PODCAST · business
ExitReadiness® PODCAST: Exit Planning, Succession & Selling Your Business
by Pat Ennis & Walter Deyhle · ENNIS Legacy Partners
The ExitReadiness® PODCAST is the exit planning podcast for business owners who want to sell, transfer, or step back from their business on their own terms. Hosts Pat Ennis, CExP™ and Walter Deyhle, CPA, CExP™, CEPA of ENNIS Legacy Partners talk with M&A advisors, attorneys, CPAs, valuation experts, and owners who have been through it. Each episode covers practical steps to build a more valuable, transferable business: increasing business value, reducing owner dependency, succession planning, selling to a third party, ESOPs and employee buyouts, family business transitions, buy-sell agreements, tax planning before a sale, due diligence, and what life after the exit actually looks like. Whether you're 10 years out or 10 months out, there's something here for you. Subscribe wherever you listen, and visit exitreadiness.com to take your free ExitReadiness® DIY™ Assessment.
Episodes
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Value Acceleration and Solving the Business Development Problem Ft. Karl Wappaus
For many owners of professional services firms, business development has always been personal. They've spent years building relationships, establishing reputations, developing referral sources, and becoming the person clients turn to when they need the firm's services. That approach may have...
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Cleaning Up Business Data Before a Sale: Get Rid of Your Crap ft. Dale Tuttle
Every business accumulates digital clutter over time—old files, duplicate documents, outdated customer records, archived emails, forgotten software subscriptions, and multiple versions of documents scattered across shared drives, CRMs, cloud storage, and other systems. It may not seem…
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Operational Due Diligence: What Buyers Check in Your Business ft. Tim Van Mieghem
When business owners think about due diligence, financial statements, tax returns, contracts, and legal documents usually come to mind. But buyers are also trying to answer a more fundamental question: How well does this business actually operate? In this episode, Pat Ennis and Walter Deyhle...
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AI Workflow Automations for Professional Services Businesses ft. Scott Samborn
Artificial intelligence is changing the way professional services firms operate, but its greatest potential extends well beyond helping individuals work faster. When implemented thoughtfully, AI workflow automation can fundamentally improve how work moves through an organization—connecting…
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AI and Business Value: Why AI Won't Fix Your Company ft. Jürgen Dauk
AI & Exit Planning Series: Why AI Won't Fix Your Company Ft. Jürgen Dauk Artificial intelligence is transforming the way businesses operate, compete, and create value. Every day, new tools promise to increase productivity, improve decision-making, reduce costs, and accelerate growth. But while AI...
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Hiring and Keeping Gen Z Employees ft. Danielle Verderosa
Finding and keeping great employees has become one of the biggest challenges facing business owners today. Recruiting is more competitive, turnover is more costly, and leading a multigenerational workforce requires a different approach than it did just a decade ago. While much has been written...
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Key Person Insurance: Protecting Your Business From Losing Key Employees ft. Mark Gage
Most business owners understand the importance of attracting and retaining talented employees. What many fail to appreciate is how much risk can be concentrated in just one or two key individuals. Whether it's a top salesperson, lead engineer, operations manager, or other critical team member…
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Selling Your Business Confidentially: Selling in Stealth Mode ft. Gregory Kovsky
Most business owners understand the importance of confidentiality during a sale process. What many do not fully appreciate is just how fragile that confidentiality can be once the business is taken to market. A single conversation, unusual document request, or shift in behavior can create concern...
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Reducing Owner Dependency: 3 Actions to Step Back From Your Business ft. Laurie Barkman
Most business owners know their company depends heavily on them. Fewer understand how much that dependency impacts transferable value, scalability, leadership continuity, and long-term optionality. In this episode, Laurie Barkman joins Pat Ennis and Walter Deyhle to discuss three practical…
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How AI Affects Business Valuation ft. Janet Waring
AI is quickly moving beyond experimentation and becoming part of how buyers evaluate operational maturity, scalability, and future growth potential. But not every use of AI increases business value. In many cases, owners are implementing tools without a clear strategy, measurable impact, or...
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Business Partner Negotiations: Where AI Helps and Where It Doesn't ft. David Gage
Business partnerships are at the center of many of the most complex exit planning decisions an owner will face — whether navigating a sale to key employees, a family transfer, or simply trying to keep a co-ownership relationship healthy enough to survive a transition. AI can help organize...
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Life After Selling Your Business (NEXT ACT Series) ft. David Young
The statistics are sobering: 75% of business owners report being unhappy within one year of exiting their business. For owners who have spent decades finding purpose, identity, and meaning in their work — serving employees, customers, and their communities — the transition out can feel like a…
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ESOPs for Family Business Succession ft. Kelly Finnell
For many family business owners, the succession question is more complicated than it looks — especially when some family members want to stay involved, others don't, or there's simply no heir apparent willing or able to take the reins. An Employee Stock Ownership Plan can bring remarkable clarity...
