Why Founders Fall Apart Right Before Closing

Why Founders Fall Apart Right Before Closing

"I'm the coach who you call when shift hits the fan." — Diana MurphyIn this episode of the Power Exit Podcast, John Marsh sits down with Diana Murphy, a leadership and mindset coach based in Atlanta who has spent the last 12 years working with high-achieving founders, entrepreneurial leaders, and executives navigating big life and business transitions. Diana shares how high performers are often taught to override their own well-being in the name of success, why those patterns show up with full force during an exit, and how addressing the emotional side of selling your business can directly impact the quality of your decisions and the outcome of the deal.Diana and John explore what really happens internally when an owner approaches a once-in-a-lifetime transaction—fear, regret, imposter syndrome, and identity questions—and why all of those responses are normal but rarely talked about in deal rooms. They dig into how unresolved doubts resurface when you do something powerful like selling your company, why so many owners feel like they are “jumping off a cliff,” and how having the right support system helps them stay grounded instead of ghosting their advisors at the closing table.In this episode, you'll learn:🔹 Why many ambitious founders are subconsciously taught to disregard their own well-being in order to achieve, and how that conditioning shows up in the exit process.🔹 How internalized stress, overworking, and numbing behaviors (like overeating or overdrinking) are often just symptoms of deeper mindset and self-esteem issues—not the real problem to solve.🔹 What happens psychologically when you make a major change such as selling your business, and why every old doubting thought tends to surface right when you’re about to do something really powerful.🔹 Practical strategies owners can use in the final weeks of a deal when emotions spike, including “both/and” thinking, simple grounding practices, and the key question Diana asks clients to reconnect them with pride and perspective.🔹 Why having a coach, mentor, therapist, or trusted confidant who knows the owner deeply is just as important as having technical advisors, and how that support helps keep the owner in their best decision-making state.🔹 How to find a healthy personal rhythm (like 90-day cycles) that allows for intense focus and necessary recovery, instead of living in constant burnout and achievement addiction.🔹 The difference between healthy ambition—rooted in what you truly desire and the impact you want to have—and achievement addiction, which keeps you chasing the next “hit” without ever feeling fulfilled.🔹 Why so many owners reach the brink of closing and suddenly freeze or disappear, and how getting clear on “Life 2.0” and your post-exit identity can prevent last-minute self-sabotage.Whether you’re exhausted, burned out, or simply feeling disconnected as you think about an eventual exit, Diana’s perspective shows that you don’t have to white-knuckle your way through the sale of your business—you can build an exit that honors both the company you’ve built and the person you’re becoming next.Connect With JohnLinkedIn –   / marshcreek   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFdRQm9KdTRZOE5KcVg3U0FWWFFOdldrSHRkd3xBQ3Jtc0trS1hCN2VyWXFFWHc2bm5USWpneFNyY1RHV0xmSW1DVWFyZzBySVhGVXY1RHF1eGtZcmFsVkRRQ2t5cmlUa29rR0lRYlliZU9qNGRlUFF5WTBBeHlvOUNjeTAzODJMLWFHOFE2bXdObW1MMDVyT3Jfcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmarshcreek%2F&v=Rj9MQCvP_XY]Connect With DianaWebsite – https://dianamurphycoaching.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEh3dHFPWThCQmswUFBHYVQybmZOYllDdVpVUXxBQ3Jtc0tsRmVyU1FBazBvRmxRSEZ0ckVCbTVxSnYwNURKblRvamtoeGlZZHhnVUU0aWxOcEVLT0FuZVhVUVk3aThUZVlqQTktUFdZbk5YUTFfMS03aUxMTlBBTFFSY3BEYWpDV1lJR1F3RjlXS1EtN2czdWloUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fdianamurphycoaching.com%2F&v=Rj9MQCvP_XY]LinkedIn –   / dianamurphycoaching   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3BGc1RpODQzWDg2bi15bXNnaDZIdDZ2aE9SZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuY2xZWmRnblYtbHR1WEl2MklhaHhES2hQbkVhSWo4eFVDeVJVeURvdmVjclAyRHZHZHZ2R1dnQjBwa3VrZmtyVng2TE5XRHpxeDBvdGlhcmZ1RVhkTUNfM2xWLTMtRFg4SzlmOUIyMmZoOWJyWVJNOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fdianamurphycoaching%2F&v=Rj9MQCvP_XY]🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation: https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3ZwTWxNREhuNWtXckt0RzIxbWRCUEhSV3dRd3xBQ3Jtc0tuV25yZ1p3Z1FTcXZINE1PSEJUT2VCOG9qeUhOTmtzNnZFYklLTGpUakhwVHdHUVQ3S0dLSlFkTE9DY3NuRDJlZ2pJRDdRZVcwSGxWRE5mNzI4RkJtbnFvTnR0VUVzM0V1UnJKYXZnX0xON21wb0tqcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcreek.com%2Fwhat-is-my-business-worth%2F&v=Rj9MQCvP_XY] 📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUE3cHhtZ0tEZ2NoOFJWMEhGMk9MSEl6VmlJUXxBQ3Jtc0tsYngxQzg2bmdOUmZoYzdES0lfUzFvMHFnZ2QxMDBpNkdWQi12SmZTNklndmdDRU1ZM3FhQ0tlbUhrVDNmOVdfWDJQb21hUllpNm1ZZE1BZUNLWGtBZFZhLWtpMVhpVjZ6NkhDRmZkWHE4T3F0WWs4dw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcreek.com%2Fnewsletter%2F&v=Rj9MQCvP_XY] 🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDNwTUlvVjF5VUZSUld1TmJ3M2l2V0RzdDc2UXxBQ3Jtc0ttZTZKMnMtOG9zOTlwajBoNXlFV2puaW8zc1hRLUtGb1gzWkhkNjRQWEtBbnNPeVYxazJ4Yll3SXBidkY3UmtyWmZXMjFDTjlScUg3R19BbGxMRTNVUHZfQ2hta2IxdUJCWDdOQXVKMi1rMVVnbHpTbw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcreek.com%2F&v=Rj9MQCvP_XY]

