Bridging the Buy-Sell Divide: Emily Stubbs on Defending Value Before Due Diligence

Emily Stubbs: From Corporate Law to Deal Advisor at Visibility CFOEmily Egbert Stubbs, deal advisor and attorney at Visibility CFO and Deal Advisors, shares how two painful equity partnership failures, the experience of buying and selling a commercial cleaning company, and a career shift from corporate law to M&A advisory shaped a firm built to defend seller value in deals under $40 million.Key Insights You’ll Learn:Leaving a 12-year corporate law career to build something of her ownTwo failed equity partnerships and the lessons extracted from eachWhy buyers don’t pay for future potential — only documented, consistent performanceQuality of earnings review: why all prep work must happen before the LOI is signedBuying and selling a commercial cleaning company to prove their own methodologyStrategies for increasing enterprise value: contracts, margin analysis, clean financialsServing founder-led businesses under $40M where sell-side advisory is scarceUnique fee structure: advisory fees offset against success fees at closeWhy some clients get their energy back instead of sellingRunning a firm alongside a spouse and making it work with four kids at homeEmily’s Key Mentors:Her Father: Attorney who modeled the legal profession from an early ageStoll Reeves Litigation Team: Sharpened deal instincts by showing what happens when contracts fall apartAndrew Stubbs (Husband and Partner): Former Alvarez and Marsal CFO who brings financial rigor to every engagementCoaching Group: Unique ability exercise helped her identify complexity-to-clarity as her superpowerClients Who Stayed: Business owners who found renewed confidence instead of selling — and taught her the full value of what visibility providesDon’t miss this conversation about the emotional reality of selling a business, what buyers are actually paying for, and why being prepared for a sale makes you a better operator — even if you never sell.Connect with Emily Stubbs:Website: visibilitycfo.comTranscript Available:  Bridging the Buy-Sell Divide: Emily Stubbs on Defending Value Before Due DiligenceWatch on YouTube: Inspired Stories PodcastOur Website: The Inspired Stories PodcastSpecial Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency — Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line. Website: addbackbenefits.com