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A Tax Smart Exit Ft. Ed Cotney
Most owners focus on growing value but give far less attention to how that value will ultimately be taxed. The result is often a successful sale that delivers far less than expected. In this episode, tax attorney Ed Cotney joins Pat and Walter to walk through how thoughtful tax planning changes...
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Selling Your Business to Employees: An ESOP Success Story ft. Tim Rettig
ESOPs are often discussed in theory, but far less often understood through lived experience. In this episode, Tim Rettig shares what it actually looks like to transition a business to employee ownership—and what it requires from the owner before, during, and after the transaction. This…
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Due Diligence in M&A Transactions: Why First-Time Buyers Should Avoid Analysis Paralysis Ft. Michael Mercurio
Buying a business for the first time is exciting — and overwhelming. The due diligence process can trigger analysis paralysis that kills deals that should close. In this episode, M&A attorney Michael Mercurio of Offit Kurman joins Pat and Walter to walk through what due diligence actually looks...
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What Does a Fractional EOS Integrator Do? Ft. Dave Lokos
If you're running on EOS® but struggling to execute, you may be missing the Integrator role — the person who translates the Visionary's vision into traction. Dave Lokos, CEPA, CBEC of ExitWell Advisors joins Pat and Walter to explain what a Fractional EOS Integrator actually does, how it differs...
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An Often Overlooked Risk in Funding Buy - Sell Agreements – Disability Buy Out Ft. Mark Gage
Most business owners fund their buy-sell agreements with life insurance — but what happens when a partner becomes disabled rather than dying? In this episode, Mark Gage joins Pat and Walter to discuss disability buyout coverage: what it is, why it's so frequently overlooked in partnership…
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Unlocking Tax Savings with Section 1202
Section 1202 of the tax code allows qualifying small business stockholders to exclude up to 100% of capital gains on the sale of their stock — one of the most powerful and underused tax tools available to business owners. In this episode, Pat and Walter break down the key qualifications for…
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AI & EXIT PLANNING Series: Initial Thoughts About AI and Exit Planning? Ft. John F. Dini
AI is changing how advisors work and how business owners prepare for exit — but what does it mean specifically for the exit planning profession? John F. Dini, one of the nation's most recognized exit planning authorities and founder of ExitMap®, joins Pat and Walter to share his initial take.…
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Building a Cost Management System That Protects and Increases Business Value Ft. Duane Deason
Growing revenue is only half the equation — businesses that can't control costs ultimately destroy the value they're working to build. Duane Deason, CPA, MBA, founder of The Efficacy Group and author of Operationally Svelte, joins Pat and Walter to explain why cost management is a transferable...
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NEXT ACT Series: A Post-Exit Story Ft. Andrew Walen
What happens after you sell? Andrew Walen built and exited multiple mental health companies — including The Body Image Therapy Center and DUDE Mental Health — before reinventing himself as the owner of School of Rock Pikesville. In this candid conversation, Andrew shares what the post-exit…
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AI & EXIT PLANNING SERIES: De-Mystifying AI Ft. Nick Damoulakis
AI can feel overwhelming for business owners who didn't grow up in the tech world — but it doesn't have to be. Nick Damoulakis, CEO of Orases and a recognized thought leader in digital transformation, joins Pat and Walter to cut through the noise. Nick explains what AI actually is in practical...
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Exit Like a Boss Ft. Dr. Craig West
What does exit planning look like on a global scale — and what can American business owners learn from advisors in other markets? Dr. Craig West, founder of Succession Plus, Australia's largest exit planning firm, and creator of the acclaimed 21-step exit planning process, joins Pat and Walter to...
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Redesigning Life After the Business – Letting Go and Moving Forward Ft. Patti Julber
Selling a business is one thing. Knowing what comes next — and actually moving forward — is another. Patti Julber spent 21 years building her business before deciding it was time to sell. In this candid conversation, Patti shares what the process of letting go actually felt like, the emotional…
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Controlling Your Company’s Future Ft. Tim Van Mieghem
Most business owners know they want to exit someday — but far fewer have taken the steps to ensure their company's future is actually in their control when that day comes. Tim Van Mieghem, co-founder of The ProAction Group and operating partner at The Peakstone Group, has spent decades helping...
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How EOS Helped Me Sell My Business for Max Value Ft. Dave Lokos
Running on EOS® didn't just make Dave Lokos's business more efficient — it made it more sellable. In this episode, Dave joins Pat and Walter to share his first-hand account of how implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System transformed his company's operations, built the kind of leadership...
