"Never listen to the price your buddy told you he sold his business for. You can easily discount that by at least 30 to 50% to get to the real number." — Tim TempletonIn this episode of the Power Exit Podcast, John Marsh sits down with Tim Templeton, business development advisor at TriVest Partners, a Miami-based private equity firm with 45 years of experience partnering with family and founder-owned businesses in the lower middle market.Tim pulls back the curtain on how a firm that reviews nearly 5,000 deals a year decides who makes the cut, what PE partnership actually looks like for founders, and why the myths surrounding private equity cost business owners real money and real opportunity.In this episode, you'll learn:🔹 The Real Deal Funnel — How TriVest moves from 4,800 deal looks to roughly 60 closings in a single year, and what that ratio reveals about how selective serious PE buyers really are🔹 What Gets a Yes — The two things TriVest looks at first: growth trajectory and scalability, and why a business that is not moving up and to the right rarely gets a second look🔹 The Red Flags That Kill Deals — Lumpy financials, customer concentration that runs deeper than it appears, vendor dependency, and lack of differentiation are the most common reasons deals fall apart after the LOI🔹 The Owner-Dependency Problem — Why a founder who is the entire business is one of the biggest red flags a buyer sees, and why every owner's goal should be to eliminate themselves from the org chart, not anchor it🔹 Rolled Equity and the Second Bite — Why rolling equity into the deal is not just a financial move but an emotional bridge for founders who are not ready to fully walk away, and how TriVest's "Path of 3X" target makes that second check worth waiting for🔹 The Value of an Intermediary — Why TriVest prefers working with advisors, how representation keeps founders emotionally grounded during diligence, and why time is the single biggest deal killer in any transaction🔹 Valuation Misconceptions — Why every founder thinks their business is worth more than it is, why that is understandable, and why the headline number is only part of the picture when evaluating a private equity offer🔹 What Is Hot Right Now — Recurring revenue, subscription-based services, fragmented industries ripe for consolidation, and add-on acquisitions are the themes defining PE deal flow heading into the next several years🔹 The Worst Advice Founders Get — Why listening to what your friend says he sold his business for is one of the most expensive mistakes a founder can make, and what to ask insteadConnect With JohnLinkedIn -   / marshcreek  Connect With TimLinkedIn -   / titempleton  🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation: https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus...📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/About John Marsh:John Marsh is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marsh Creek Advisors, a boutique M&A advisory firm that helps business owners navigate the sale of their companies with confidence and clarity. Since founding the firm, John has closed hundreds of millions in transactions and earned national recognition as Top Global Producer by the International Business Brokers Association and part of the Firm of the Year by M&A Source — the highest honors in the industry.Before launching Marsh Creek, John served as CFO and later General Manager of a high-growth medical device company, where he led over $300 million in M&A activity, including a $161 million sale to private equity. Earlier in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young and Frazier & Deeter, where he focused on financial reporting and audit services for both Fortune 100 companies and privately held businesses. #businessexit #privateequity #mergersandacquisitions #sellyourbusiness #businessowner #exitstrategy #entrepreneurship #founderstory #businessvaluation

"Price is the most important thing. Certainty to close is the second most important thing — and it's second by only a hair's breadth." — Chris RosselliIn this episode of the Power Exit Podcast, John Marsh sits down with Chris Rosselli, partner at Eversheds Sutherland and M&A attorney with 25 years of experience representing buyers and sellers in corporate transactions across all industries.Chris breaks down exactly what business owners need to do — legally and operationally — to protect their leverage, reduce risk, and close on the right terms.In this episode, you'll learn:🔹 Get Organized Early — Why having clean, collected documents and data before the process starts is the single most important thing a seller can do to stay focused and keep the business performing during a sale🔹 Involve a Lawyer at the LOI Stage — Why waiting until after the LOI is signed is a costly mistake, and how having legal representation early gives sellers an advantage buyers often don't have🔹 Asset Sale vs. Stock Sale — How the deal structure chosen at the LOI stage can quietly cost sellers thousands in extra taxes — and what to do about it🔹 Know Your Legal Risks Before Buyers Do — Independent contractor misclassification, benefits compliance, and immigration paperwork are deal killers that come up in nearly every transaction🔹 Post-Closing Liability — What indemnification really means in plain English and how to cap your exposure at the LOI stage🔹 Founder Behavior That Closes Deals — Why non-emotional sellers have more effective processes, and how being overly aggressive can stall momentum and cost you the deal entirely🔹 Certainty to Close — Why a higher offer from a buyer who can't execute is worth less than a lower offer from one who can, and how to evaluate that before committing to exclusivity🔹 Multiple Buyers = Maximum Leverage — Why a competitive process is the single most powerful tool a seller has, and why keeping backup buyers warm even after exclusivity begins is smart strategyConnect With JohnLinkedIn -   / marshcreek  Connect With ChrisLinkedIn -   / chris-rosselli-55a7571  🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation:https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus...📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/About John Marsh:John Marsh is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marsh Creek Advisors, a boutique M&A advisory firm that helps business owners navigate the sale of their companies with confidence and clarity. Since founding the firm, John has closed hundreds of millions in transactions and earned national recognition as Top Global Producer by the International Business Brokers Association and part of the Firm of the Year by M&A Source — the highest honors in the industry.Before launching Marsh Creek, John served as CFO and later General Manager of a high-growth medical device company, where he led over $300 million in M&A activity, including a $161 million sale to private equity. Earlier in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young and Frazier & Deeter, where he focused on financial reporting and audit services for both Fortune 100 companies and privately held businesses. John holds a BA from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. He lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with his wife and two daughters.#mergersandacquisitions #exitplanning #powerexitpodcast #sellingabusiness #exitstrategy #businesssale #businessvaluation #entrepreneurship #duediligence #businessacquisition

"In negotiating, you can always go down, but you can't go up." — Taylor CourtnayIn this episode of the Power Exit Podcast, John Marsh sits down with Taylor Courtnay, co-founder of Decision First Technologies, a data and analytics consulting firm in the SAP ecosystem, to walk through a real founder exit from the seller's side. Taylor shares how he and his business partner grew the company organically from two people in August 2001 to over 100 employees, then sold to Protiviti, a roughly $1 billion consulting firm owned by Robert Half, at the end of 2015.While deals in their space typically looked like a 51% buyout with a 3-4 year earnout from a $100-200M consulting firm, Taylor's deal came in as 80% cash and 20% Robert Half stock vesting over four years, with both Taylor and his partner brought on as Managing Directors at Protiviti. Taylor stayed on until August 2023.You'll learn:🔹 Power exit definition: Why a successful exit is more than the number (is the deal right, is it good for your people and clients, and is the timing right)🔹 Brand vs. EBITDA: How being a 7-time SAP Partner of the Year, with consultants on the conference circuit and books on SAP Press, gave Taylor the leverage to push above standard EBITDA multiples🔹 Running a process: Taking 7-10 inbound calls from qualified suitors in acquisitive years, going to the dance with five to seven others, and why never putting a "for sale sign in the yard" still worked🔹 Advisor value: Why trying to sell without a banker failed four or five times, what their advisor Jimmy actually did (structured the deal, ran interference with the buyer's M&A team), and why Taylor had zero regrets paying the fee at closing🔹 Operational readiness: How having clean, instantly accessible business data made due diligence less stressful, reduced the risk of a retrade, and made post-close integration smoother🔹 Team depth: Building a flat, talent-first culture where investing in people through conference speaking and published work built brand equity that showed up at the closing table🔹 Retention post-close: How Protiviti structured 12-month retention bonuses for about a dozen key people, five or six of whom are now Managing Directors and Partners there🔹 90-day prep: Get your house in order, remove surplus cash from the books before revealing financials (buyers will treat it as part of the deal), and bring in an advisor earlyConnect With JohnLinkedIn -   / marshcreek  Connect With TaylorLinkedIn -   / taylor-courtnay  🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation:https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus...📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/About John Marsh:John Marsh is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marsh Creek Advisors, a boutique M&A advisory firm that helps business owners navigate the sale of their companies with confidence and clarity. Since founding the firm, John has closed hundreds of millions in transactions and earned national recognition as Top Global Producer by the International Business Brokers Association and part of the Firm of the Year by M&A Source — the highest honors in the industry.Before launching Marsh Creek, John served as CFO and later General Manager of a high-growth medical device company, where he led over $300 million in M&A activity, including a $161 million sale to private equity. Earlier in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young and Frazier & Deeter, where he focused on financial reporting and audit services for both Fortune 100 companies and privately held businesses. John holds a BA from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. He lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with his wife and two daughters.#businessexit #exitplanning #PowerExitPodcast #sellyourbusiness #mergersandacquisitions #duediligence #entrepreneurship #businessgrowth #exitstrategy #sapconsulting #dataanalytics

