Informative insights and conversations with owners, CEOs, M&A dealmakers, and other professionals on lessons learned, tips, current business conditions, and more.
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Debt, Financials, and Pay Attention (to them)
6:27
6:27
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6:27
There's a Seattle area school district in a deep financial hole, as per the state auditor and their own management team. I don't know the whole story but often well meaning people like the mission and don't understand the workings. Large business, small business, school district, or non-profit, you can't spend more than you take in (for very long).…
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What an Owner Should Do and Not Do to Increase Value
6:14
6:14
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6:14
Business buyers look for areas where they can improve and add value. Business owners should be looking to see where they can add value. Too many owners do too many things below their pay grade. Listen to learn: Things buyers look for that they can do better than the current owner (and easily add value). Eight common areas an owner works on that are…
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Seven Things an Owner Should Think About Before Selling (and a Buyer Should Want to Know)
7:26
7:26
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7:26
In our soon to be released book, Exit With Style, Grace, and More Money we cover things an owner should think about (besides getting the business soaring and in tip-top shape). Buyers should want the seller to think through these things because if no thought is given the chances seller remorse increase. Listen to learn and here some examples. John …
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Leadership for a Better Business and a Smoother Exit with Jonathan Bennett
29:14
29:14
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29:14
Jonathan Bennett did the corporate thing, started his own advisory firm, sold it to management, and now helps owners and C-level leaders improve. We discuss the following topics and get into detail on being emotionally ready to sell your business and preserve its legacy. Navigating the Emotional Journey of a Merger or Acquisition of Your Company Cr…
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Business Tips & Competitive Advantage Go Together
4:25
4:25
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4:25
It's easy to find good business tips and examples of great competitive advantages. Just as easy to find examples of mistakes and no competitive advantage (competing on price is one that is not-so-good). Listen to hear everyday examples of both. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out o…
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Discussion with Attorney Michelle Bomberger on the Changing World of Non-Compete Agreements
27:25
27:25
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27:25
It's the Wild West with non-compete agreements. Michelle explains what's going on with: Non-compete agreements Non-solicitation agreements In Washington state On the federal level Exempt versus non-exempt employees And much more A very timely and fast changing topic relevant to all business owners and buyers. This was recorded prior to July 3, 2024…
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Both the local (Seattle) and national press recently had articles on the drama around Rite Aid's buying of local favorite Bartell Drugs. FYI, it hasn't gone well with 1/3 of the Bartell stores closing in the few years since the acquisition. A majority of business owners I talk with comment on how they want their employees taken care of when they se…
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There are a lot of exciting things in life, or at least there should be. But should it be your business (or the one you want to buy)? Listen and learn what makes the best business type to own or buy. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out our videos https://nokomisadvisory.com/ https:…
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Discussion with Phillip Hogan of Signing Services of America on Building a Business
24:03
24:03
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After serving 4 years in the US Navy, he earned his Masters in Social Work and founded Housing Matters of NY, an organization that provided transitional housing to formerly incarcerated male nonviolent offenders. With a vision to continue his family’s legacy of entrepreneurship, Phillip went on to redefine the signing service industry when he found…
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What's the multiple is a common question. There's a lot more to it than just picking a number. In this episode we cover: Multiple versus price/earnings ratio Terminology for earnings Why multiples don't come out of the air Sanity checks Historic ranges The multiple is really how you calculate return on investment, so pay attention. John Martinka Je…
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Discussion with Trever Acers of Objective, Investment Banking & Valuation
37:11
37:11
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Trever Acers joins John to discuss: Trends in M&A Getting a business seller a higher value and price Biggest mistake owners make with being solicited by buyers How sellers can motivate the best buyers to take action Objective, Investment Banking & Valuation (“Objective”) is a leading investment banking and valuation firm that services middle market…
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The Most Important Question for a Business Seller
6:34
6:34
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6:34
The most important question a business buyer can ask a seller is: Why are you selling? The trite answer, "To pursue other interests" doesn't cut it. It just raises skepticism. List for the best and worst answers, i.e., reasons to sell. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out our videos…
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Five Things Sellers Should Do Because This is What Business Buyers Want
