I Sold $2 Billion in Businesses: Your Exit Strategy is WRONG | Scott Bushkie episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 16, 2026 · 55 MIN

I Sold $2 Billion in Businesses: Your Exit Strategy is WRONG | Scott Bushkie

from The Vince Perri Podcast · host The Vince Perri Podcast

Scott Bushkie has facilitated over $2 billion in business sales—and he's seen it all. From founders accepting lowball offers to sellers leaving millions on the table because they didn't prepare, Scott breaks down exactly what it takes to maximize your exit. In this episode, we cover: ✅ Why most business owners are worth 30-40% LESS than they think ✅ The "$500K mistake" that could have been avoided with simple tax planning ✅ How to turn an unsolicited $31M offer into a $51.3M sale using POMO™ (Power of Multiple Options) ✅ The 3-legged stool framework: Real Market Value → Net Number → Lifestyle Number ✅ Why knowing your business value means nothing if you don't know what you'll NET ✅ The biggest red flags that kill business valuations (customer concentration, owner dependency, etc.) ✅ How AI is transforming M&A and what sellers need to know NOW Scott's no-BS approach to exit strategy will change how you think about building and selling your business. Whether you're planning to exit in 2 years or 20 years, this conversation is packed with actionable insights that could literally save (or make) you millions. About Scott Bushkie: Scott is the Founder & Managing Partner of Cornerstone Business Services, one of the most respected M&A advisory firms in the lower middle market. With 27+ years of experience and hundreds of successful exits under his belt, Scott has built a national network of 70,000 financial advisors, 300+ business coaches, and 75 CPA firms—all focused on helping entrepreneurs exit right. He's the creator of the proprietary Assurance 360™ process that creates competitive bidding environments and the POMO™ framework that ensures sellers never leave money on the table. 📧 Connect with Scott: → Email: [email protected] → Phone: 920-436-9890 (Office) | 920-265-6160 (Cell) → Website: cornerstone-business.com → Speaking: scottbushkie.com Key Takeaways: 💰 The average business owner leaves $2-3 MILLION on the table by accepting the first offer 📊 You'll only NET 60-65% of your business valuation after taxes, fees, and adjustments 🎯 Get a Real Market Analysis every 2-3 years—even if you're not ready to sell ⚠️ Unsolicited offers are designed to flatter you into selling for less 🔥 POMO (Power of Multiple Options) is the key to maximizing your exit Subscribe for more episodes on building, scaling, and exiting businesses the right way. 👍 Like this video if you're serious about maximizing your business exit 💬 Comment below: What's YOUR biggest question about selling your business? #BusinessExit #MergersAndAcquisitions #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #ExitStrategy #ScottBushkie #VincePerri #BeyondTheClaim Thank you for being a vital part of our channel🧡 ========================== 📣 You can find all our exclusive channels, freebies and offers here: https://vinceperri.com/links-channel SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.facebook.com/VincePerri/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinceperriofficial/ https://www.instagram.com/vinceperriofficial/ https://www.tiktok.com/@vinceperriofficial?lang=en =========================== 🔊 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/38621Yz 🔊 Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastCCS 🔊 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3sbjPIs TAGS: #BeyondTheClaim #VincePerri #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #SalesStrategy #MarketingTips #BusinessPodcast #ContractorBusiness #PublicAdjuster #RoofingBusiness #ScalingYourBusiness #ExitStrategy #BusinessMindset #EntrepreneurLife #ServiceBasedBusiness #BusinessOwner #SmallBusinessGrowth #BusinessSuccess #EntrepreneurMotivation

Scott Bushkie has facilitated over $2 billion in business sales—and he's seen it all. From founders accepting lowball offers to sellers leaving millions on the table because they didn't prepare, Scott breaks down exactly what it takes to maximize your exit. In this episode, we cover: ✅ Why most business owners are worth 30-40% LESS than they think ✅ The "$500K mistake" that could have been avoided with simple tax planning ✅ How to turn an unsolicited $31M offer into a $51.3M sale using POMO™ (Power of Multiple Options) ✅ The 3-legged stool framework: Real Market Value → Net Number → Lifestyle Number ✅ Why knowing your business value means nothing if you don't know what you'll NET ✅ The biggest red flags that kill business valuations (customer concentration, owner dependency, etc.) ✅ How AI is transforming M&A and what sellers need to know NOW Scott's no-BS approach to exit strategy will change how you think about building and selling your business. Whether you're planning to exit in 2 years or 20 years, this conversation is packed with actionable insights that could literally save (or make) you millions. About Scott Bushkie: Scott is the Founder & Managing Partner of Cornerstone Business Services, one of the most respected M&A advisory firms in the lower middle market. With 27+ years of experience and hundreds of successful exits under his belt, Scott has built a national network of 70,000 financial advisors, 300+ business coaches, and 75 CPA firms—all focused on helping entrepreneurs exit right. He's the creator of the proprietary Assurance 360™ process that creates competitive bidding environments and the POMO™ framework that ensures sellers never leave money on the table. 📧 Connect with Scott: → Email: [email protected] → Phone: 920-436-9890 (Office) | 920-265-6160 (Cell) → Website: cornerstone-business.com → Speaking: scottbushkie.com Key Takeaways: 💰 The average business owner leaves $2-3 MILLION on the table by accepting the first offer 📊 You'll only NET 60-65% of your business valuation after taxes, fees, and adjustments 🎯 Get a Real Market Analysis every 2-3 years—even if you're not ready to sell ⚠️ Unsolicited offers are designed to flatter you into selling for less 🔥 POMO (Power of Multiple Options) is the key to maximizing your exit Subscribe for more episodes on building, scaling, and exiting businesses the right way. 👍 Like this video if you're serious about maximizing your business exit 💬 Comment below: What's YOUR biggest question about selling your business? #BusinessExit #MergersAndAcquisitions #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #ExitStrategy #ScottBushkie #VincePerri #BeyondTheClaim Thank you for being a vital part of our channel🧡 ========================== 📣 You can find all our exclusive channels, freebies and offers here: https://vinceperri.com/links-channel SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.facebook.com/VincePerri/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinceperriofficial/ https://www.instagram.com/vinceperriofficial/ https://www.tiktok.com/@vinceperriofficial?lang=en =========================== 🔊 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/38621Yz 🔊 Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/GooglePodcastCCS 🔊 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3sbjPIs TAGS: #BeyondTheClaim #VincePerri #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #SalesStrategy #MarketingTips #BusinessPodcast #ContractorBusiness #PublicAdjuster #RoofingBusiness #ScalingYourBusiness #ExitStrategy #BusinessMindset #EntrepreneurLife #ServiceBasedBusiness #BusinessOwner #SmallBusinessGrowth #BusinessSuccess #EntrepreneurMotivation

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I Sold $2 Billion in Businesses: Your Exit Strategy is WRONG | Scott Bushkie

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This episode was published on January 16, 2026.

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Scott Bushkie has facilitated over $2 billion in business sales—and he's seen it all. From founders accepting lowball offers to sellers leaving millions on the table because they didn't prepare, Scott breaks down exactly what it takes to maximize...

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