Most founders believe the value of their business lies entirely inside their operating company. In this episode, Jason Bush joins Jerome Myers to challenge that assumption and expose one of the most overlooked exit-planning risks: real estate misalignment. Drawing from Jason’s two exits, his background in engineering, business advisory, and commercial real estate, and his work at Linville Team Partners, this conversation unpacks how poorly structured leases, ownership entities, and rent strategies can quietly destroy enterprise value.

You’ll hear real-world horror stories, surprising valuation math, and a powerful framework for turning real estate from a liability into a strategic wealth-building lever before an exit ever hits the market.

[00:00 – 07:00] From Engineering to Exit Clarity

• Jason shares his early career as a civil engineer and his first successful business exit

• Why one exit worked and another failed despite strong income

• The difference between owning a “job” and building a sellable enterprise

[07:01 – 15:00] Why Exits Fail Even When the Business Looks Strong

• Most exits fail due to lack of clarity, not lack of revenue

• Why a liquidity event rarely changes how people think about life

• The danger of exiting without a clear “what’s next”

[15:01 – 24:00] Brokerage vs Advisory: A Critical Distinction

• The difference between business brokerage and real estate brokerage

• Why advisory work starts long before any transaction

• How advisors miss value when real estate is treated as an afterthought

[24:01 – 33:00] The Real Estate Horror Story Every Founder Should Hear

• A real example where a multimillion-dollar business became unsellable

• How month-to-month leases can destroy buyer confidence

• Why M&A advisors often overlook real estate risk until it’s too late

[33:01 – 42:00] OpCo, PropCo, and the Valuation Blind Spot

• Why operating companies and real estate must be separate entities

• How under-market rent inflates EBITDA but reduces real exit value

• The hidden cap-rate advantage of moving value into real estate

[42:01 – 52:00] Turning Real Estate into Optionality, Not Risk

• How paying market rent can increase total enterprise value

• Why real estate is often more valuable than the business itself

• The power of optionality when exits are structured correctly

Key Quotes:

“Real estate is often valued at a higher multiple than the business, yet it’s treated like an afterthought.” - Jason Bush

“Most founders don’t realize they have two businesses to exit: the operating company and the real estate.” - Jason Bush

Connect with Jason!Website https://www.ltpcommercial.com/brokers/jason-bush/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-bush-value-advisor/

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