8:19
8:19
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8:19
Too many business owners run the business for themselves (lifestyle, immediate cash flow, etc.) when they should run it for their eventual buyer. I cover five very important things all owners should be doing and doing correctly to make their business more attractive to buyers - all types of buyers from the individual to private equity to strategic.…
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Newton's 3rd Law of Motion Applies to Business
4:37
4:37
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4:37
Sir Isaac Newton's 3rd Law of Motion is, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this episode we discuss how it applies to business, specifically: Supply and demand and price elasticity Growing a business Reaction to government actions In a buy-sell deal Take a listen, it's under 5 minutes. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Contac…
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A Solid Team = Victory in Sports and Increased Value in Business
4:46
4:46
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Sports teams are just that, a team. It's rare one player can do it all. Even Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Tom Brady, etc, didn't win every year. In business a solid team that reduces the owner's role (no owner dependency) is a key value driver. Listen for some examples and stories about great teams and strategies. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Co…
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Discussion with Nick Anderson, CEO of OneAccord on Increasing a Business' Value
23:28
23:28
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Nick Anderson is the (fairly new) CEO of OneAccord in Kirkland, WA. His task is to streamline their value proposition, which is now helping companies increase value. They do it through fractional C-level people, coaching, and strategic planning. Each client gets a "Success Manager" in addition to their on-the-ground advisor. This assures accountabi…
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There are value drivers galore and in this episode (recorded in beautiful Antigua, West Indies where you can hear the roar of the surf) we cover why having an exit plan increases a company's value. From the financials to the employees and customers to showing how you've grown over the last few years it let's a buyer know you're serious and motivate…
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In 2012 I published two posts, one with tips for business buyers and one with tips for sellers. When I came across it in my files I realized those tips are just as relevent today as they were in 2012 (and many decades prior). For buyers it's about being aggressive throughout the process. For sellers, it's getting educated on what's involved (like m…
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Clean Books and Financial Statements are a Huge Plus
2:08
2:08
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2:08
Recorded in beautiful Antigua, West Indies (hear the roar of the surf). It's always a great and interesting story when talking about sloppy bookkeeping,, inaccurate financial statements, and anything similar. But let's not forget that many companies have very clean books and the financial statements actually reflect the performance of the company. …
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Nick Pili with Merger Vault and Businessesforsale.com Discuss M&A
27:25
27:25
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Nick Pili is the Senior VP in charge of Merger Vault, as service of www.businessesforsale.com, which is the largest marketplace in the world for businesses for sale. He has been with the company since day one, in the UK. Now based on Charlotte NC, runs Merger Vault, a managed listing service for business brokers. Nick discusses their value add serv…
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Control Runaway Costs with Wyatt Wheeler of P3 Cost Analysts
19:04
19:04
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Wyatt Wheeler is a former business owner who now helps companies reduce costs. With P3 Cost Analysts he reviews overhead costs and finds savings and contract breaches that reduce costs, now an in the future. He shares some examples of saving companies from a few thousand dollars a year to well into six figures. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Contac…
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You're Smarter Than You Were a Month Ago, So Use Those Smarts
5:07
5:07
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Don't do things the same old way because that's the way you've always done them. I give an example of how I "got smarter" plus examples of doing it smarter and better with: Marketing Sales Operations Customer Service Technology Hope you enjoy this fun episode. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sur…
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Airplane Disasters and Improving Business Operations
5:17
5:17
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No, I'm not crazy, there are lessons from the recent Boeing airplane popping a door plug and business operations improvement. Listen to hear an example of how a small business, 20 years ago, had a better tracking system than Boeing seems to have had in 2024. Plus a few tips from things companies have done or didn't do to help improve your situation…
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Yes, Interest Rates do Matter in Buy-Sell Deals
4:19
4:19
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After reading a blog post where the author said interest rates shouldn't affect the price of a business I realized that's not true. It may not affect the value an appraiser would put on the business but the price is different - it's the market at work. I go through interest rate history, why it matters, and give examples of loan payments and total …
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Business Buyer/Owner Discusses His Journey and Lessons Learned
26:30
26:30
