Laurie Barkman interviews brothers and business partners, David and Chris Sinkinson, about their experience as co-founders of AppArmor, a bootstrapped SaaS business with a $40 million exit. They discuss the importance of understanding product-market fit, the role of unhappy customers in identifying issues, and the significance of recurring revenue in their app business. The conversation highlights the value of building relationships with potential buyers over time, which contributed to their...

Today’s episode is a rewind of one of our favorite conversations with Karen Norheim, a second generation CEO of American Crane, a manufacturing company founded by her father. The show first aired in 2021.  Listen in as show host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa, talks with Karen about what fueled their succession story. Karen stepped into her new role with curiosity and tenacity to make things happen. She led the company to lean in on strategic growth and innovation and are...

Host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa®, interviews Maryann Bell, a partner at Wingspan Legacy Partners, about the common myths and challenges facing next generation successors in family businesses. Maryann shares insights on the importance of communication, education, and bringing in outside expertise to navigate the delicate dynamics of family business transitions.  Listen in as they discuss strategies for stair-stepping next gens into the business, assessing fit, and...

Host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa, talks with Henry DeVries, publisher, writer, and CEO of Indie Books International. Listen in as Henry debunks a few myths about creating a sustainable competitive advantage in service businesses through niche specialization. They also discuss the importance of candid conversations in business ownership transition and exit planning to offer valuable takeaways for business owners. Henry shares how he is planning for succession and exit with...

Join host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition SherpaⓇ, as she celebrates four years of inspiring conversations and life-changing insights on the Succession Stories podcast.  With over 4.5 million companies and $14 trillion of business wealth at stake in the next decade, Laurie's mission to guide entrepreneurs through their succession journeys has never been more crucial.  Laurie unveils The Endgame EntrepreneurshipTM Masterclass, designed to guide entrepreneurs through the complexities...

Did you know that 87% of the businesses in the United States are family owned? That’s 32.4 million family businesses and they contribute $7.7 trillion to the GDP.  Pat Soldano, a strong advocate for family businesses, joins Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa.  Pat is the President of Family Enterprise USA (FE-USA) whose mission is to promote the growth of generational owned family businesses in the US. She is also President of Policy and Taxation Group...

From humble beginnings to founding Magnum Nutraceuticals, Markus Kaulius shares the saga of transforming a passion into a $170 million empire with Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition SherpaⓇ. Discover the pivotal moment when Markus transitioned from operator to visionary owner, crafting a culture of empowerment and resilience. Learn how he scaled his business, fostered a vibrant company ethos, and navigated the delicate dance of succession. Join them as they unveil the human side of...

75% of owners express regrets one year after selling. We’re a mission to break the cycle. What do we fear in times of transition? How do we develop a vision for ourselves beyond today? When it comes to business transition, the identity we have – business owner, CEO, leader, family member, all play a part. Heather Penny works with business leaders on ways to embrace change and anticipate life changes so they don’t control us. Listen in as host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition...

Be sure to subscribe to the show and sign up for our newsletter at https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com Host of the #1 stock investing podcast in the world, “We Study Billionaires” Kyle Grieve, joins Laurie Barkman on today’s episode. As part of The Investor's Podcast Network, Kyle helps professional investors and business people all over the world grow financially and personally. Listen in as they explore how acquisitions can be a successful growth strategy through the lens of publicly...

Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition SherpaⓇ, talks with Tony Whatley, a 20+ year serial entrepreneur, business coach, best-selling author, podcast host, and speaker. Tony is Co-Founder of LS1Tech, an online automotive performance community which grew into the largest of its kind with more than 300,000 registered members and 150 advertising accounts. After only 5 years, the company sold for 7-figures and amazingly, it was just his part-time business! Tony shares his mindset and business...

Host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa, is joined by Greg McDonough, Managing Partner of Blackburn Capital Advisors and host of the Chief Endurance Officer Podcast.  Listen in as they discuss navigating a business turnaround through bankruptcy.Bankruptcy can be viewed as a tool for recovery rather than a sign of failure.  Greg discusses his experience isolating the root cause of the company’s financial issues and creating breathing room from creditors to reorganize fixed costs...

Host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition SherpaⓇ, is joined by Susan Keller, Founder of Entrepreneurial Executives. Susan advises businesses from startups to publicly traded companies on growth strategies and transactions.  Laurie talks with Susan as a fellow M&A Advisor about why it's valuable for entrepreneurs to get an early start with transition planning. A great place to begin is conducting a thorough business evaluation to identify what needs improvement in the business. They...

