Keynotes & Workshops for Exit-Minded Business Owners
I speak to rooms full of owner‑dependent business owners and the advisors who serve them about one thing:
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How to turn their life’s work into a clean, lucrative exit instead of a lowball offer and a handcuffed earn‑out.
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If your audience includes $1–5M founders who are 6–36 months from exit, I’ll show them how serious buyers think, what actually drives valuation, and what to change first so they don’t leave six or seven figures on the table.
AS SEEN ON / FEATURED IN
who i speak to
I’m a fit for groups and events where the room is full of:
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Owners of $1–5M, owner‑dependent businesses
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Entrepreneurs 6–36 months from a third‑party exit
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Advisors who serve these owners (CPAs, wealth advisors, lawyers, brokers, EOS/Traction implementers)
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Typical settings:
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Peer groups (Vistage / EO‑style forums, mastermind groups)
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Industry and trade association conferences
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Client appreciation / education events run by advisors
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Closed‑door workshops for portfolio companies or firm clients
Why Bring Me In
Event hosts bring me in because:
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I’ve sat on both sides of the table. I’ve started six companies, sold three for a combined seven‑figure outcome, and evaluated 100+ businesses as a buyer. I know what makes buyers pay more, discount, or walk.
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I’m obsessively specific. I speak only to the $1–5M, owner‑dependent, third‑party exit. No generic “motivational entrepreneurship” talks.
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I give owners math and moves, not fluff. Attendees leave knowing what their likely value is today, where buyers will hit them, and what to change in the next 6–18 months.
1. How To 2-4x Your Company Valuation Without Spending A Dollar On Marketing
Most owners have a “number” in their head that’s never been reality‑checked. This piece walks you through how serious third‑party buyers think about $1–5M, owner‑dependent businesses and how they arrive at a price range.
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You’ll see the 3 main levers buyers care about, a simple way to ballpark your current valuation, and the common mistakes that cause owners to overestimate (or underestimate) what they’d actually get in a real process.
2. From Job In Disguise To Sellable Asset: De‑Owner‑fying Your Business Before You Sell
Perfect for founders who keep hearing “the business is you."
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Attendees will learn:
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The 7 owner‑dependence red flags that make buyers nervous
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How those red flags translate into discounts, earn‑outs, and handcuffs
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Practical, low‑drama changes they can make in 6–18 months to reduce key‑person risk
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The minimum “you‑independence” buyers and lenders want to see
3. How Serious Buyers Think About $1–5M Businesses (And What Makes Them Pay More)
Great for mixed rooms of owners and advisors.
Attendees will learn:
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How professional buyers underwrite deals at this size
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The difference between “nice to have” and “moves the valuation needle”
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How to package financials, operations, and team so buyers lean in
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The signals that separate “tourists” from real buyers
Formats & Logistics
I can deliver this content as:
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30–45 minute keynote
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60–90 minute deep‑dive session
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Half‑day workshop (interactive, with exercises and live Q&A)
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Virtual sessions for remote or hybrid groups
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Every engagement includes a short planning call to align on your audience, desired outcomes, and which talk (or combination) makes the most sense. Good branding is about what others say and what they experience, not what I say, so I design talks to make you look good for bringing me in.
what People say
Book Joe To Speak
If you’d like me to speak to your group, share a few details and I’ll get back to you within 2 business days.
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