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26:30
Craig Halena îs the owner of Buyken Metal Products and Valley Nut & Bolt. He bought Buyen at the end of 2016 and has doubled sales and tripled profits, all with 2/3 the number of employees from when he bought it. He purchased Valley in 2023 and is implementing the same improvements. Listen as he discusses: Know your strategic advantage Acting like …
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The SBA Changed Their Rules Again with Lisa Forrest
38:53
38:53
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38:53
Third time is the charm! Normally Lisa joins me in Q1 to discuss SBA changes, lending practices, and the market. With the SBA just having released their third update this year (plus one backroom one) Lisa is back. We discuss: Majority stock purchases (seller retains some shares) with an SBA loan. New minimum buyer equity injection rules (scary to t…
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Think You Know HR (and Employee Rights)? Think Again and Listen to Suzan Sturholm, an HR Expert
1:00:01
1:00:01
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My special guest Suzan Sturholm is the owner of All Things HR. In this incredible discussion she covers: Staff challenges DEIB (the B is belonging) Remote/Hybrid work and related polices AI-empowered workforce evolution Exempt vs. non-exempt salary thresholds Compliance - wage & hour laws, employee leaves and time off, discrimination laws, and more…
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John & Jon (Stoddard) Discuss Business Buyers, Sellers, Bad Deals, Good Deals, and More
57:15
57:15
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57:15
Jon Stoddard is the Host of "Top M&A Entrepreneur's Podcast" and joins me for a fascinating discussion on business buying, search funds, make-believe deals, and a lot more. He is also the author of, How to Buy a Million Dollar Business. You can connect with Jon at jon.stoddard2016@gmail.com or (520) 488-6704. See his podcasts at https://www.youtube…
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Discussion with Billy Poll - Commercial Real Estate Expert
23:08
23:08
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23:08
My friend Billy Poll with NAI-Puget Sound Properties joins me to discuss the turbulent commercial real estate market. Billy gives his insights on: Retail, industrial, and office market conditions Landlord relations Leases and lease traps The benefits of using a broker The property and its lease can make or kill a buy-sell deal (we've had three pote…
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A little different in this episode as I'm joined by my friend Chris Boland, a promotional products expert. We're all used to the junk we get at conferences, right? Chris takes a different approach, as we can attest to have been his customer many times. He strives to get unique and high quality items. Listen as he discusses industry changes, the ben…
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Stories Sell - Mario Juarez on the Power of Stories in Life & Business
23:59
23:59
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Mario Juarez is a born story teller and helps others get their story out to the public. A journalist by trade, he's always been attracted to good stories. At Microsoft he helped co-workers craft their message to make sales. in this episode (which just flew by as we recorded it) we discuss: Why tell stories Leveraging stories in (small) business Wha…
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Taken from a story in the headlines I discuss how business buyers and sellers often do the easy things not the tough things. Of course, when they do the tough things (the right things) their process goes faster, smoother, and better. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out our videos h…
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Attorney Danya Shakfeh on Small Business Buy-Sell Deals
19:05
19:05
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19:05
Danya Shakfeh is a Chicago and Florida based buy-sell attorney for small businesses. She discusses deals and what sellers can do to make it go smoother. She also works with franchisees. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out our videos https://nokomisadvisory.com/ https://www.martinka…
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Malcolm Peace Gives Tips on Bringing Legacy Businesses Into the 21st Century
20:51
20:51
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Malcolm Peace is an Austin, Texas based entrepreneur who has bought an improved numerous companies. He explains what his team and he have done to "modernize" these businesses to improve efficiencies, create systems, and growth. You can reach Malcolm at https://tsetserra.com/ or 512-775-6559. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Contact us via either webs…
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Discussion with Business Broker Gregory Kovsky
26:52
26:52
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26:52
Gregory Kovsky joins John to discuss their experiences, what makes a good client (aka good deal), and more based on their combined 50+ years of experience in the buy-sell industry. Specific topics include: What they each like most about the intermediary business. What makes a salable business. What makes a good buyer. Banking and bankers - what the…
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What exactly is a competitive advantage? Watch and listen for some practical examples from large, medium, and small businesses. And why you need to have and refine your competitive advantage. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out our videos https://nokomisadvisory.com/ https://www.ma…
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SBA Loan Changes with Lisa Forrest with Live Oak Bank
34:34
34:34
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Lisa Forrest with Live Oak Bank discusses the sweeping changes in the May 2023 SBA Standard Operating Procedures. We discuss SBA 7A loan business acquisition loan basics plus changes to: Life insurance requirements Buyer equity (cash) injection to the deal Seller equity post-close (now allowed) The seller's role post-close This podcast will make yo…
