Merger She Wrote®

How to build a niche staffing business, scale smart, and sell for millions.

Diane Prince joins Paloma Goggins to share how she turned a side-room startup into a $28M exit. From choosing a defensible niche in title insurance to hiring aligned A-players and building scalable systems, she breaks down the moves that made her business irresistible to buyers.

Diane also shares the messy realities: failed ventures, non-competes, lifestyle creep, and the myths of passive income and perfection. Learn how to document what works, delegate early, and prepare for a sale without losing control or sanity.

Press play to get practical strategies for building, scaling, and exiting a business with confidence.

How to build a sellable online business with community growth, membership retention, and solid KPIs.

Carol Tice joins Paloma Goggins to share how a $25/month writing community became a business buyers wanted—even during the first COVID winter. She breaks down the steps that made it exit-ready: clean numbers, focused offerings, documented SOPs, and systems that didn’t rely on her daily.

From managing churn and LTV to handling due diligence and avoiding fake buyers, Carol reveals the practical moves that turn an online community into a valuable asset. Post-sale, she shares her blueprint for sustainable growth and high-touch member engagement.

Press play to learn how to build, scale, and sell an online business with confidence.

How to buy a business smarter using M&A due diligence, negotiation strategy, and real-world deal discipline.

Chesney Reeves of Nocturnal Legal joins Paloma Goggins to connect horse trading lessons to buying companies. From vet checks to quality of earnings, “as is” sales to reps and warranties, she shows how the same rules apply in the barn and the boardroom.

You’ll learn how to set a real budget, write a clean LOI, manage risk with insurance, negotiate without deal fever, and integrate with steady 1 percent improvements. Fit matters. Stewardship matters. Walking away is a strength.

Press play to sharpen your acquisition strategy, negotiate with confidence, and buy without regrets. Follow the show and share this episode with a dealmaker.

How to build a business that attracts investors, scales, and exits successfully.

Scott Schwab, entrepreneur and author, joins Paloma Goggins to share his journey from creating a business plan course to accrediting a new school and launching a transparent CBD brand. He explains how documenting processes, proving outcomes, and building trust early makes any startup more fundable and resilient.

Scott also dives into partnerships, governance, and exit strategies, plus practical lessons on product integrity and scaling operations.

Press play to learn how to structure, grow, and sell your business with confidence.

Deals make headlines, but operations drive real results.

Olenka Cullinan, COO and operator, joins Paloma Goggins to show how founders move from constant firefighting to running a company that thrives without them. From reclaiming your calendar with “CEO time architecture” to building SOPs that anyone can use, Olenka shares practical strategies to scale efficiently, reduce burnout, and prepare for a high-value exit.

Learn how to delegate effectively, hire the right players, optimize client portfolios, and turn slow training into long-term speed. True freedom comes from systems, not hustle and Olenka proves it’s possible.

Press play for actionable insights that boost value, sanity, and your path to exit-ready operations.

Deals move fast but the smartest leaders prepare long before the signatures.

Christina Beloud, a 25-year Secret Service veteran turned private security consultant, joins Paloma Goggins to share how readiness, communication, and boundaries keep business transitions calm under pressure. From motorcades to M&A, her rulebook stays the same: prevention beats reaction, and clarity beats speed.

Christina breaks down how to build “ops plans” for your company, set healthy boundaries that earn respect, and manage modern risks like online exposure and polarized industries.

Press play for a masterclass in leading with composure, protecting your energy, and staying ready when the stakes are high.

Deals fall apart quietly when intellectual property isn’t what it seems.

IP attorney and professor Michelle Gross joins Paloma Goggins to unpack how patent validity and ownership can make or break a deal. From missing assignments and lapsed fees to hostile inventor issues, she explains the red flags that derail valuations and delay closings.

Michelle also breaks down the trademark pitfalls most founders overlook, like stock-logo copyrights and unenforceable claims, plus how to run quick checks to protect your brand before diligence begins.

Hit play for a must-hear guide to safeguarding your IP, strengthening your valuation, and avoiding last-minute deal killers.

Most deals don’t fail from one big mistake; they unravel through tiny cracks in trust and timing.

Monica May-Dunn, CEO of Arizona Escrow and Financial Corporation, joins Paloma Goggins to reveal what really happens between LOI and closing. From escrow strategy to funds flow and clean documentation, she shares the practical moves that keep deals alive and relationships strong.

With real stories (including a missing prize bull) and battle-tested insights, this episode shows how precision, persistence, and trust turn complex closings into smooth wins.

Press play for a behind-the-scenes look at how great deals actually get done.

Buying a business isn’t passive income, it’s hard work, tough calls, and smart planning.

Jessica Golden, managing partner of Kramer & Golden Public Accounting Group, shares how she bought an accounting firm while living 2,500 miles away in Hawaii. From broker listings to SBA loans and last-minute financing hurdles, she reveals what the business-buying process really looks like behind the scenes.

You’ll hear how she evaluated deals, built a smooth seller partnership, and avoided scams while keeping clients and staff happy through the transition.

Press play for a candid roadmap to buying a business the right way—without the sugarcoating.

From zero marketing experience to a successful agency exit in nine years, Kim Grennan tells the story.

What started as a bold offer of free work turned into a thriving agency with perfect client retention and rapid growth. Kim shares how hitting $1M revenue, hiring a GM, and stepping out of daily operations made her business irresistible to buyers and what she learned from failed deals along the way.

Tune in for practical insights on scaling smart and preparing your business for a winning exit.