What happens after you sell your company for millions and walk away with no earnout? In this episode, Bruce Eckfeldt sits down with Thomas Michael, a former SAP consultant turned founder who scaled an online training company and exited with a clean deal. Thomas shares how he transformed his business into a subscription model, prepared for acquisition with precision, and what surprised him most after the sale. A must-listen for founders planning their own exits.

Key Takeaways:

• Switching to SaaS doubled the exit multiple through recurring revenue.
  
• Preparing for an exit can take 1–2 years—start early and organize everything.
  
• Making yourself unimportant in the business is key to a clean transition.
  
• Culture by design significantly improves team morale and buyer appeal.
  
• A good advisory board can add millions in value pre-exit.
  
• Many buyers will lowball; knowing industry multiples is essential.
  
• Post-exit identity loss is real—plan ahead for your next chapter.
  
• Don't underestimate the power of financial and operational clarity in due diligence.

Links & Resources

• Thomas Michael
  • Website: thomasmichaellive.com
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasmichael1/

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