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Location Location Location is Important for all Businesses
2:26
2:26
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Business buyers and owners often don't pay as much attention to location as they should. Location is important for not just retail. Hear some real life examples of why it's important for others businesses and some exceptions to the rule. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out our vide…
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It's All About the Growth to Make it a Great Deal
1:48
1:48
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Warren Buffett was quoted in the Wall Street Journal about his biggest mistakes in analyzing companies and missing on growth potential was on the top of the list. There are a lot of things for a buyer to analyze and for an owner/ seller to concentrate on. Hear why growth should lead the pack (and why it's about having great people). John Martinka J…
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Robert Schaeffer with Cerebro Capital with Lending Updates
17:17
17:17
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17:17
Cerebro Capital is a technology platform to expedite the lending process for their clients. With well over 1,000 lenders in their system they can match the borrower with the best partner and analyze the terms and conditions. Robert Schaeffer is on their Capital Markets Team and shares his thoughts on his firm's value, process, the market, interest …
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The first thing many people do when looking at a profit and loss statement is check out the bottom line and move on. But that's just part of the story. There are a lot of things within the statement that shed light on the net income amount. And year-to-date statement are full of their own traps. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Contact us via either …
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It's an industry we all frequent, hospitality. Whether it's a restaurant, resort, hotel, or airline, we use them and they should be customer service friendly. Hear some lessons on what doesn't work, a correction, and what business buyers often bring to the customer service equation. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Contact us via either website or gi…
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In our never-ending political season it seems the politicians get further and further away from helping their constituents and more into nothing but reelection. Listen for three key lessons politicians can learn by paying attention to the M&A industry. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to che…
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When buying (or selling) a business the landlord and/or a bad lease can kill a deal. Unless the business can be easily and inexpensively be moved the buyer needs a lease, including options, at least as long as the term of their loan. The buyer and especially the bank don't want the buyer forced out while still owing money - it can be very expensive…
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Most small businesses don't do a statement of cash flows and when the CPA does one it's often not paid attention to. Yet, it can be very insightful. Plus, I share a hilarious story about a guy at a PE firm who completely doesn't understand them. John Martinka Jessica Martinka Contact us via either website or give us a call and be sure to check out …
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A lawsuit by Chase bank against a startup they bought, Frank, caught my attention because if even half of what Chase claims is true it means they did one heck of a sloppy job on diligence. Buyer fever anybody? My experience is buyers of small to lower middle market businesses are over the top on their diligence, which is good. And of course there's…
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Lisa Forrest with Live Oak Bank joins John for a discussion of what's going on with business acquisition loans. One of our most popular guests, she's back for her third visit, and it's always informative. During our talk she covers: New SBA rules and rumored rules What Live Oak Bank doesn't want to see (or lend on) What's happening to business buye…
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Laurie Nichols and John Discuss "Succession Planning With Heart"
22:53
22:53
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Laurie learned a lot of lessons when her partners and her sold their business. She now works with clients, mainly in professional services, on succession planning (with heart). Listen as she discusses: Her lessons learned and the #1 detailer - from navigating the tricky pathfrom independence to sale. The triple win succession formula - Doing succes…
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Tom Granger of FDG Web Discusses Digital Transformation and how FDG Helps Their Clients
18:26
18:26
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Tom Granger tells us exactly what digitalization and digital transformation, why it's important for all of us, and does so only after his very interesting story of how he got into business. FDG Web takes on complicated projects and successfully completes them. Sure, they can do a basic website but their clients want them to help with CRM and ERP in…
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Conversation with Jim Eschweiler - CEO of Top Pot Donuts
20:18
20:18
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Jim Eschweiler has a deep hospitality industry background and currently heads Top Pot Donuts in Seattle. We discussed: (This is the most important) Top Pot's special Christmas donut for 2022 His objectives at Top Pot The future of businesses like coffee shops, donut shops, etc. Things he's done and lessons learned We know you'll like it! 425-576-18…
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