“Get your financials in order... you shouldn't even be having conversations with people until you have your financials up to a baseline standard.” — Ariez Dustoor​In this episode of the Power Exit Podcast, John Marsh sits down with Ariez Dustoor—Managing Partner at MB Group, a private equity firm focused on healthcare and multi-location services businesses—to demystify how PE really acquires companies. They explore the independent sponsor model, reviewing 500-600 deals yearly to close a handful, and the keys to standing out in competitive processes.​Ariez details MB Group's track record of four platforms (one exited), targeting founder-owned firms with $10-100M revenue and $3-15M EBITDA for growth and professionalization.​You’ll learn:🔹 Target traits: Growing niches, consistent revenue/profit trends, industry-leading metrics (e.g., retention), believable 5-year expansion plans, and capable teams beyond sole owner dependence.🔹 Process standouts: Clean financial histories (sell-side QofE recommended), sector-specific ops data, and strong storytelling on growth potential.🔹 Deal-breakers: 30-40% customer concentration, volatile/declining financials, subpar benchmarks, or no infrastructure/team redundancy.🔹 Structures: 20%+ equity rollover preferred (full cash-outs rare), ~50% simple cash-at-close, others with 12-24 month EBITDA earnouts or seller notes.🔹 Diligence killers: Inflated EBITDA ignoring normalization (e.g., needed hires), incomplete/inaccurate data leading to retrades.🔹 Seller prep: Define your post-sale role clearly, develop detailed growth strategy (e.g., M&A pipeline), clean books 6-12 months early, add key team pieces.Connect With JohnLinkedIn -   / marshcreek  Connect With AriezLinkedIn - ​  / ariezdustoor  🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation:https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus...📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/About John Marsh:John Marsh is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marsh Creek Advisors, a boutique M&A advisory firm that helps business owners navigate the sale of their companies with confidence and clarity. Since founding the firm, John has closed hundreds of millions in transactions and earned national recognition as Top Global Producer by the International Business Brokers Association and part of the Firm of the Year by M&A Source — the highest honors in the industry.Before launching Marsh Creek, John served as CFO and later General Manager of a high-growth medical device company, where he led over $300 million in M&A activity, including a $161 million sale to private equity. Earlier in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young and Frazier & Deeter, where he focused on financial reporting and audit services for both Fortune 100 companies and privately held businesses. John holds a BA from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. He lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with his wife and two daughters.#privateequity #businessexit #sellyourbusiness #mergersandacquisitions #businesssale #exitstrategy #entrepreneurship #businessgrowth #duediligence #qualityofearnings

“Don’t be so arrogant that you think you know how to do everything.” — Ralph Cimperman​In this episode of the Power Exit Podcast, John Marsh sits down with Ralph Cimperman—Founder of Marathon HR, a human resource outsourcing company serving small to medium-sized businesses—to unpack his journey through two successful business exits. They dig into why preparation starts years in advance, the rigor of due diligence even for repeat sellers, and how building long-term advisor relationships maximizes value and smooths the process.​Ralph shares lessons from selling his first HR business in 2004 and Marathon HR in December 2023 to a private equity-backed PEO, including the importance of documented processes, thinking like a buyer, and transitioning to Life 2.0 in Florida with golf and boating.​You’ll learn:🔹 Why business owners need a 3-5 year timeline to document processes and build key relationships with accountants, attorneys, coaches, and advisors.​🔹 How Ralph knew it was time to sell and why hiring an advisor was invaluable over a "bird in the hand" buyer.​🔹 The value of cumulative client retention in HR outsourcing (first 10 clients, 5 still there after 19 years) and prioritizing team fit and cultural alignment with buyers like Venture.​🔹 Due diligence as a "full-time job on top of your regular job," but easier with preparation; lessons from earnouts and losing control post-sale.​🔹 Hiring a business coach 2.5-3 years pre-sale; tech changes in payroll/HR as a sale trigger; positive PE experience with aligned culture.​🔹 Ralph’s best advice: Plan 3-5 years out, get processes documented, develop relationships, budget for earnouts (e.g., 5 years), and think from the buyer's perspective.​Connect With JohnLinkedIn -   / marshcreek  Connect With RalphLinkedIn -   / ralph-cimperman-sphr-mba  ​🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation:https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus...📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/About John Marsh:John Marsh is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marsh Creek Advisors, a boutique M&A advisory firm that helps business owners navigate the sale of their companies with confidence and clarity. Since founding the firm, John has closed hundreds of millions in transactions and earned national recognition as Top Global Producer by the International Business Brokers Association and part of the Firm of the Year by M&A Source — the highest honors in the industry.Before launching Marsh Creek, John served as CFO and later General Manager of a high-growth medical device company, where he led over $300 million in M&A activity, including a $161 million sale to private equity. Earlier in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young and Frazier & Deeter, where he focused on financial reporting and audit services for both Fortune 100 companies and privately held businesses. John holds a BA from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. He lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with his wife and two daughters.#PowerExitPodcast #BusinessExit #SellYourBusiness #HROutsourcing #PEO #DueDiligence #BusinessPreparation #MultipleExits #AdvisorTeam #Earnout #PrivateEquity #Entrepreneurship #BusinessOwners #MarathonHR​