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Protecting Personal Assets with the Right Insurance Coverage Ft. Bryan Aguirre
Business owners spend years building value — but many are unknowingly exposed to risks that could wipe out personal assets when a claim or lawsuit hits at the wrong moment. Bryan Aguirre, Partner at Capital Insurance Partners and a recognized top producer in the Washington D.C. region, joins Pat...
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Utilizing Donor Advised Funds and Private Foundations When Selling or Transferring a Business Ft. Lisa Heller
For business owners with charitable intent, the way you structure your exit can dramatically amplify — or diminish — your philanthropic impact. Lisa Heller, CPA, a nonprofit tax authority at GRF CPAs & Advisors with more than 25 years of experience working with tax-exempt organizations, joins Pat...
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People Strategy for M&A Due Diligence and Integration Ft. Rachel Platt
Research consistently shows that the majority of M&A transactions fail — and the most common culprit isn't financials or legal issues, it's people. Rachel Platt, founder of PLATTinum Consulting and a veteran Chief Human Resources Officer with more than 20 years of experience, joins Pat and Walter...
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Building a Transferable Business with Values-Based Leadership Ft. Sarah Goelitz
A business that depends entirely on its owner's personality and relationships isn't truly transferable — no matter how strong the financials look. Sarah Goelitz, leadership consultant and founder of Sarah Goelitz Consulting, joins Pat and Walter to explore the connection between values-based...
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What Investors Want: Building a Financial Discipline to Attract Capital ft. Jason Kruger
Whether you're raising growth capital or preparing for an eventual exit, the financial discipline you build today determines the options you'll have tomorrow. In this episode, Pat and Walter dig into what sophisticated investors and acquirers actually look for when evaluating a privately held...
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What's Changing in Incentive Compensation? Ft. Elizabeth Mower
Incentive compensation is one of the most powerful — and most misunderstood — tools a business owner has for retaining key employees, aligning performance, and building transferable value. Elizabeth Mower, former President of the Business Enterprise Institute (BEI) and founder of entreVector,...
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Customer Feedback’s Impact on Exit Value Ft. Eli Portnoy
Customer concentration and customer dependency are well-known exit risks — but customer feedback may be the most overlooked value driver in a business owner's toolkit. Eli Portnoy, serial entrepreneur, Harvard Business School Executive Fellow, and founder of BackEngine, has achieved multiple...
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Why Successful Employers Understand that Empathy is Actually a Superpower Ft. Marc R. Engel
Empathy is often dismissed as a soft skill — but for employers who understand it, it's one of the most powerful tools for reducing litigation, improving retention, and building a business that runs well without the owner. Marc R. Engel, employment attorney at Lerch Early & Brewer and founder of…
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Key Steps Business Owners Should Take to Improve Cyber Resilience Prior to Exit Ft. Brian Guenther
A cyber breach during a due diligence process can kill a deal — or dramatically reduce a purchase price. And yet cybersecurity is one of the most consistently overlooked exit planning topics for privately held business owners. Brian Guenther, CISSP, CCP and founder of Exceed Cybersecurity & I.T....
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Lessons Learned in Selling My Business Ft. Wayne Cates
There is no substitute for the perspective of someone who has actually been through it. Wayne Cates joins Pat and Walter for a candid, first-person account of selling his business — what he got right, what he wishes he had done differently, and the surprises that caught him off guard in the...
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How Podcasting Helps Build A Transferrable Business Ft. Joe Ennis
A podcast isn't just a marketing tool — when done right, it builds the kind of thought leadership, brand equity, and audience trust that makes a business more valuable and more transferable. Joe Ennis, founder of Podcasts By Joe and the production talent behind the ExitReadiness® Podcast, joins…
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The Legal Do's and Don't of Internal Transactions Ft. Paul Schwinn
Transferring a business to a key employee or family member sounds straightforward — until the legal complexities start surfacing. Paul Schwinn, Shareholder at Shulman Rogers and Co-Chair of its Startups and Emerging Growth Companies Practice Group, joins Pat and Walter to walk through the legal...
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Employee Ownership Trusts versus Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Ft. Loren Rodgers
ESOPs have long been the dominant employee ownership exit route in the U.S. — but a newer vehicle, the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), is gaining serious traction as an alternative. Loren Rodgers, Executive Director of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) and one of the nation's...
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What Happens Between The LOI and The Deal Table Ft. Todd Taskey
Receiving a Letter of Intent (LOI) feels like the finish line — but experienced M&A advisors know it's actually where some of the hardest work begins. Todd Taskey, M&A advisor at Potomac Business Capital and host of the Second Bite Podcast, joins Pat and Walter to demystify the critical period...
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Three Main Reasons Business Sales Fail and How to Avoid Them Ft. Christine Nicholson
More than 80% of businesses that go to market never successfully sell — and the reasons are more preventable than most owners realize. Christine Nicholson, UK-based award-winning Business Mentor of the Year and author of four books on exit planning, joins Pat and Walter to break down the three...