We See 4800 Deals A Year - Here's Why Most Fail

"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   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkdjS0NuM2J0YjFKb3hRdVNMVWRFTGMzVXlvUXxBQ3Jtc0tsTGw5aU5SU28xdm1wRDBUNGtFM0FoR0oteHNZUi0yMFhDT1l5YXBjOHBWTWgwMUVXQXlpdVRuS0Y3aW1FY3dJNGZlVmRHRmFiTEp4WnMwT0RMU0tpWTRnRE5oOGN5ZDZRWEFVRkMtdnhEcF9XQmw5NA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmarshcreek%2F&v=f3HpwyCPKB8]Connect With TimLinkedIn -   / titempleton   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnh0LXQ4YThpOVV5ME4tQW44WklNcDVkVFhVQXxBQ3Jtc0tuby00dUdQeEgxaUpqdE12aGZRZ3d1TFF5MmZVMjNOZ2hlWU5FTEVqM1RYeTk5UWZOZWtVajE1UV9YZ3I3NFNza211YVZTWDM0dEN6RlRVYTV0SVgyc0tLaUhiVG0tMkcxTFc4R3BibGM0ZFFwUDJhTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Ftitempleton%2F&v=f3HpwyCPKB8]🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation: https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWlUa2R4dmFZbktlY2ZhbklUMDhrbUREQjFYd3xBQ3Jtc0tsTnZJVWg1RzE3dDFLdzJ4Y3kzUkVJdEUzMGNoclkxQTA2WUUycWJMa01ZSFZUczluZHJWck5xWjVVOEdWeUZVQ0xaal84bE5MWG5Jam5mRTluRHhfQXBCTktYQ3RxWl9IajBOYjl2RHo3RkNpT2x0Yw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcreek.com%2Fwhat-is-my-business-worth%2F&v=f3HpwyCPKB8]📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbURjYnFqYldKa0VSaVQyTjRtaGQ3R1l3OG1CZ3xBQ3Jtc0trMG1jYTlYN1ZVTlpnZ3AyRlk2NXVWVUlRXy1hQ3B1Y0FtT2s1VkhtY2dLZ3UxZ0N2S0wtOFNXS0FuT0ZvckRab3N4T1ZlSXpBQXM3ZFg5bm95WnZTdXFwSDJOc3AyZm5fSk1wLVJUZER6bFN2VExkdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcreek.com%2Fnewsletter%2F&v=f3HpwyCPKB8]🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbW5hUW1BWHI0ZFlzdVFCaW1zcEl4eDNfWmFZUXxBQ3Jtc0ttbVFybWNMSjhRX1l1ck1TSVY3OGhKaGJkTF96cTloQkpDWnRxNmI0ejBpSzRUTmtLenIxa0h2c19KMFB0U3Nfdkt0dkR3Zjk0LXhHcHpKRmVCZGJ6OUEyTVh5Um9sZGFzMkRCR3AzcWJ6OVB6c2pvdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcreek.com%2F&v=f3HpwyCPKB8]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 [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businessexit] #privateequity [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/privateequity] #mergersandacquisitions [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/mergersandacquisitions] #sellyourbusiness [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sellyourbusiness] #businessowner [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businessowner] #exitstrategy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/exitstrategy] #entrepreneurship [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/entrepreneurship] #founderstory [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/founderstory] #businessvaluation [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businessvaluation]

Legal Mistakes That Kill Deals

