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Pro Serv Blogs

Embracing The Fear – Learning to Grab Ahold of My New Responsibilities as a Founder

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Timing is everything. I became a firm shareholder just weeks before the start of the Great Recession. Years later, I became the sole owner. After stabilizing the firm after the exit of my majority partner, COVID-19 hit. Talk about bad luck. During those times, I was confident in the direction of the firm. Just keep spending time meeting client expectations. I wasn’t afraid – I was energized. My reward would be the eventual sale of my business.

Pro Serv Blogs

10 Tips for Entrepreneurs to Go the Distance in Professional Services

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As entrepreneurs in the professional service firm arena, we often embark on a journey with dreams of scaling our businesses, achieving success, and ultimately reaching the coveted exit. However, the reality is that many founders falter along the way, lacking the endurance required to go the distance. In a world where millions of firms are started each year, only a select few make it to a successful exit. Why? Because the path is long, challenging, and demands unwavering mental toughness.

Pro Serv Blogs

Exit Dreams and Tax Nightmares: The Lurking Threats behind your S Corporation

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A few years ago, we advised a group of professional services sellers in connection with a dream of an acquisition event: $100 million+ exit as a platform company to a well-known private equity group within the professional services space. The deal promised not only a healthy cash payment of $50-60mm at closing, but potentially, future riches from the sale of the owners’ rollover equity once the business achieved another exit at an even higher valuation.

Pro Serv Blogs

From Struggling Solo Founder to Thriving Firm: The Power of Giving and Joining Collective 54

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There’s a common thread among founders of boutique professional service firms – the pursuit of success, growth, and ultimately, a life-changing exit. Today, we’re going to share the inspiring journey of a brilliant founder who specializes in customizing and implementing the Snowflake software application. His story is not just about expertise but also about the transformative power of understanding when to give away value and when to charge for it.

Pro Serv Blogs

The Eject Button of Exits: Opportunities and Perils of Acquihires

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Founders, executives, and investors in professional services firms should be generally familiar with the motivations, elements, and commercial considerations that attend “acquihires.” These transactions not only present a viable (if not optimal) path to exit a professional services business, but they also present attractive opportunities to assemble qualified teams, import unique knowledge and capabilities, and ultimately grow or defend market share. This article seeks to help the leaders of professional services firms understand the circumstances in which they might be involved in an acquihire (either as seller or buyer), the motivations of each party in such circumstances, and common structures for acquihire transactions.

Pro Serv Blogs

How Good Are You at Predicting the Future? Reflections on Attempting to Time the Market for your Exit

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The road to a successful exit is littered with the bodies of entrepreneurs that have attempted to time the market1. Lest you become another casualty, I wanted to give you some things to consider before you try your hand at predicting how future macroeconomic or sector-specific conditions are likely to unfold. Start by accepting that you are never going to know the perfect time to sell with 100% certainty.

Pro Serv Blogs

Real Exit vs. Fake Exit: The Truth Behind Your Business Legacy

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The journey of building and eventually exiting your boutique professional service firm is a significant part of your entrepreneurial story. As founders, it’s important to distinguish between a real exit and a fake exit to ensure that your career trajectory aligns with your values and aspirations. In this C54 Insights blog post, we’re going to shed light on the stark contrast between these two paths, so you can make informed decisions for your future.

Pro Serv Blogs

The Art of Silence: 6 Reasons Not to Tell Your Employees About the Pending Sale of Your Firm

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Hey there, fellow founders of boutique professional service firms. If you’re contemplating selling your firm, you’re undoubtedly entering into a complex and potentially game-changing process. It’s a decision that requires careful planning and execution, and one of the crucial questions on your mind might be whether or not to inform your employees about the pending sale.

Pro Serv Blogs

When Your Exit Needs an Exit: Navigating Financing Contingencies in M&A Deals

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Embarking on the journey to sell your business is a monumental decision, especially for small to lower-middle market business owners. It’s not just a transaction; it’s a pivotal moment that can shape the future of what you’ve built. However, amidst the excitement and potential for growth, there lurks a critical challenge that could derail your plans: counterparty risk, particularly the risk stemming from financing contingencies.

Pro Serv Blogs

Mastering the M&A Landscape: Identifying the Right-Sized Buyer for Your Boutique Professional Services Firm

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As a founder of a boutique professional services firm, you may be contemplating your exit strategy. Understanding the M&A landscape is crucial to identifying who is most likely interested in acquiring your firm. In my experience, the most suitable buyers are typically firms that are substantially larger than yours, generally by a factor of 5-20 times the size of your firm. Here’s why:

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