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The Exit - Presented By Flippa

The Exit - Presented By Flippa

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 The Exit - Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on https://flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/All rights reserved
Episodes
  • Grow With the Exit in Mind: How Founders Maximize Value Before Selling with Alex Seydel

    Grow With the Exit in Mind: How Founders Maximize Value Before Selling with Alex Seydel
    Jan 26 2026
    Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- Are you growing your company in a way that truly prepares you for a successful exit, or are you hoping it will all work itself out when the time comes? Whether selling is right around the corner or still years away, building with the exit in mind can be the difference between a smooth transition and long-term regret. In this episode of The Exit, Steve sits down with Alex Seydel, a former M&A attorney turned business exit strategist and co-founder of Ripple’s Edge Advisors. After working on countless transactions, Alex has seen firsthand why so many founders walk away dissatisfied, not because they sold, but because they sold to the wrong buyer, in the wrong way, without proper preparation. -- Alex Seydel is an M&A attorney turned business exit strategist and the co-founder of Ripple’s Edge Advisors, where she helps founders grow with the exit in mind by maximizing value, attractiveness, and readiness long before a deal is on the table. Drawing on years of experience working across complex transactions, Alex partners with business owners to reduce risk, increase transferability, and position their companies for higher-quality exits at stronger multiples. A former Division I soccer player at the University of Iowa, she brings a competitive, disciplined mindset to every engagement, and when she’s not talking exits, you can usually find her discussing sports, Lane 8, or hanging out with her Golden Retriever, Thumper. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandria-seydel/ Website - https://www.ripplesedgeadvisors.com/ -- Timestamps: (00:00) Alex’s path from M&A attorney to exit strategist. (02:30) Why so many founders regret exits even after successful closes. (03:20) Getting clear on what you want before preparing to sell. (05:15) The biggest misconceptions founders have about exit readiness. (06:50) How to think about timing, growth, and selling without burnout. (09:25) Gender dynamics at the deal table and trusting your instincts as a founder. (14:15) Understanding advisor incentives and navigating intimidating deal calls. (16:50) What actually drives valuation beyond revenue and EBITDA. (18:45) Testing owner dependence and improving transferability. (20:05) The most common mistakes sellers make when choosing buyers. (22:00) Why maximizing cash at close often matters most. (22:50) Creative deal structures and smarter earn-outs. (25:30) Advice Alex would give herself ten years ago. (26:40) What Alex is working on now and where to find her. -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/
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    33 mins
  • The Art of the Exit: Maximizing Valuation & Avoiding Deal Killers with Gregory Kovsky

    The Art of the Exit: Maximizing Valuation & Avoiding Deal Killers with Gregory Kovsky
    Jan 19 2026
    Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- Are you building your business with the end in mind? Whether you are ready to sell tomorrow or five years from now, understanding the mechanics of a successful exit is crucial for every founder. In this episode, Steve sits down with Gregory Kovsky, President and CEO of IBA, the Pacific Northwest’s oldest business brokerage firm. With over 25 years of experience and thousands of transactions under his belt, Gregory breaks down the complex game theory of M&A. We dive deep into the specific timing of when to sell, how to "run through the tape" to maximize your multiple, and why selling a business actually requires making four separate sales to four different stakeholders. If you want to avoid leaving money on the table or getting killed in due diligence, this episode is your playbook. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The "Four Sales" Theory: Why you aren't just selling to the buyer—you also have to sell the CPA, the Attorney, and the Bank. The Two Prime Windows: Why Jan-June and Labor Day-Thanksgiving are the golden seasons for M&A activity. Valuation Multiples 101: How to move the needle from a 4x to a 7x multiple by diminishing risk. The Fatal Mistake: Why failing to disclose material facts (like a competitor moving in across the street) is the fastest way to invite litigation. Pre-Exit Hygiene: Simple fixes—from website refreshes to cleaning up the "boneyard"—that create a strong first impression. The "Marathon" Mindset: Why you must keep your foot on the gas even during negotiations. Timestamps: (02:00) From veterinary clinics to M&A: Gregory’s journey. (04:30) The 4 audiences you must convince to close a deal. (07:45) Why tax season dictates the best time to sell. (11:30) Tactical ways to increase your business valuation immediately. (15:10) The biggest mistake sellers make: The danger of hiding the truth. (25:00) The story of the business that was sold four different times. (27:00) About IBA and the importance of performance-based brokerage. -- Gregory Kovsky is the President & CEO of IBA (International Business Associates), the Pacific Northwest’s oldest and largest business brokerage firm. Mr. Kovsky has successfully negotiated the purchase & sale of over 300 privately held companies and family businesses in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, California, North Carolina, and Massachusetts since joining IBA as a mergers & acquisitions intermediary in 1994. He has successfully facilitated transactions involving manufacturing & distribution companies, industrial, marine, and automotive businesses, technology & software companies, and service, education, and retail businesses. A commercial real estate professional for over 30 years, Mr. Kovsky commonly provides his clients with comprehensive representation in selling a business and the associated real estate. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-kovsky-460aab7/ -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/
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    34 mins
  • Optimizing Your Business Exit: Valuation, Timing, and Wealth Management with Tim Golas