"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   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGtFbnllUTc3djFmYU13Z2xNVVJFekxlUE1xZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsbGZ6c0pjMUJDaVRpOVhBX3dpLUdteVN4TVViMFg4NFVudVpkYV9fUzNVQ3NlNVJsUFI3WVRkdDN5OVM3cy1yRHM0SlZxaERnb05LUk5CYXlDWDVpRHBCVC0tRTZadXJVYml1Wk1iSHNmN1NFc2RJcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmarshcreek%2F&v=vL933JwdROk]Connect With ChrisLinkedIn -   / chris-rosselli-55a7571   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTlDLTNPM0FBOUtLWXNROHVXVlJIYTUtdUFTQXxBQ3Jtc0tsWE1SZ2ZPYnJUcmx6dXhlM0VHVFFXTTFYWXowd25TLVJDVWxDLTVoSm5JUkVPdU5UUnRxTjBjRFN5UlkydGtYcncyb0pSNUJvS09KTVh2MUpUcFk1SVZ4WHdZLXJ5X3JHQkZkQ0hyaml6VUxORDcwYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fchris-rosselli-55a7571%2F&v=vL933JwdROk]🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation:https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3lMSE5XZzU0eWQ0ZWo2QURXVWhmeUNVLXZlUXxBQ3Jtc0tuRndKdWxNZWRZSFdOMFpvcV9sby1EZ3NxcWR5OFRDQkVfLUEzSHQwMW8wVFQ0NGpiX2RvLTdHQy1DdW5OTUZ2ZVoyY0JMRzVIdkZUM2lzMk43bW4wMVhqQjlJRmF1MWJJQnJaNk43WVd3bjFkQms0dw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcreek.com%2Fwhat-is-my-business-worth%2F&v=vL933JwdROk]📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqblgtUG11M1d4T25nRmpVX0ZibUhuSm5UYlFFd3xBQ3Jtc0tsRUNVUG1hckMyZnZZNG1kWVh2c18yMWUwQzhKTlBkTmdBb3RTTU9ESkZOSjdRcDlOTkFnT3NuTjliRmVqQU1zNElWOEN6TE1jbU5HVWswSkJuYVNpeFNXQURpSHlGdnAwQXhPX2tISGdrVW55RXh0VQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcreek.com%2Fnewsletter%2F&v=vL933JwdROk]🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3EycVpZWmNjZkhQT3p2UjluQkxjLXBkQU1hd3xBQ3Jtc0trZGVEOVF5ZkNtaVluWkotaUdEVUxKTXE5a1dHWGVDN0duUjRkSThHTjRSUE9VbTJKY1BuMDNKbkZKeUJYYVZpRGVZbzJsSW9zRnBpUVUwRXJEbTFiLUdMUkFMbmNZaEtpOE5vdmUwQXd3emljUUJfOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcreek.com%2F&v=vL933JwdROk]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 [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/mergersandacquisitions] #exitplanning [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/exitplanning] #powerexitpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/powerexitpodcast] #sellingabusiness [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sellingabusiness] #exitstrategy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/exitstrategy] #businesssale [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businesssale] #businessvaluation [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businessvaluation] #entrepreneurship [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/entrepreneurship] #duediligence [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/duediligence] #businessacquisition [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businessacquisition]