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The Ikigai Blueprint: Discovering Passion, Purpose, and Potential Ft. Joe Markovitch
The Japanese concept of Ikigai — finding the intersection of what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for — is at the heart of one of the most important and overlooked dimensions of exit planning: what comes next. Joe Markovitch, Certified Exit Planner…
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An Exit Planning Checklist for 2025
What should a business owner actually be doing right now to build their ExitReadiness®? Pat and Walter close out the year with a practical, actionable checklist of exit planning priorities for 2025 — covering goal-setting, business valuation, financial gap analysis, transferable value drivers,...
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Giving Feedback to Employees Ft. Sarah Goelitz
A business owner's ability to give honest, effective feedback to employees is directly tied to the transferable value of the business — because management teams that only perform with the owner in the room aren't truly independent. Sarah Goelitz, leadership consultant and founder of Sarah Goelitz...
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Mastering Earnouts: Strategies and Best Practices Ft. Scott Taylor
An earnout looks simple on paper — get paid more if the business performs. In practice, earnout disputes are one of the most common sources of post-closing litigation in private M&A. Scott Taylor, Shareholder at SmolenPlevy and a returning ExitReadiness® guest, brings 20+ years of M&A and…
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An Overlooked Risk in Management Buy-Outs Ft. David Gage
A management buyout feels like the cleanest possible exit — your trusted team takes over, the legacy is preserved, everyone wins. But when partners and co-owners haven't built strong interpersonal foundations, MBOs carry a risk most advisors don't put on the table: the deal can blow up not over...
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Common Pitfalls for the Mid-Market Seller Ft. Richard Phillips
Selling a mid-market business is not the same as selling a small business — the complexity, the buyer pool, and the stakes are all different. Richard Phillips, Managing Director at Oberon Securities, one of New York City's leading mid-market investment banking firms with 70+ senior professionals...
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The Current State of Non-Competes and Other Restrictive Agreements Ft. Marc Engel
Non-compete agreements are in a state of flux — and what you don't know can cost you at the closing table or in the courts. Marc R. Engel, Esq., employment attorney and Shareholder at Lerch Early & Brewer, rejoins Pat and Walter to break down the current legal landscape around non-competes,...
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Preserving and Enhancing Industrial Legacies in the US Ft. Jules Brenner
There are tens of thousands of small industrial manufacturers in the U.S. whose owners are ready to retire — and very few successors stepping up to take them over. Jules Brenner, founder of Industrial Succession Group and operator of multiple metal fabrication businesses in Southern California…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The ExitReadiness® PODCAST is the exit planning podcast for business owners who want to sell, transfer, or step back from their business on their own terms. Hosts Pat Ennis, CExP™ and Walter Deyhle, CPA, CExP™, CEPA of ENNIS Legacy Partners talk with M&A advisors, attorneys, CPAs, valuation experts, and owners who have been through it.
Each episode covers practical steps to build a more valuable, transferable business: increasing business value, reducing owner dependency, succession planning, selling to a third party, ESOPs and employee buyouts, family business transitions, buy-sell agreements, tax planning before a sale, due diligence, and what life after the exit actually looks like. Whether you're 10 years out or 10 months out, there's something here for you.
Subscribe wherever you listen, and visit exitreadiness.com to take your free ExitReadiness® DIY™ Assessment.
HOSTED BY
Pat Ennis & Walter Deyhle · ENNIS Legacy Partners
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does ExitReadiness® PODCAST: Exit Planning, Succession & Selling Your Business have?
ExitReadiness® PODCAST: Exit Planning, Succession & Selling Your Business currently has 197 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is ExitReadiness® PODCAST: Exit Planning, Succession & Selling Your Business about?
The ExitReadiness® PODCAST is the exit planning podcast for business owners who want to sell, transfer, or step back from their business on their own terms. Hosts Pat Ennis, CExP™ and Walter Deyhle, CPA, CExP™, CEPA of ENNIS Legacy Partners talk with M&A advisors, attorneys, CPAs, valuation...
How often does ExitReadiness® PODCAST: Exit Planning, Succession & Selling Your Business release new episodes?
ExitReadiness® PODCAST: Exit Planning, Succession & Selling Your Business publishes regularly with 197 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to ExitReadiness® PODCAST: Exit Planning, Succession & Selling Your Business?
You can listen to ExitReadiness® PODCAST: Exit Planning, Succession & Selling Your Business on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts ExitReadiness® PODCAST: Exit Planning, Succession & Selling Your Business?
ExitReadiness® PODCAST: Exit Planning, Succession & Selling Your Business is created and hosted by Pat Ennis & Walter Deyhle · ENNIS Legacy Partners.
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