Journey to IPO – BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS FOR AN acquisition
What Do you want next?
Journey to IPO – BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS FOR AN acquisition
How to Get there:
1)Your Team2)Know your business3)What do they want?4)What do you want?5)Get help executing your plan
At 15, I had 2 Goals- 1) Bicycle NYC-Seattle 2) Don’t walk any hills
Problem – flat tire before we left New York – 2 more that day
Very Long Hills
No “I” in TEAM
3,752 miles later!
…Then We Climbed Mt. Rainier(Right goal, wrong tools)
Meet Mark, Entrepreneur
1) It’s ALL About Your Team
Do You Have the Team You Need?
Hire SLOWLY, fire quickly
Great people drive your business, bad people kill it
What If You Could Read Them?
YOU CAN!
How They Do It – Read Behaviors
Why They Do it – Values
How Does Your Company Look?
Values Drive Your Team(Train for skills)
Train Your Team – then Have Fun
2) Know and Grow Your Business
• What do you want? What’s your number?
• Focus: the attracting force for buyers
• Prepare NOW for an acquisition
• The DOs and DON’Ts
How to Get to the Altar? Acquirers Love Businesses That Are:
Focused and unique
Have great people
Growing, cash flow, profitable
Add value to buyer
Stand Out with Your Growth Story
Are your Forecasts accurate?
Cash flow is king - not EBITA, etc
Increasing margins show your efficiency
Be transparent – elevator pitch
3) Make The Buyer Look SmartShow fast entrance into a new business - you are expert
Deliver the “Promise of pot of gold at end of the rainbow”
Strengthen Your Business Now – AIM!
Accept: Plans that fit in your current sandbox
Invest – make real growth plans
Measure – KPIs, ROI, your key numbers
Repeat!
A Secret They Won’t Tell You
They buy you - then the business
Be nice, open, curious, helpful and positive
3 STEPS HOW TO KILL A DEAL…
1) Be a Cocky Arrogant Jerk
2) Disrespect your commitments (blow off stuff, be late)
3) Screw the other guy
4) What Do You Want Next?
Get Ready to Jump In
Negotiate Key elements at the start of the process
Roles, reporting, goals, time, meetings
Compensation, bonus, earn-outs, stock
Contract length, non-compete, severance
Find a few senior champions for you
5) Get Ready Now
1) What if a buyer knocked today?
2) Have you done your own due diligence (as if you were a buyer)?
3) What’s on your “unknown risks” list and what can that cost you?
4) When will you start planning for the future?
5) HOW to Get Ready Now
1) Create a list of target acquirers or strategic investors/partners
2) Work with your team and an expert to create your 1-2 year plan
3) Do MORE of what you do best, kill the other stuff
4) Create a content plan for media and events
Journey to IPO – BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS FOR AN acquisition
How to Get there:
1)Your Team2)Know your business3)What do they want?4)What do you want?5)Get help executing your plan
Journey to IPO – BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS FOR AN acquisition
(Thank you! Connect with markfriedler)
[email protected] 415.683.6601