How I Sold My Company

"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   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWhuRHNTajFMcWRzbkp6SXgtbWtRUERmLWsyZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttTExHYjJNaDVPUDNNdExMZ1dCNk9XZWNwcm9Zd3lpRm9ob0tIRkVxZG9MNUo4amhXelVzUTNMQjRmY1NYRmFTRzNmZ1lNaHJQRUlhZXg3LUIyOEVPVXMzMFR1eU5JeDhrSDFUeEtyQ05XaW8xWWNOMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmarshcreek%2F&v=to7K7OYA_w4]Connect With TaylorLinkedIn -   / taylor-courtnay   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1RkY0NFbzJWUHRtTTRkTHljalhFc0M5VVhRd3xBQ3Jtc0trbGxtdmVzdjBRSjBDMDUzSjZvQmQzUEp2LTBqRHdmb0wzRjhiZUlXVm40WVRNbVA2MnlCeHpmWHAzV21ValdsMEdwcWhLc29oVk83b1k5dVgwQWdiZENfVk9nc3J2ZFZFbDI1S2FsN2VDVF9XdjdVaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Ftaylor-courtnay%2F&v=to7K7OYA_w4]🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation:https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWx5a3hfelEyZmRUeGItVUZ2akVpMXBVTmZfUXxBQ3Jtc0tsQmc4WDAzOThqanZlY1ZXNFN5eUNWU1ZfNkVLRGdDSkVUY0JBYVRQOW80RjVUNEU2R09nckdULXd6dkc2WjlaV3cxR0xiZUpZXzFLOV9qMHVxajlDN3l0emVYNkxGNkRuOXVLZzVCYk9Ic3Bnak40aw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcreek.com%2Fwhat-is-my-business-worth%2F&v=to7K7OYA_w4]📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGVVUERGcVl3T0dqYVlGRUF6QXctWlBHYmc2d3xBQ3Jtc0tuYmNZbEs3WERWV01tU3RENlppd2pBWF8tbnlOMGwxQ1poN3oxQ2xhOVpuTkQ3S0UzZmVVa2g1a1MzZDUyTklEVnctLV90MGpMZThUV2VObUNCSTZ1Z1RPTExyWGRGeWkzY3Q5RDBGYWRaLWNKVE9fZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcreek.com%2Fnewsletter%2F&v=to7K7OYA_w4]🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbngwb0NOaUNoU1F2Qll5REZrN3lmbzc4VWhQQXxBQ3Jtc0tsR2t6Rk1jMXBVSFVPY3g3cXFvUk5zaGZzb0h1dHZkQ0JqanJaMWdfZ3ZkeEt4X3I2Z0FIU08yczRhN1VoS0p5NWxacHJoSGt5OS1DMmZqZnROMURLaVNsbFIzN0toRXNIYXJBYzlYTzl2UXFFcEhvVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcreek.com%2F&v=to7K7OYA_w4]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 [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businessexit] #exitplanning [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/exitplanning] #PowerExitPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/powerexitpodcast] #sellyourbusiness [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sellyourbusiness] #mergersandacquisitions [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/mergersandacquisitions] #duediligence [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/duediligence] #entrepreneurship [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/entrepreneurship] #businessgrowth [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businessgrowth] #exitstrategy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/exitstrategy] #sapconsulting [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sapconsulting] #dataanalytics [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/dataanalytics]