“A transaction is like brain surgery. You should have a neurologist, a brain surgeon working on it.” — Mitesh Patel​In this episode of the Power Exit Podcast, John Marsh sits down with Mitesh Patel—Founder and Principal of Blue Sky Law, a boutique M&A law firm in the metro Atlanta area—to unpack what really separates sellers who are ready to transact from those who get surprised (and delayed) by the process. They dig into why overconfidence can derail a deal, why you “don’t know what you don’t know,” and how the right deal team helps you spot issues early—before the buyer does.​Mitesh breaks down the purchase agreement sections that matter most (and why), explains reps and warranties in plain English, and shares the post-closing risks sellers worry about—especially working capital and indemnification—so you can go into diligence prepared instead of playing defense.​You’ll learn:🔹 Why most owners only go through one transaction—and why that makes education and preparation non-negotiable.🔹 Why you need a deal-specific attorney (and why Mitesh compares M&A to “brain surgery”).🔹 The key purchase agreement sections to focus on: purchase terms/structure, reps & warranties, employment items, working capital, and indemnification.🔹 Real examples of reps & warranties (including litigation and even “threats of litigation”) and how problems show up after closing.🔹 How earnouts and rollover equity can add upside—but also shift control and increase seller risk.🔹 What legal due diligence really feels like (John’s “colonoscopy without the anesthetic” analogy) and what buyers request when they’re spending millions.🔹 Mitesh’s best advice in 60 seconds: start early, interview multiple firms, and build a team you can be fully honest with when things get hard.Connect With JohnLinkedIn -   / marshcreek  Connect With MiteshLinkedIn -   / miteshblueskylaw  🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation:https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus...📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/About John Marsh:John Marsh is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marsh Creek Advisors, a boutique M&A advisory firm that helps business owners navigate the sale of their companies with confidence and clarity. Since founding the firm, John has closed hundreds of millions in transactions and earned national recognition as Top Global Producer by the International Business Brokers Association and part of the Firm of the Year by M&A Source — the highest honors in the industry.Before launching Marsh Creek, John served as CFO and later General Manager of a high-growth medical device company, where he led over $300 million in M&A activity, including a $161 million sale to private equity. Earlier in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young and Frazier & Deeter, where he focused on financial reporting and audit services for both Fortune 100 companies and privately held businesses. John holds a BA from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. He lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with his wife and two daughters.#powerexitpodcast #mergersandacquisitions #businessexit #sellyourbusiness #duediligence #workingcapital #privateequity #entrepreneurship #businessowners

"You don't buy a house without a real estate agent. Don't sell your business without experts on your side of the table." - Grant EdwardsIn this episode of the Power Exit Podcast, John Marsh welcomes Grant Edwards, a fractional CFO based in Atlanta with over eight years of experience helping business owners prepare for, successfully exit, and move forward into a better life post-sale.Grant has worked with founder-led businesses, private equity groups, and family offices across all revenue stages—from pre-revenue to $300M+. And he's seen the same pattern repeat: business owners who go into a transaction without professional guidance leave millions on the table.You'll Learn:🔹 Why adjusted EBITDA and "mud in your numbers" determine your true valuation🔹 How quality of earnings audits uncover hidden value (and why buyers won't share it with you)🔹 The difference between private equity acquisitions and founder-led buyouts🔹 Why owner dependency kills deal value and how to systematically reduce it🔹 The one financial action to take right now if you're two years out from selling🔹 How to identify the three types of discretionary spending before a buyer does🔹 What buyers really look for in financial statements—and what owners consistently overlookGrant's core philosophy: as a fractional CFO, his job is to be the non-emotional, expert voice on your side of the table. Because when millions are at stake, emotions cost money.Connect With JohnLinkedIn -   / marshcreek  Connect With GrantLinkedIn -   / grant-edwards-35b3794  🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation:https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus...📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/About John Marsh:John Marsh is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marsh Creek Advisors, a boutique M&A advisory firm that helps business owners navigate the sale of their companies with confidence and clarity. Since founding the firm, John has closed hundreds of millions in transactions and earned national recognition as Top Global Producer by the International Business Brokers Association and part of the Firm of the Year by M&A Source — the highest honors in the industry.Before launching Marsh Creek, John served as CFO and later General Manager of a high-growth medical device company, where he led over $300 million in M&A activity, including a $161 million sale to private equity. Earlier in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young and Frazier & Deeter, where he focused on financial reporting and audit services for both Fortune 100 companies and privately held businesses. John holds a BA from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. He lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with his wife and two daughters.#PowerExitPodcast #BusinessExit #FractionalCFO #OwnerDependency #ExitStrategy #BusinessValuation #EBITDA #PrivateEquity #BusinessSale #Entrepreneurship #ExitPlanning #FounderLed #BusinessOwner #DealStructure #FinancialAdvisory #QualityOfEarnings #BusinessCoach #M&A #ExitReadiness #SuccessfulExit

"When you sell a business without representation, you're not walking away clean—you're walking into a minefield." - Peter ChatelIn this episode of the Power Exit Podcast, John Marsh welcomes Peter Chatel, a seasoned business coach and former Coca-Cola executive with over 200 companies observed across his career. Peter shares the critical blind spot most business owners face: they believe selling a business works like selling a house—list it, show it to anyone, get offers, walk away. The reality is far more complex and costly.The uncomfortable truth: business owners who attempt for-sale-by-owner transactions consistently undervalue their assets and expose themselves to unforeseen risks. Unlike real estate, business sales demand strategic gating, rigorous buyer qualification, and professional representation—or you'll leave millions on the table.You'll Learn:🔹 The proven cost of DIY business sales: sellers who work alone achieve 6-11% less than those with professional representation🔹 Why confidentiality in business sales is everything (and how for-sale-by-owner deals destroy it)🔹 The critical difference between showing a business and showing a house to unqualified prospects🔹 How professional vetting and proof-of-funds requirements protect your valuation🔹 Why 75% of unrepresented real estate transactions end in litigation (and what this teaches about business sales)🔹 How professional representation scales value across your organizationPeter's perspective is grounded in a unique vantage point: he's seen corporate leadership at scale, built successful companies, and now applies those insights to real estate and business advisory. His conclusion: just as you wouldn't sell a luxury home without representation, you shouldn't sell your business alone.Connect With JohnLinkedIn -   / marshcreek  Connect With PeterLinkedIn -   / peterchatel  🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation:https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus...📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/About John Marsh:John Marsh is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marsh Creek Advisors, a boutique M&A advisory firm that helps business owners navigate the sale of their companies with confidence and clarity. Since founding the firm, John has closed hundreds of millions in transactions and earned national recognition as Top Global Producer by the International Business Brokers Association and part of the Firm of the Year by M&A Source — the highest honors in the industry.Before launching Marsh Creek, John served as CFO and later General Manager of a high-growth medical device company, where he led over $300 million in M&A activity, including a $161 million sale to private equity. Earlier in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young and Frazier & Deeter, where he focused on financial reporting and audit services for both Fortune 100 companies and privately held businesses. John holds a BA from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. He lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with his wife and two daughters.#BusinessExit #ExitStrategy #DiySaleMistake #BusinessValuation #MergersAndAcquisitions #ExitPlanning #BusinessSale #ProfessionalRepresentation #ConfidentialitySale #DueDiligence

