Mark Hartmann – Mergers and Acquisitions

On the Value of Purpose: “Either you’ll exit it vertically, maybe on your own terms, or you’ll exit horizontally, maybe not on your own terms. You will exit your business, right?”

What happens when a psychotherapist, a negotiator, and a business dealmaker all walk into the same room—and they’re all the same person?  Mark Hartmann of Hartmann Rhodes, a specialist in mergers and acquisitions offers stories, strategies, and the kind of hard-earned wisdom you only get from years in the trenches of small business sales.

You’ll hear why Mark Hartmann warns entrepreneurs not to let “your cousin Vinny” handle their business sale, how blue-collar businesses like HVAC companies are suddenly sizzling hot investments (think tech-level multiples!), and the art of negotiating like a terrorist—but in a good way. We’ll dive into what really determines the value of your business, how to play the tricky game of deal terms, why clean books and owner independence are non-negotiable, and the emotional rollercoaster awaiting every founder ready to exit.

You’ll get Mark’s top nuggets from his Amazon best-selling book, “Sweat Equity Payday,” honest talk about seller’s and buyer’s remorse, and practical advice for buyers, sellers, and anyone thinking about their company’s future. Whether you want to sell, buy, or simply understand the market forces reshaping entrepreneurship, this episode delivers the real stories and insights you won’t get in a business school classroom.

Listen as Mark details how to prepare your business for sale and to execute the sale to make sure you get the best price and the best terms.

Enjoy!

Visit Mark at: https://www.hartmannrhodes.com/

Sponsors:

Calls On Call Extraordinary Answering Service, phone answering for small businesses: https://callsoncall.com

Calls On Call Extraordinary Answering Service

Some videos have been recorded with Riverside: https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=james-kademan

 

Podcast Overview:

00:00 Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA)
05:03 Valuing a Business for Sale
09:50 Generational shifts in DIY skills
10:50 Electricians’ high demand and salaries
14:25 Explaining business market segments
18:36 Evaluating financials and dependencies
20:31 Evaluating business worth
24:08 Negotiating business exit strategies
29:08 Discussing buy-side engagements
31:49 Negotiation strategies with sellers
34:45 Challenges with inexperienced attorneys
39:32 Not the right dealmaker for the job
41:49 Being on the Inc. 5000 list
45:18 Preparing for Business Exit
47:39 Attending the Value Builder Summit
53:12 Advice for buyers and sellers
57:00 Show intro and sponsor shoutout

 

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