On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, we sit down again with John Martinka of Nokomis Advisors to unpack the real challenge of owner dependence in privately held businesses. From contracts that bottleneck at the top to sales pipelines that rely too heavily on the founder, John explains why scaling requires rules, training, compliance, and a stronger management team. We dig into practical levers owners can pull—delegating authority, documenting SOPs, upgrading talent, and building systems that make the company less about the owner and more about the enterprise. Whether you’re preparing for growth, succession, or eventual sale, this conversation reveals why solving owner dependence is both the hardest and most valuable move you can make.