Host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa, talks with Jon Eesley, founder of Windsor Advisory Group. With over 27 years of experience working with privately held businesses, Jon has helped countless business owners navigate the complexities of succession planning. His approach focuses on understanding clients' personal goals and values to develop financial strategies that support their vision.  Laurie and Jon discuss ways to approach the transition planning process to overcome fear...

Host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition SherpaⓇ, is joined by Darryl Bates-Brownsword, Managing Partner of Succession Plus in the UK. He hosts The Exit Insights Podcast and is a business consultant with over two decades of experience building and selling companies. They discuss the importance of preparing for business exits and scaling entrepreneurial ventures. For business transition, you need a well-thought-out plan, valuation growth, and clear vision for the future.  Listen in to...

Unlock the story behind Reid Tileston's remarkable entrepreneurial journey in this episode of Succession Stories. Join Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa®, as she sits down with Reid, a driven acquisition entrepreneur, to dive into his inspiring path from a 23-year-old with $100k to a thriving Anytime Fitness franchisee.    Through candid conversation, Reid shares the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey. From navigating the challenges of owning an Anytime Fitness...

Host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa, talks with David Spray, Founder and President of Export Advisors, which serves the owners of privately-held, U.S. exporting companies. Over the past 20 years, the firm has created more than $400 million in wealth for hundreds of entrepreneurs and their families from the IC-DISC tax savings program.  They discuss value building and how David built a niche podcasting business with infinite ROI, and sold it within two years to his partner. ...

Host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa, talks with Mike Malatesta, CEO of LJP Waste Solutions. Over the past 30 years, Mike's experienced the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. He built and sold two waste recycling companies that grossed more than $500M. He’s also an author, podcaster, and advisor to business owners. Mike talks about the unexpected death of one of his business partners due to a workplace accident. Dealing with the loss was challenging and accelerated their...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition SherpaⓇ, sits down with JV Crum III, founder of the Conscious Millionaire Institute and Conscious World Foundation Inc.–a global non-profit that trains youth to become conscious leaders. What happens when you’re asked to join the family business but then discover there are BIG financial challenges? JV shares his experience how he helped turn around a family trucking company and became a millionaire by age 25. He overcame...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition SherpaⓇ, is joined by Meghan Lynch, the driving force behind Six-Point Creative, a marketing services firm dedicated to empowering family-owned and closely-held businesses. Meghan's mission is to help family businesses compete against industry giants. Listen in as they explore: The challenges that family businesses face in balancing sustainability and growth Strategies for family businesses to achieve 2X growth while...

Welcome back to the Succession Stories podcast. If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe, and if you enjoy the show, please leave us a review! Go to RateThisPodcast.com/successionstories.  Host Laurie Barkman welcomes Max Lewis, entrepreneur and author of “Who Is Max Lewis?” Max shares what led to the eventual sale of his company for $37 million.  From selling mangos as a child to amassing millions by exchanging propane tanks, Max beat the odds and became one of America's ultra-high...

Ralph Ward is the editor of the Corporate Board Magazine and an expert in corporate governance. He’s the author of six books on corporate governance and board issues. I asked him to join me on the show to talk about best practices for private company boards. It’s about governance and strategic guidance. Boards aren’t just for large public companies. Even newer, privately held firms can benefit from having a board. Boards also get involved in CEO succession planning. We address challenges...

Welcome back to the Succession Stories podcast. If you’re not already, please give me a follow on LinkedIn and Instagram @lauriebarkman. Be sure to subscribe, and if you enjoy the show, please leave us a review! Go to RateThisPodcast.com/successionstories.  Today we welcome Alex Neist, a serial entrepreneur and former professional athlete. Alex is the founder of Hostage Tape, a health enhancement product that has quickly scaled into an e-commerce powerhouse, generating seven figures in...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa™, welcomes Cesar Quintero, a serial entrepreneur in the foodservice industry. At age 24, Cesar moved to Miami given the economic turmoil in Venezuela to pursue his dream of starting a business and helping others achieve a healthier lifestyle by founding Fit2Go - the first corporate healthy meal delivery service in Miami.  Nearly 10 years later, he launched two new companies: RawBar2Go, the first licensed food boats in...

Succession Stories host Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa®, welcomes Jane Hanson, a nine-time Emmy award winning correspondent. She has an amazing resume as a network co-anchor in New York, and has covered events ranging from the tragedy of 9/11 to the joy of the Yankees victory parades. She has interviewed presidents, business leaders, prisoners, and celebrities. She’s currently a much sought-after communications coach working with top-tier leaders in every field while...