How Private Equity Really Buys Companies

“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   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkVqY0RWcE9CVmpvUnZfSzhKV2xRYlY3VmsxUXxBQ3Jtc0ttRjVkejhmcll5YXZNelNSeEtHYmgwWXY4aGk1ajdyUTN6RjNVSWs5Mk4zcVBOdDZ5X3VCUnZaZGtvWkd1MTZETUdOclZpRzBpSjREREo2azhMR1NuVXU4Wk5mcXRxdWd6NUloZnZoSmhJYlV1eXRSaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmarshcreek%2F&v=vGXjjMoCN84]Connect With AriezLinkedIn -   / ariezdustoor   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1BuNkE4Zko2aTlOa1huN2JzNW04TFhNR090Z3xBQ3Jtc0tsd1RQTVFQUU03bkpHTms5ampWRmlqQ0tSMlNGY0ZtWDdGbC1WVTF3cUg0Y3F1NnBkZndfRlNCOGQyX2JvOEVua3lDb2JZbTVacFpDZmlFX0U1ZkptQXlRbWktbTBfQmRlSXpoZERmU0oxdk5aMFE5aw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fariezdustoor%2F&v=vGXjjMoCN84]🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation:https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjBFR2Jla1lGb0NFQzAycXpVLTZMZ1ZJMmJvZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuZHhib0x6cURDeTdxa3NQcS1HejVwcnBoSVhDdFpMMTVIa3JmTXN1Z3FKbjZOZWcyd3oxQnRMX2hhMzd3a0JiWG1obTJNWXg0U2dfSzFDRnN1TWdhdE9GZTRIUFFpa1dRbDNiWE5oSUV4V0pVbXBWSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcreek.com%2Fwhat-is-my-business-worth%2F&v=vGXjjMoCN84]📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqblRKUHZ5SU92SmRncGtCTjI1SzBtVEszYm9YQXxBQ3Jtc0tsX2NEVWdYWjhEVmM0RzEteTAtMkJ4Z25pM1N5NmEwNEwwTVRJN1R6QVFYdWJYXzFFTklaeFlUVy1pUTBFeEhqdzBleUdsNV9sSUluYUhyQ0NUQWJJRFBJM1hSNXRfM0YxQTFCNEluTEVrci1lSmtXWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcreek.com%2Fnewsletter%2F&v=vGXjjMoCN84]🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqblUwU3p2QzBZZEVnNkJPMExtMW0zRE9aLS1KQXxBQ3Jtc0ttZjl0c3p6NGdOWG56dmNhWmpuTDJtZTQycjRGX0JCRVkyRndvbmxpS1VMZHhnLXBkYmtnamx6bHE5Y3JMYTJmdG9xRFIxNUxGNDhyWHlhc3J2enVidUIxMThQZmdNdEY2OEFBQnVXYjR6ankxRnZMUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcreek.com%2F&v=vGXjjMoCN84]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 [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/privateequity] #businessexit [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businessexit] #sellyourbusiness [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sellyourbusiness] #mergersandacquisitions [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/mergersandacquisitions] #businesssale [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businesssale] #exitstrategy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/exitstrategy] #entrepreneurship [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/entrepreneurship] #businessgrowth [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businessgrowth] #duediligence [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/duediligence] #qualityofearnings [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/qualityofearnings]