*insert Vernon's Notes here*

Damien Martin is a director in the Chicago office of BKD, LLP. He is passionate about providing tax consulting and compliance services to privately held businesses and their owners to help them grow and preserve assets, defer income and reduce taxes. Damien also is the host of Simply Tax, a podcast dedicated to delivering practical and timely content to simplify tax challenges. He stopped by the show to share his five - step framework for helping entrepreneurs reduce tax anxiety.

Ian Varley is Founder and CEO of Eagle Business Credit, a traditional factoring company based in Atlanta, GA. Eagle specializes in both domestic and export receivables as well as purchase order funding facilities from start up to around $5 Million. Ian has 30 years’ experience in the industry both in the US and UK and is joined at Eagle by a team of seasoned industry professionals whose focus is on the delivery of expert and efficient service to all clients. We invited him on the podcast to share how businesses can get more access to cash by levering factoring and what to look for when shopping around for online lending opportunities.

John Bly is a Principal and CEO of LBA Haynes Strand, an accounting, assurance, and advisory firm in North Carolina. His passion for M&A has led him to advise on 20-30 M&A transactions a year, both on the buying and selling side. Today he joins us on the show to discuss three things you must consider before jumping into M&A transitions.

Gerri Detweiler is a business credit and financing expert. For more than 20 years, Gerri has helped individuals and small business owners navigate the confusing world of credit, teaching them how to successfully build credit and find the right financing. Gerri is the author of five different financing books, including her most recent title - Finance Your Own Business: Get On the Financing Fast Track. Gerri serves as the Education Director for Nav, a free online tool that helps small businesses prepare and find the best lender or credit cards for their needs.

27 years ago, James "Jim" Erben founded Erben Associates to help business owners pack their parachutes and exit their businesses in style. He is a nationally recognized expert in the area of exit planning for privately held business owners, as well as best practices, advanced wealth issues, and managed asset strategies. He joins us today on the podcast today to share why an Emergency Operating Plan is vital for a successful exit.

Michael Ly is CEO of Reconciled, an online bookkeeping and business advisory practice based in Burlington, VT. He joins on the podcast today to share insights into what money management practices entrepreneurs aren’t doing that have them leaving money on the table.

Have you ever considered selling your business? What things need to be in place? Jessica Fialkovich, a mergers and acquisitions expert, keynote speaker, small business advocate, and award-winning business owner, reveals three key drivers that can dramatically improve your valuation.

How do big businesses remain profitable and gain an edge? Steve King, the President & CEO of GrowthForce, joins us today on the show to share four critical decisions a business owner must make to increase profitability. Steve also shares invaluable insights into why providing discounts destroy your margins.

How does the Internal Revenue Service classify a legitimate business from a hobby? Nayo Carter-Gray joins us on the podcast this week to share her nine-question test for making sure you’re on the right track when it comes to proving you’re running a legitimate shop. Nayo is the owner and founder of 1st Step Accounting, a virtual accounting, and tax preparation firm located in Baltimore, MD, who makes accounting a little less taxing for small business owners like you.