Krystyn Harrison on Why 70% of Businesses Fail to Sell

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we’re joined by Krystyn Harrison, five-time founder and CEO of Horizon Advisors, a strategic advisory firm helping founder-CEOs design businesses that generate wealth, operate independently, and include built-in exit strategies. From launching her first company at 16 to scaling brands to eight figures and navigating a private equity-backed exit, Krystyn shares the hard-earned lessons behind building companies that aren’t just profitable—but truly valuable. She opens up about the emotional reality of exiting a business, the identity shift founders face post-sale, and why most businesses fail to sell despite years of effort.Today, through Horizon Advisors, Krystyn works one-on-one with founders in the $5M–$80M range to increase enterprise value, reduce owner dependency, and create real optionality—whether that means selling, scaling, or building a generational company. She breaks down how to think like a buyer, why founders must shift from operator to asset-builder, and how intentional structure, leadership development, and decision clarity drive long-term wealth. The conversation also dives into building a firm alongside her husband, designing businesses that support life (not consume it), and why value creation starts with the founder’s mindset.