Michael Frew, a seasoned serial entrepreneur and the owner of multiple SaaS businesses, has carved a niche for himself in the competitive landscape of online business acquisitions. Leveraging his engineering and development background, Michael transitioned from a long corporate career to focus on acquiring online companies, targeting businesses with owners motivated by reasons beyond just financial gain. He emphasizes the significance of building strong relationships with sellers, ensuring that there's mutual alignment in mission and customer focus. By utilizing a diverse mix of cash, debt, equity, and earn-outs, Michael remains adaptable and strategic, continuously learning from both successes and challenges to refine his approach and maintain his passion for running these businesses.

Here’s what to expect this episode:

Connect with Michael Frew

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfrew/

Connect with Jacob Koenig:

https://woodbridgegrp.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bobby Mascia is a seasoned finance professional with a robust portfolio in business valuation and market dynamics. After building his foundational skills in investment banking and working within asset management firms and hedge funds, His expertise was put to the test when he transitioned into his family's Dunkin' Donuts franchise business, growing it from 20 to 40 locations that generated over $50 million in revenue. Bobby's experiences have shaped his perspective on business valuation and market dynamics, emphasizing the importance of understanding the market's willingness to pay. He believes in the need for flexibility, a realistic view of a business's worth, and finding a buyer who aligns with the seller's goals and values, demonstrating that financial, emotional, and strategic factors are all crucial when valuing and selling a business.

Here’s what to expect this episode:

Connect with Bobby Mascia

https://bobbymascia.com/

Connect with Jacob Koenig:

https://woodbridgegrp.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Summary:

John Frank is a distinguished professional who made a remarkable transition from the bustling sphere of finance to the strategic field of consultancy. Commencing his career in institutional fixed income trading, he further explored varied roles in Arthur Anderson M and A advisory, leveraged finance, and institutional fixed income sales before leaving Wall Street in 2013. John's perspective on this career shift is underpinned by his belief in embracing change and seizing new opportunities, a mindset which was triggered when he began aiding small to mid-size organizations in the nonprofit sector. His journey into the establishment of his own management consultancy, Third Road Management, underscores the importance of adaptability, risk-taking, and alignment of core values across professional pursuits. With a commitment to empathy, relatability, and integrity, John highlights the significance of personal growth in successfully navigating career transitions.

Here’s what to expect this episode:

• John Frank transitioned from a high-paying Wall Street job to working in the nonprofit sector before founding his consultancy firm in 2014.

• The core principles of Third Road Management focus on personalized client service and continuous value addition, emphasizing genuine relationships and impactful contributions.

• Third Road Management differentiates itself in the financial industry by articulating a clear vision statement, upholding Midwest values, and taking a holistic approach to understanding organizations.

• Financial expertise is crucial in business sales, with an emphasis on quality of earnings analysis, presenting a compelling narrative to buyers, and addressing hidden risks like personnel-related issues.

Connect with John Frank

https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnfrankthirdroadmgmt/

Connect with Jacob Koenig:

https://woodbridgegrp.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate Hufnagel is a seasoned professional with a solid background in engineering and an extensive 25-year career in big tech, including a tenure as a federal employee at the Central Intelligence Agency. Her perspective on business continuity and digital legacy planning is profoundly shaped by her professional experiences. Hufnagel emphasizes the critical role of reliable documentation and information storage in a digital format for ensuring operational continuity and security, a lesson she learned during her service at the agency. As the founder of the Digital Wrangler, she leverages her expertise to help solopreneurs and small to medium-sized business owners prepare for potential succession and business sale, focusing on digital aspects such as online accounts and financial records. Her approach is proactive, identifying blind spots in digital legacy planning to ensure a smoother transition and a more confident business owner.

Here’s what to expect this episode:

Connect with Kate Hufnagel

https://www.thedigitalwrangler.com/

Connect with Jacob Koenig:

https://woodbridgegrp.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Stephen Steers is a renowned consultant and author with a notable background in storytelling in sales, a skill honed through his experience working with approximately 1000 companies worldwide following his transition into consulting from the sales industry. Steers considers storytelling as a pivotal aspect of sales, particularly when the objective is to sell a business. Drawn from his extensive experience and insights, he emphasizes the role of narratives in demonstrating systems and processes that prospective buyers would be interested in. He advocates for storytelling that focuses on positive outcomes, such as improved customer acquisition, effectively communicating business value. Steers insists that aligning storytelling with the benefits and outcomes for customers, rather than merely highlighting product features, is instrumental in engaging customers and fostering memorable experiences that can result in referrals.

