: family, employees, strategic buyers, and private equity
• Why you should start planning your exit 3–5 years before you want to sell
• Bennett’s love of Carlsbad’s outdoor life, from Batiquitos Lagoon to Lake Calavera

Whether you’re years away from selling or just starting to think about your next chapter, this episode will help you look at your business through a buyer’s eyes and start making decisions that increase both its value and your freedom.

Connect with Bennett Mann

• LinkedIn: Bennett Mann
• Email: [email protected]

Tune in to Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact to learn how to build a business that can thrive – and sell – without you.

Quotes

1. “Most businesses that don’t sell have one thing in common: the owner is the business.”
2. “Clean books are what sell businesses. Buyers have to be able to trust your numbers.”
3. “Documenting your ‘secret sauce’ turns what’s in your head into real, transferable value.”
4. “Two businesses can have the same bottom line, but the one that runs without the owner is worth far more.”
5. “The ideal time to plan your exit is three to five years before you want to sell – or when you start the business.”

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Sponsor: This show is sponsored and produced by DifMix Productions. To learn more about starting your own podcast, visit www.DifMix.com/podcasting