Most business owners go through a pivotal moment—their first real look behind the curtain at how buyers value companies. For Rens Hayes, that moment came when he went through a sale and due diligence process for his father’s structural steel business. What he learned from that experience completely changed how he approached building and scaling his own company, H&O Structural Engineering.
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In this episode of Independence by Design™, Rens and I break down how he engineered his business for value creation, using Ken Sanginario’s Engineer’s Value Opportunity Profile (VOP) as his roadmap. Instead of scaling haphazardly, Rens built his company by systematically improving the eight functional areas that drive business valuation—the same areas buyers care about most.

Rens and his partner have taken a deliberate approach to aligning cash flow, valuation timelines, and growth goals, ensuring that every dollar reinvested moves them closer to financial independence. Whether you are preparing for an eventual exit or simply want to build a business that works for you instead of the other way around, this conversation is packed with insights that will change the way you think about scaling, hiring executives, and managing risk.
Rens Hayes is a structural engineer and entrepreneur who transformed H&O Structural Engineering by applying enterprise value principles to modernize the traditional engineering industry. After experiencing due diligence firsthand, he shifted from operator to owner mindset, implementing Ken Sanginario's Value Opportunity Profile to align business growth with long-term value creation. Hayes helps real estate developers maximize returns through strategic design and cost-efficient engineering, while sharing insights on scaling, capital allocation, and executive hiring—expertise valuable for business owners seeking to build wealth-generating enterprises rather than just larger companies.
Chapters:

• (00:00) Ryan and Rens reconnect after several years and discuss their shared experience in Ken Sanginario's CVGA training program

• (02:16) Rens’ journey with H&O Structural Engineering and his decision to not take over his family's steel business

• (04:07) The importance of organized financial data and M&A understanding

• (07:10) Ken's eight business functions framework and how small business owners often excel in only a few areas

• (11:24) Risk assessment and the strategic approach to capital deployment in business growth

• (15:19) Personal drive, potential, and the relationship between noble goals and motivation

• (21:47) Rens' relationship with co-founder Jeremiah

• (34:23) Marketing strategy in professional services, development of compelling offers

• (43:13) Data-driven decision-making in marketing and sales efforts

• (49:51) Transitioning from founder-led to executive team leadership

• (56:47) Open book management and team-wide bonus structures tied to company performance

• (1:31:47) Developing a predictable revenue engine as a foundation for strategic executive hiring
  
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Ryan Tansom is a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and the founder of Independence by Design™, a transformative ownership framework for growth-oriented business owners. After turning around and selling his family business in an eight-figure exit, Ryan spent over a decade dissecting the lessons learned from his journey. His mission is to help other business owners avoid the pitfalls he encountered by providing them with the tools and knowledge to align their business operations with their personal and financial goals.

With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by owner-operators, Ryan developed Independence by Design™ to empower owner-operators to create sustainable cash flow, grow their company’s equity value, and achieve true independence. He has shared his insights on hundreds of stages, including Vistage, EO, and industry associations, and has reached over 500,000 listeners through his podcast.

Ryan is passionate about helping business owners get unstuck from the day-to-day grind and design a business that serves their life, not the other way around.

Resources:
Website: H&O Structural Engineering

LinkedIn: Rens Hayes

Podcast: The H&O Podcast

Independence by Design™ Workshop: https://ryantansom.com/independence-by-design-workshop

Independence by Design™ Ownership Coaching: Ryan Tansom’s Ownership Accelerator programs and coaching https://ryantansom.com/coaching

Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/

Ryan Tansom LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantansom/

Ryan Tansom Twitter https://twitter.com/RyanTansom

Ryan Tansom YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ryantansom

Ryan Tansom 30-Minute Ownership Strategy Call https://calendar.app.google/tsKk7z6ohugDchWq8

Sound Bites:

"Scaling a business isn’t just about revenue—it’s about building an asset buyers actually want." – Rens Hayes

"The biggest mistake founders make? Hiring executives before they know what success looks like." – Ryan Tansom

"If you don’t know how to allocate capital inside your own business, you’re just hoping for growth—not engineering it." – Rens Hayes

"There’s a difference between working in the business and working on the business. The sooner you figure that out, the sooner you get your time back." – Ryan Tansom