    Optimizing Your Business Exit: Valuation, Timing, and Wealth Management with Tim Golas
    Jan 12 2026
    Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- Are you a business owner thinking about the next chapter? Too many entrepreneurs focus entirely on building their company but fail to prepare themselves, and their finances, for the exit. In this episode, Steve sits down with Tim Golas, Partner and Co-Founder at Spurstone, to discuss the tactical realities of selling a business. From the dangers of concentration risk to the "Fish and Chip" method of negotiation, Tim breaks down how to run two parallel paths: optimizing the business for sale and preparing your personal wealth for the liquidity event. Whether you are looking to sell in 2026 or just want to de-risk your current operations, this episode provides a roadmap for maximizing your deal terms and protecting your legacy. -- Timothy Golas is an exit planning advisor, fiduciary, and Partner at Spurstone who serves as a trusted confidant to eight- and nine-figure business owners navigating major financial transitions. A founder himself, he understands the pressure and complexity of building a business and the risks of exiting without the right strategy or support. With more than 20 years of experience advising successful families, executives, and stakeholders across the U.S., Timothy helps founders and multi-owner teams protect what they’ve built, maximize value, and move forward with clarity and confidence. As a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), he specializes in value acceleration, tax-efficient exits, and guiding entrepreneurs through Spurstone’s Grind to Good Life framework, from exit preparation to post-exit fulfillment, bringing both expertise and empathy to a deeply personal transition. Website - https://www.spurstone.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothygolas/ Timestamps: (00:22) From Wall Street to Main Street: Tim shares his background at UBS during the financial collapse and why he founded Spurstone to better serve entrepreneurs and business owners. [02:00) The 2-3 Year Window: Why you need to start planning years before the sale. The concept of "Parallel Paths" - preparing the business entity and the personal financials simultaneously. (04:12) Combating Concentration Risk: How to identify if your business is too reliant on one client. Tactical Tip: Tim discusses the strategy of acquiring smaller companies to dilute client concentration before going to market. (08:12) When is the Right Time to Sell?: Navigating age, market conditions, and avoiding "forced" exits (Death, Disability, Divorce). (13:54) Maximizing Valuation: Moving beyond the top-line number. Understanding the difference between EBITDA and Normalized EBITDA, and why "de-risking" (e.g., settling litigation, owning real estate) drives multiples higher. (15:32) The Biggest Mistake Sellers Make: Why you should never wait for an LOI (Letter of Intent) to land on your desk before you start planning. (19:30) The "Fish and Chip" Method: A warning on how buyers use high valuations to hook sellers, only to chip away at the price during due diligence. (21:14) M&A Trends for 2026: What’s happening with Baby Boomers, the trades, and manufacturing sectors. The rise of Private Equity roll-ups. -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/
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    31 mins
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