Exit Like an Expert Book #author Simon Bedard

The roadmap to selling your business for what it’s actually worth.

81% of founders wish they had prepared for their exit earlier. Don't be one of them. 

Exit Like an Expert gives you the exact framework to prepare for exit and command a premium multiple when it's time to sell.

Calculate your "walk-away" number.
Spot the red flags that kill your multiple.
Build a valuable and saleable asset.

This book is designed for business owners who want clarity, not guesswork, when it comes to growing and exiting their business.

Here’s what it delivers:

 • How buyers actually assess value
 • Where risk reduces your multiple
 • What makes a business transferable
 • How to prepare well before going to market

Why it matters:
Most owners wait too long to prepare, and it costs them in both value and deal certainty.

Our view at Exit Advisory Group:
Preparation is not optional. It’s the difference between a good business and a successful exit.

To connect with Simon ....
https://exitadvisory.com.au/exit-like-an-expert-book/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/srhbedard/
https://exitadvisory.com.au/
https://www.youtube.com/@ExitAdvisoryGroup 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

It's good morning, Simon Badar. Welcome to Yellow Shelf.

SPEAKER_01 0:05

No, thanks for having me. It's great to be here.

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Simon, you've been in my LinkedIn world for years. So it's really exciting to be able to talk to you today. Congratulations, your book is out now. Tell us about your book, Exit Like an Expert.

SPEAKER_01 0:21

Yeah, there it is. You got to do the obligatory show, right? Yeah. No, that's cool. Yeah, so look, um, Exit Like an Expert is exactly that. It's a book that helps people actually exit like an expert would. Um, you know, I've I've spent 10 years running the Exit Advisory Group and I've I've, you know, started, bought, sold my own companies as well. And so I'd kind of been through that home shebang. And really, I actually started our company because I was actually looking to buy another business, and I just realized how many business owners were going through this part of their journey and and not really getting good advice. Um, I think, you know, most business owners are, you know, usually typically a little bit entrepreneurial. They're great at starting a business, they're great at growing it, they know what they need to do next, but they don't really know or think about even how to exit. And so invariably people kind of wake up one day and go, that's it, I'm over it, I want out. And they'll come to me andor somebody like me and say, I'm ready to get out, sell my business. And we tend to look under the hood and go, oh man, you are really not ready. And they and they don't also don't understand the length and breadth of the process at that point. Yeah. Um, so for example, you know, the owner who wants to get out yesterday, yeah, suddenly gets told that the transaction will take 12 months and the buyer might expect you to work for them for two years. And that is that can be the most soul-crushing kind of news for them. So so yeah, so I mean, look, we've been let's say doing this for 10 years, and I thought it was time to put all this stuff to help people kind of understand first, what's the mindset of exiting and how do you prep for that? Two, how do you build a company that's actually saleable? Three, what is the process of selling? Because people massively underestimate the complexity of getting a deal done. Yeah, um, you know, they all think it's like selling a house, you know, and and particularly in Australia where property's in so much demand, or at least it has been until recent CGT announcements, but um, but yeah, like it, you know, you don't just put it online and then 50 people come in and five of them put in an offer and they buy you business. Like it just doesn't work like that. And so, you know, I'm just I'm I'm trying to help business owners finish well and and not face this kind of sheer disappointment and frustration that so many people do.

SPEAKER_00 2:35

Yeah. And it's interesting, Simon, because you mentioned, you know, people don't know what to do. But I like I've read so many stories of people just close their business, so they potentially miss that opportunity. And I guess what your book does, it presents that um as an option, you know, if they're prepared to, you know, follow the follow the journey.

SPEAKER_01 2:57

Yeah, 100%. And and I think for the most part, if people start getting their head around this early enough, there's stuff they can be doing while they're still working, you know, and just chip away at stuff, right? Like it doesn't have to be this um overwhelming experience. You know, the more time you give yourself, the more you can prep, the more you can do it at your own pace, you know, if especially if you know you want to work for another two or three years anyway, well, great. Like use that time to sharpen the saw, get yourself ready. Um, yeah. So there's there's lots people can do.

SPEAKER_00 3:27

Yeah. And Simon, you know, I was mentioning to you off camera, you know, when I started Yellow Shop, I did an accelerator course. Like many people with startups or you know, ideas, they do an accelerated course. And one of the one of the comments I received early on was, hey, if you're going to create this business, think about your exit strategy. And that kind of blew me away, I think, on day two or three of the the course. It's like, what? You know, I'm looking for an audience and I'm looking for a community. But yeah, it's something that's always been in the back of my mind. Like, my business should be way more than me. It should be, you know, scalable and sellable.