Here’s what to expect this episode:

Connect with Stephen Steers

https://www.stephensteers.com/

Connect with Jacob Koenig:

https://woodbridgegrp.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kim Hegwood, founder of Your Legacy Legal Care, transitioned from a career in litigation to specialize in estate planning with an emphasis on elder law, fueled by her close bond with her grandparents. Hegwood accentuates the importance of incorporating business succession planning into estate planning, recognizing the necessity of planning for incapacity, not just death. Her perspective, informed by experiences in helping families navigate dementia and guardianship issues, emphasizes precautionary measures such as updating business agreements and meticulous documentation to protect business assets. Hegwood's strategic approach to estate planning includes elements like minimizing tax implications and planning the transition of the business to the next generation without triggering estate taxes. Her unique insight combines her proficiency in elder law and estate planning, offering comprehensive and strategic solutions for business owners aiming to secure their legacy and life's work.

Here’s what to expect this episode:

Connect with Kimberly Hegwood

https://yourlegacylegalcare.com/

Connect with Jacob Koenig:

https://woodbridgegrp.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Andrew Legrand, the founder of the Spira Law group, established the firm in 2011 with a vision to modernize the legal industry. Drawing from his own experiences during the financial crisis, Legrand identified a gap in the market for preventive legal services for business owners. His perspective is that by proactively seeking legal advice, business owners can avoid costly, sometimes irreversible problems. Believing in acting as a general counsel for his clients, he provides services such as contract reviews, brand protection, succession planning, insurance policy reviews, and HR and employment guidance. Legrand's approach, shaped by the belief that legal problems faced by businesses are either insurable or preventable, emphasizes on practical problem-solving and helping business owners avoid legal pitfalls before they escalate.

Here’s what to expect this episode:

Connect with Andrew Legrand

https://speralaw.com/about/andrew-legrand/

Connect with Jacob Koenig:

https://woodbridgegrp.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CJ Perrone, a seasoned professional at Woodbridge International, and Pat Laliberte, a key member of the same firm's closing team, are experts in the critical role of closing expertise in business transactions. Perrone, known for his efficiency and effectiveness in deal execution, emphasizes the importance of specialization and a strong team in navigating the complex closing process. His perspective is shaped by his experience in managing an increasing deal flow and creating sophisticated systems and processes. He believes that successful transactions require skills, empathy, and support from a diverse team. On the other hand, Laliberte, known for his understanding of buyer behavior and deal-making intricacies, stresses the importance of maintaining strong business performance while navigating the transaction. He believes in selling a business at its peak momentum while fostering trust and open communication with clients. His experience in setting clear timelines and holding stakeholders accountable has led him to advocate for a mediator role, ensuring a positive relationship between buyers and sellers post-transaction.

Here’s what to expect this episode:

Connect with CJ Perrone:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-perrone-2246ab2a/

Connect with Pat Laliberte

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-laliberte-547022127/

Connect with Jacob Koenig:

https://woodbridgegrp.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Summary:

Kelly O. Finnell, president of Executive Financial Services, has carved a niche for himself in the ESOP consulting landscape with over four decades of experience dating back to 1979. Finnell's unique perspective on ESOPs has been honed through his extensive involvement in the field, starting from his law school days when he was assigned a project on ESOPs. He strongly believes in the potential of ESOPs for healthy businesses that value their culture and view their enterprise as a legacy to be preserved rather than as a rescue tool for faltering companies. Finnell's understanding of ESOPs has grown over the years, driven by the aging baby boomer population and an increased awareness of ESOPs. As an advocate for informed decision-making, Finnell strives to educate business owners through his comprehensive guide on ESOPs, debunking common misconceptions and providing insightful strategies for ownership succession planning.

Here’s what to expect this episode:

• ESOPs offer unique tax benefits and advantages over traditional selling methods, making them a valuable tool for succession planning and ownership transitions in businesses.

• ESOPs often provide better payouts than private equity firms, with significant tax benefits and advantages for business owners looking to transition ownership.

• ESOP Trustees play a vital role in the transaction process, ensuring a match in financial terms and cultural compatibility for the success of the ESOP transaction and the company in the long term.

• ESOPs have transitioned from 'rescue ESOPs' to a popular option for business owners due to the aging of baby boomers, serving as both a retirement plan for employees and a liquidity strategy for owners.

Connect with Kelly O. Finnell:

https://execfin.com/team/kelly-o-finnell/

Connect with Jacob Koenig:

https://woodbridgegrp.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Richard Parker, a seasoned entrepreneur hailing from Montreal, has spent the past three decades in south Florida, where he has carved out a successful career in buying and selling businesses. His journey into this field was sparked by financial setbacks he experienced in the stock market, pushing him to seek alternative avenues for financial security. Parker's approach to business acquisitions has been shaped by his emphasis on understanding the operational aspects of a company, focusing on its stability rather than just its potential for growth. He stresses the importance of viewing businesses from a purchaser's perspective and ensuring they can function independently of their owner. His strategies, which have been honed over 34 years of experience, have been widely recognized and adopted by others in the field, with many attributing their own business successes to his insightful teachings.

Here’s what to expect this episode:

Connect with Richard Parker:

https://richardparker.com/

Connect with Jacob Koenig:

https://woodbridgegrp.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices