Greg Alexander

Pro Serv Blogs

Management Buyouts: A Hidden Exit Path for Founders of Boutique Professional Services Firms

If you are a founder of a boutique professional service firm generating between $5 million and $50 million in revenue and $1 to $5 million in EBITDA, odds are you’ve thought about your exit. You’ve likely flirted with selling to a strategic buyer or private equity group. And if you’re like most Collective 54 members, you’ve probably run into the same roadblocks: no viable buyer, or a viable buyer who doesn’t give a damn about your employees or clients.

Pro Serv Podcasts

Episode 214 – How to Boost Margins and Scale Without Adding Headcount – Member Case with Adam Blake

Exiting your business is a multi-step process that requires strategic planning and the right team at the right time. This session breaks down the timeline of an exit, from assessing your firm’s worth and preparing marketing materials to managing buyer interest and creating competitive tension. Learn when to hire key advisors, what each phase entails, and how to make a strong first impression with potential buyers. By understanding the process and investing in top-tier expertise, you can navigate the complexities of an exit and maximize your outcome.

Pro Serv Podcasts

Episode 213 – Restricted Covenant Agreements: What Founders Need to Know – Member Case with Todd Stanton

Exiting your business is a multi-step process that requires strategic planning and the right team at the right time. This session breaks down the timeline of an exit, from assessing your firm’s worth and preparing marketing materials to managing buyer interest and creating competitive tension. Learn when to hire key advisors, what each phase entails, and how to make a strong first impression with potential buyers. By understanding the process and investing in top-tier expertise, you can navigate the complexities of an exit and maximize your outcome.

Pro Serv Blogs

The Top Three Oversights in Master Service Agreements Every Boutique Firm Owner Should Avoid

As the founder of a boutique professional service firm, navigating the complexities of Master Service Agreements (MSAs) is crucial for safeguarding your firm’s interests and fostering sustainable client relationships. However, too often, vital components are overlooked in these agreements, potentially leading to misunderstandings, strained relationships, and lost revenue. To ensure you’re fully protected and positioned for success, let’s examine the three most commonly neglected elements in MSAs.

Pro Serv Podcasts

Episode 212 – Merging for Growth: How Two Firms Became One Market Leader – Member Case with Noah Berk

Exiting your business is a multi-step process that requires strategic planning and the right team at the right time. This session breaks down the timeline of an exit, from assessing your firm’s worth and preparing marketing materials to managing buyer interest and creating competitive tension. Learn when to hire key advisors, what each phase entails, and how to make a strong first impression with potential buyers. By understanding the process and investing in top-tier expertise, you can navigate the complexities of an exit and maximize your outcome.

Pro Serv Blogs

The Essentials of a Contract Between Boutique Professional Service Firms and Independent Contractors

In the dynamic world of boutique service firms, leveraging the expertise of independent contractors is a widespread practice. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship that allows firms to flexibly scale their services and contractors to enjoy the autonomy of freelance work. However, to navigate this cooperation successfully and legally, a well-structured contract is indispensable. This necessity is twofold: compliance with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations and the safeguarding of a firm’s intellectual capital.

Pro Serv Blogs

Mastering Earnouts in Service Firm Sales: Strategies for Success

When the journey of running your own service firm – be it a consulting firm, a marketing agency, or a software development shop – draws towards a chapter change with a sale, the term “earnout” often becomes a central piece of the conversation. This financial arrangement can either be a boon, ensuring you reap the benefits of your firm’s future success post-sale, or a complex challenge to navigate. Understanding earnouts, why they’re particularly common in the service industry, and how to ensure you get paid in full, or what steps to take if you don’t, is crucial. This article aims to demystify this process and suggest a support network through Collective 54, where shared experiences and wisdom can guide you through.

Pro Serv Blogs

The Top Ten Reasons It’s Impossible to Time the Exit of Your Firm

Welcome, members of Collective 54. Today, we’re delving into a topic that touches the core of entrepreneurial ventures and the dreams of every founder – the exit strategy. Exiting, or selling your firm, is often seen as the culmination of a founder’s hard work and vision. However, the idea of timing this exit perfectly is more myth than reality. Here are the top ten reasons why it’s virtually impossible to time the exit of your firm precisely:

Pro Serv Podcasts

Episode 210 – Next-gen Digital Transformation for Small Firms: How to Leapfrog into the Future – Member Case with Matt Leta

Exiting your business is a multi-step process that requires strategic planning and the right team at the right time. This session breaks down the timeline of an exit, from assessing your firm’s worth and preparing marketing materials to managing buyer interest and creating competitive tension. Learn when to hire key advisors, what each phase entails, and how to make a strong first impression with potential buyers. By understanding the process and investing in top-tier expertise, you can navigate the complexities of an exit and maximize your outcome.

Pro Serv Blogs

The Unspoken Truths Behind Selling Your Professional Services Firm

As founders of boutique professional services firms navigate the intricate journey of building, scaling, and perhaps eventually selling their businesses, the narrative surrounding the reasons for these exits often skims over the surface of deeper, unvoiced motivations. At Collective 54, we’ve witnessed firsthand 40 successful exits and nearly 200 attempts that fell short. This unique vantage point has revealed the underlying drivers that founders themselves may not openly acknowledge. Let’s delve into these unspoken truths and understand the real reasons behind the decision to sell.