SPEAKER_01 4:03

Well, well, yeah. I mean, look, if that's what you want. I mean, I I know lots of people who've built a lifestyle business that is they're not planning to sell it and stuff like that. And and that's cool, is it as long as it's a conscious decision, you know. There's nothing wrong with a lifestyle business, and there's nothing wrong with saying, at some point I'm just gonna close the doors and do that if that's if that's what you wanted. So, but I but I just think, yeah, take control of it, make the decisions early. You know, you look, I mean, we all understand this idea in business and life that you set a goal, then you break it down and work backwards to work out what you got to do today to get there. Yeah, but people kind of don't apply that for their own exit. It's sort of like, oh, sort of like doing your will. No, I'll just push that away and think about that later.

SPEAKER_00 4:45

Too hard, too hard. Um yeah, look, Simon, and tell me, is this your first book? Like, is this your first? Yeah. Well, Jamie, what was that like? Writing a book, juggling work.

SPEAKER_01 4:57

Yeah, look, I am a glutton for punishment, so I usually sign up for more things than I can handle. Um, what's that saying? How do you eat an elephant? Somebody said one mouth at a time. Well, that's true. Somebody else said to me, bite off more than you can chew and then chew like crazy. So I reckon I'm probably in the latter camp. Um, but look, the first thing I did, I actually um went to a friend of mine, Jackie Lane, who she's the book advisor and she helps people actually go through this journey. Um and she's fantastic. I mean, not only does she have a great process, but you know, because she knew me, she could call me out on all my bullshit. And um and so we actually started about three years ago or something. And then I I wrote the first four chapters, and then I kind of went off the rails getting busy. And it was almost two years later I came back and she said, I I thought that we'd almost lost you. And and then I said, No, I'm ready to go. And by that point, I think I'd really gotten unclear on what I wanted to say. Yeah, and literally by the time I once that was locked in, it took me six weeks to write it.

SPEAKER_00 5:57

Yeah, okay. Wow.

SPEAKER_01 5:59

So I just sat down and it all just went blah, blah, blah. And as you can tell, I'm a bit of a talker. So in my head, I was just talking this stuff.

SPEAKER_00 6:05

And yeah, yeah. Good stuff. Well, congratulations, first time book. Big achievement, amongst many other things, including a podcast. And I wanted to mention that because this audience are also podcast-loving humans. So tell us, tell us about your show, buy, grow, and sell.

SPEAKER_01 6:23

Yeah, thank you. Yeah, so um you that up uh a while ago. In fact, we just hit over a hundred episodes, so I'm pretty pretty pleased with that. Um, but for the most part, what we're doing is interviewing business owners who've been through this journey. Um, most of them, most of the guests have sold a company and they're they're actually just sharing that experience. Um, you know, the good, the bad, the ugly. You don't have to do an earnout. Was it a success? Was it a failure? Like some of the stories there are really kind of quite raw. Um and and I think, you know, I I can stand on the hilltop and scream all I want about you need to do this, and you need to do that. But I think when business owners hear other business owners sharing their story, they can connect with that a lot more. And and I think a lot of the lessons tend to sink in a little bit better. So um yeah. So that was the goal. It was really just to be continually sharing information to make sure that business owners who are really our peeps have got the tools they need to be able to finish strong and and live the kind of life that life they want.

SPEAKER_00 7:25

Yeah. Oh, I'll put some details in the show notes about the podcast show because yeah, I often listen along while I'm working on my business. So it's uh it's easy and perfect. Simon, if we're curious about you, we're curious about the Exit Advisory Group, we're curious about you know, purchasing the book, where do we go to learn more about you? I'll put these links in the show notes, but I'm I'm connected on LinkedIn. Where else should people check you out?

SPEAKER_01 7:51

Look, definitely the Exit Advisory Group website. So exitadvisory.com.au is brilliant. People, if they if you're interested in the book, you can actually buy it there. There's a landing page. It also has links to the podcast, so it's it's pretty much the one-stop shop. But please uh, you know, invite anybody to connect with me on LinkedIn. I'm I'm I'm not a link it's not kind of happy to connect with anybody. And you know, if you're in business and you want to chat, like I'm happy to always answer questions and help people. Like this is a journey, you know, there's no widgets to buy here. It's just yeah, anyone we can help on the journey, we're happy to do so.

SPEAKER_00 8:24

So and it's very real because, like you mentioned, you know, people think they're the only one going through stuff, or they think they're the only one making decisions about exiting. And it's pretty daunting. Um, but um, you're a wonderful resource. Your book's a wonderful resource, Simon. Thanks so much for joining us.

SPEAKER_01 8:42

No, a pleasure. Thanks for having me on. Cheers. Cheers.