In this episode of the M&A Mastermind podcast, Nick Olsen interviews Colin Bowman, a partner and VP at Cultivate Advisors. They discuss the intricacies of growing a business, preparing it for sale, and the importance of increasing enterprise value.

Colin shares his journey from the franchise world to advising small businesses, emphasizing the need for a solid business plan and the role of M&A advisors in the selling process. The conversation highlights the collaborative nature of business advisory services and the significance of emotional readiness for business owners considering a sale.

Tune in now and elevate your understanding of M&A dynamics with the podcast that delivers actionable insights and unlocks the door to new possibilities. To learn more about M&A trends and insights, please like, subscribe, and rate our podcast. New episodes go live every Thursday at 9 am CST.

Some Key takeaways include:

• Colin's journey from franchise ownership to business advising.
• The impact of COVID-19 on small businesses and entrepreneurship.
• Cultivate Advisors focuses on increasing enterprise value for clients.
• 70% of clients want to scale, while 30% are preparing to exit.
• Key metrics for increasing enterprise value include financial health and operational efficiency.
• Successful case studies demonstrate the effectiveness of their advisory model.
• The importance of collaboration between business advisors and M&A professionals.
• Emotional readiness is crucial for business owners looking to sell.
• Tax strategies play a significant role in post-sale financial planning.
• Cultivate Advisors offers complimentary advising to M&A professionals.

About the show:

The M&A Mastermind Podcast is your go-to source for the latest industry trends and strategies to level up your M&A practice.

The show features thought leaders who specialize in the lower middle market space and share their experiences and expertise across key areas of execution, such as: market analysis, lead generation, deal management, strategic partnerships, buyer access and much more.

With host Nick Olsen, each episode's "mastermind" will share ways in which they have found success in navigating the M&A industry to best support the small-to-medium sized private business owners they focus on serving.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Cultivate Advisors and Colin Bowman

01:10 Colin's Journey and the Impact of COVID-19

02:48 Understanding Cultivate Advisors' Business Model

03:41 Client Profiles and Business Lifecycle Stages

05:22 Increasing Enterprise Value: Key Metrics and Strategies

07:40 Success Stories: Case Studies of Growth

10:41 The Team Sport of Business Advisory

13:25 Preparing for Sale: The Role of M&A Advisors

19:32 The Importance of Emotional Readiness in Selling

21:46 Tax Strategies and Financial Planning for Business Owners

25:31 Collaboration with M&A Advisors for Successful Exits

Keywords: business growth, enterprise value, M&A, advisory services, small business, exit strategy, financial planning, entrepreneurship, case studies, business lifecycle