Why Seller’s Discretionary Earnings Can Fool Business Buyers episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 11, 2026 · 24 MIN

Why Seller’s Discretionary Earnings Can Fool Business Buyers

from David C Barnett Small Business and Deal Making M&A SMB · host David C Barnett

**New Video Alert! Most buyers rely on the seller's discretionary earnings or EBITDA to decide what a business is worth. That’s a mistake. In this episode, I use a real-life story from my own home to explain why depreciation, equipment replacement, and capital expenditures can quietly drain your cash flow after you buy a business. If you’re buying a business or preparing to sell one, this is something you need to understand before money changes hands. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/NvFvNoN-PiE Cheers See you over on YouTube David C Barnett **** - Join David's email list so you never miss any new videos or important information or insights, RECEIVE 7 FREE GIFTS!!- https://www.DavidCBarnettList.com **** Special Xero offer: Get 90% off for 6 months using this link: https://referrals.xero.com/DavidCBarnett_xero. Terms & Conditions apply.* Find more content that answers your questions with my new AI BOT: https://www.davidcbarnettbot.com/ Enjoy HUGE savings when signing up for Xero cloud-based accounting software using David's sponsorship link: https://referrals.xero.com/DavidCBarnett_xero Do Business with David using these incredible internet links... - David's Blog where you can find hundreds of free videos and articles, https://www.DavidCBarnett.com - Book a call with David and let him help you with your project, https://www.CallDavidCBarnett.com - Learn how to buy a successful and profitable business in a risk-controlled way https://www.BusinessBuyerAdvantage.com - Get help selling your business, https://www.HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com - Get better organized in your business, https://www.EasySmallBizSystems.com - Learn to make better cash flow forecasts and write incredibly effective business plans from scratch!, https://www.BizPlanSchool.com - Learn to build an equity asset with insurance! visit https://www.NewBankingSolution.com

**New Video Alert! Most buyers rely on the seller's discretionary earnings or EBITDA to decide what a business is worth. That’s a mistake. In this episode, I use a real-life story from my own home to explain why depreciation, equipment replacement, and capital expenditures can quietly drain your cash flow after you buy a business. If you’re buying a business or preparing to sell one, this is something you need to understand before money changes hands. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/NvFvNoN-PiE Cheers See you over on YouTube David C Barnett **** - Join David's email list so you never miss any new videos or important information or insights, RECEIVE 7 FREE GIFTS!!- https://www.DavidCBarnettList.com **** Special Xero offer: Get 90% off for 6 months using this link: https://referrals.xero.com/DavidCBarnett_xero. Terms & Conditions apply.* Find more content that answers your questions with my new AI BOT: https://www.davidcbarnettbot.com/ Enjoy HUGE savings when signing up for Xero cloud-based accounting software using David's sponsorship link: https://referrals.xero.com/DavidCBarnett_xero Do Business with David using these incredible internet links... - David's Blog where you can find hundreds of free videos and articles, https://www.DavidCBarnett.com - Book a call with David and let him help you with your project, https://www.CallDavidCBarnett.com - Learn how to buy a successful and profitable business in a risk-controlled way https://www.BusinessBuyerAdvantage.com - Get help selling your business, https://www.HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com - Get better organized in your business, https://www.EasySmallBizSystems.com - Learn to make better cash flow forecasts and write incredibly effective business plans from scratch!, https://www.BizPlanSchool.com - Learn to build an equity asset with insurance! visit https://www.NewBankingSolution.com

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Why Seller’s Discretionary Earnings Can Fool Business Buyers

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How long is this episode of David C Barnett Small Business and Deal Making M&A SMB?

This episode is 24 minutes long.

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This episode was published on February 11, 2026.

What is this episode about?

**New Video Alert! Most buyers rely on the seller's discretionary earnings or EBITDA to decide what a business is worth. That’s a mistake. In this episode, I use a real-life story from my own home to explain why depreciation, equipment...

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