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Buyers don’t pay top dollar for a founder’s heroics; they pay for a business that runs without the founder. We sit down with M&A advisor John Martinka to map the moves that turn people power into enterprise value, from reducing owner dependency to proving that your management team and systems deliver results without you. If you’ve ever wondered when to start planning an exit, how to treat addbacks, or what actually spooks a lender, this conversation is your field guide.
John explains why clean, believable financials are worth far more than the taxes you think you’re saving, and how sloppy addbacks quietly shave six figures off your outcome. We go deep on the HR and compliance traps—especially contractor misclassification and state-specific rules—that can crater a deal late in diligence. Then we dig into the real engine of valuation: people. Learn how to build redundancy, design retention bonuses that keep key talent through integration, and communicate culture so employees trust the transition instead of fearing it.
We also lay out the biggest value drags—coasting on past wins, customer or supplier concentration, and penny-wise decisions that starve growth—and offer practical fixes you can deploy this quarter. Whether you’ll sell to an outside buyer, a team, or family, the same principle holds: good businesses let sellers control the deal. Get the playbook to turn an exit into a legacy, not just a liquidity event.
Subscribe for more unfiltered strategies, share with someone building something big, and leave a quick review with your top takeaway. Mention this podcast at Nokomasadvisory.com for a free e-copy of Exit Risk Style, Grace and More Money.

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