Most business owners carry a number in their head, something they've assumed for years. The number a buyer will pay is calculated differently. The gap between those two numbers is where deals fall apart and exits disappoint.
The business demands your attention every day. The exit conversation keeps getting moved to next quarter. Meanwhile, the window quietly narrows.
The number you're carrying was built on instinct, not on how a buyer actually evaluates a business. That gap can be significant, in either direction.
Confidentiality isn't a preference. It's a business necessity. The exit process that protects your people starts long before any announcement.
Every year a business stays owner-dependent, the buyer pool shrinks and the price paid reflects that risk. If revenue plateaus for even one year, it creates a story the seller has to explain, and buyers discount for uncertainty.
73% of all privately held businesses will need to change hands in the next decade. Nine out of ten owners who want to sell are turned away because their business isn't ready. The window doesn't stay open indefinitely.
The ValueBuilder™ Score reveals how a buyer would actually evaluate your business across eight value drivers. Most owners are surprised by what they find. The score gives you a benchmark and a clear picture of the gaps that are suppressing your sellability before you go to market.
Get Your Score →This is where most brokers skip ahead. Bob works with owners to address the specific factors suppressing value before going to market: reducing owner dependency, strengthening management depth, documenting what buyers need to see. This stage is what separates a deal that closes from one that doesn't.
See the Full Process →Bob manages the buyer process, protects the seller's interests through due diligence, and navigates deal structure so the owner isn't the only person in the room without leverage. The goal isn't just closing. it's closing on terms that hold.
Start the Conversation →Bob's career at Rolls-Royce, Cummins, Qantas, and Quest Global wasn't spent in deal rooms. It was spent understanding how businesses actually run — aftermarket support, operations leadership, shared service systems, P&L accountability. His background in high-tech, high-value products and services means he evaluates businesses the way a buyer does: with systematic attention to risk, dependency, and sustainability.
He won't take a listing he can't sell. That's not a marketing line. It's the reason his clients close.
Advanced Business Broker Partner · Licensed ValueBuilder™ Advisor · Purdue University, B.S. Mechanical Engineering Technology
Client stories are being gathered. If you've worked with Bob and would like to share your experience, reach out at bob@bobpaden.com.
The hesitation runs deeper than spreadsheets and valuations. Here's what's actually driving the delay.
If your business can't run for three months without you, it's worth less than you think. Here's why.
What your financial statements tell you and what a buyer will pay are two very different numbers.
Takes about 15 minutes. No sales conversation required to get your score. You'll see exactly what buyers evaluate, including where your gaps are.
Ready to know what your business is worth to a buyer?
Get Your ValueBuilder™ Score →