“If you do an asset sale and you don't have a tail policy to cover those products and completed operations claims that may come in post-sale, you're out there on your own.” - Allan WebbWelcome to another episode of the Power Exit Podcast. John Marsh welcomes Allan Webb, partner at Snellings Walters insurance agency, with 30 years of commercial insurance expertise. Allan reveals a critical blind spot most business owners face: they think selling a business works like selling a house—sign papers, get cash, walk away. They're wrong.The reality is brutal: if you sell your business and a claim arises nine months after closing, someone still needs to pay. That someone could be you.You'll Learn:🔹The critical difference between asset sales and stock sales (and why liability handling changes everything)🔹How general liability policies work and what "triggering the policy" really means🔹Why claims after closing fall under "completed operations"—and how tail policies protect you🔹What EMR is, why buyers obsess over it, and how it impacts deal valuation🔹The difference between tail policies, E&O insurance, and reps and warranties insurance🔹Real examples of contractors who benefited from tail policies (and those who didn't)🔹Why captive insurance structures complicate transactions and what to watch for🔹Common mistakes sellers make around insurance before exit🔹How to streamline your risk management program and eliminate buyer concernsWhether you're doing an asset sale or stock sale, Allan reveals why insurance isn't just a line item—it's a deal-maker or deal-breaker.Connect With JohnLinkedIn -   / marshcreek  Connect With AllanLinkedIn -   / allanbwebb  🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus...📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletterhttps://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/About John MarshJohn Marsh is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marsh Creek Advisors, a boutique M&A advisory firm that helps business owners navigate the sale of their companies with confidence and clarity. Since founding the firm, John has closed hundreds of millions in transactions and earned national recognition as Top Global Producer by the International Business Brokers Association and part of the Firm of the Year by M&A Source — the highest honors in the industry.Before launching Marsh Creek, John served as CFO and later General Manager of a high-growth medical device company, where he led over $300 million in M&A activity, including a $161 million sale to private equity. Earlier in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young and Frazier & Deeter, where he focused on financial reporting and audit services for both Fortune 100 companies and privately held businesses. John holds a BA from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. He lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with his wife and two daughters.#businessexit #exitstrategy #tailpolicy #businessinsurance #mergersandacquisitions #commercialinsurance #businessvaluation #duediligence

"The more valuable you are to the business, the less valuable it is to other people." – Colin BowmanIn this episode of the Power Exit Podcast, John Marsh welcomes Colin Bowman, partner at Cultivate Advisors, who specializes in enterprise value acceleration for business owners preparing for exit. Colin shares a powerful insight from speaking to rooms of 100+ business owners across the country: almost everyone can tell you their home's value, but 90% have no idea what their business is worth—despite it being their most valuable asset.Colin reveals why only 3% of businesses that go to market actually get the value owners think they deserve. The discussion dives deep into the concept of enterprise value as the North Star—more important than revenue or profit alone. You'll discover Colin's powerful mentor story about leadership. When he complained "I wish I could just clone myself," his mentor responded: "What I hear you say is, I wish I was a better leader." That moment transformed how he built teams and what changed his entire approach to recruiting company builders versus loyal workers.You'll Learn:🔹Why the "three stars" framework (sales, operations, finance) is the bare minimum leadership team before exit🔹How to get your business running on 10 hours per week or less of owner time🔹The Shackleton expedition recruiting strategy: "Superstars Only" and why listing challenges attracts top talent🔹The "core four" external team every owner needs 2+ years before exit: wealth manager, tax strategist, legal counsel, and M&A advisor🔹Why making yourself irrelevant is the key to maximizing business value (even though it's emotionally hard)🔹When to exit: at peak performance when you're most excited, not after the business has crested downWhether you're planning an exit or want to build a business that doesn't depend on you, Colin's insights show exactly why enterprise value acceleration isn't just exit planning—it's better business planning.Connect With JohnLinkedIn -   / marshcreek  Connect With ColinLinkedIn -   / colinbbowman  🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation: https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus...📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/About John Marsh:John Marsh is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marsh Creek Advisors, a boutique M&A advisory firm that helps business owners navigate the sale of their companies with confidence and clarity. Since founding the firm, John has closed hundreds of millions in transactions and earned national recognition as Top Global Producer by the International Business Brokers Association and part of the Firm of the Year by M&A Source — the highest honors in the industry.Before launching Marsh Creek, John served as CFO and later General Manager of a high-growth medical device company, where he led over $300 million in M&A activity, including a $161 million sale to private equity. Earlier in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young and Frazier & Deeter, where he focused on financial reporting and audit services for both Fortune 100 companies and privately held businesses. John holds a BA from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. He lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with his wife and two daughters.#BusinessExit #EnterpriseValue #MAAdvisory #ExitPlanning #BusinessValuation #OwnerDependency #LeadershipTeam #ExitStrategy #BusinessGrowth