Ever wondered what’s behind a truly successful business sale transition? It’s not just about signing documents—it’s about protecting your legacy, your team, and ensuring your business thrives under new ownership.
From Offer to Closing: What To Expect When Selling Your Business
In this episode of Napkin Numbers, Scott Lundt and Rahsaan Freeman unpack the critical steps to achieving a seamless business transition, from negotiating the Letter of Intent (LOI) and navigating due diligence to crafting an operational transition plan that safeguards both your company’s value and its people. Tune in and learn how to confidently transfer your business—and your legacy—to the new owner.
Napkin Numbers Talking Points
[0:00] Introduction to Selling Your Business
- Scott and Rahsaan discuss the excitement of having a buyer interested in your business, emphasizing that receiving an offer is just the beginning of the sale process.
[1:29] Negotiating the Letter of Intent
- The hosts outline the steps involved in preparing and reviewing the Letter of Intent (LOI), stressing the importance of examining contingencies, deal structures, and achieving a balanced agreement that satisfies both parties.
[3:40] Finalizing the Sale
- Scott and Rahsaan detail the final steps of the sale process, including legal, financial, and operational due diligence, along with meeting any lender requirements when financing is involved.
[4:24] The Importance of Operational Transition
- The hosts emphasize the critical role of developing a strong operational transition plan to ensure a smooth handover, highlighting careful management of human capital and clearly communicating changes to key employees and sales accounts.
[5:25] Conclusion and Next Steps
- The episode wraps up by encouraging sellers to celebrate their successful business transition, while playfully suggesting they might even consider purchasing another business in the future.
The business landscape is shifting rapidly, and opportunities for growth through acquisition are more abundant than ever. Freeman Lundt specializes in helping businesses navigate fluctuating valuations, leverage dropping interest rates, and capitalize on strategic acquisitions. If you’re ready to make your next big move in 2025, don’t wait—contact us today to discover how we can help you seize the moment and grow your business.
Freeman Lundt is here to help you plan your business’s growth, and exit from your business on your terms.
The #1 question of CEOs looking to grow or sell their business is always, what is my business worth? Don’t worry, we have a free, confidential, industry-leading tool for that! Please use our complimentary business evaluation calculator to determine your business’s worth.
Making Your Company Bankable: Tips for Accessing Working Capital
Struggling to secure working capital? You’re not alone. In this episode of Napkin Numbers, Scott Lundt and Rahsaan Freeman break down what it takes to make your company truly bankable. They dive into key financial ratios—leverage, liquidity, and coverage—that banks use to assess risk, and they highlight the importance of early planning and strong banking relationships.
Whether you’re growing or preparing for an acquisition, this episode is packed with insights to help you navigate the financial landscape, position your business for success, and secure the funding you need.
Napkin Numbers Talking Points
[0:00] Understanding Bankability
- The hosts discuss the importance of making a company bankable and how it affects access to capital for business growth.
[0:43] Qualifying for Working Capital Loans
- Rahsaan explains the three key ratios that banks consider when underwriting working capital loans: leverage, liquidity, and coverage.
- Planning and budgeting are essential for securing capital.
[2:37] Having a Proactive Banker
- Scott emphasizes the importance of having a banker who understands and advocates for the business.
- A proactive relationship with a banker who takes the time to understand the business can make a significant difference in securing financing.
[3:50] Access to Capital as a Make-or-Break Factor
- The hosts highlight the critical role of access to capital in the success of businesses.
- Companies that manage capital well tend to grow in a manageable way, while those without access to capital may face closure.
[4:36] Conclusion and Takeaways
- The hosts summarize the key concepts of leverage, liquidity, and coverage.
- They emphasize the importance of planning and preparing the company for financial evaluation by financial institutions.
The business landscape is shifting rapidly, and opportunities for growth through acquisition are more abundant than ever. Freeman Lundt specializes in helping businesses navigate fluctuating valuations, leverage dropping interest rates, and capitalize on strategic acquisitions. If you’re ready to make your next big move in 2025, don’t wait—contact us today to discover how we can help you seize the moment and grow your business.
Freeman Lundt is here to help you plan your business’s growth, and exit from your business on your terms.
The #1 question of CEOs looking to grow or sell their business is always, what is my business worth? Don’t worry, we have a free, confidential, industry-leading tool for that! Please use our complimentary business evaluation calculator to determine your business’s worth.
How to Grow Through Acquisition in a Changing Market
In the first Napkin Numbers episode of the new year, Scott Lundt and Rahsaan Freeman dive into the unexpected trends shaping 2025. The “silver tsunami” is creating unprecedented opportunities for business acquisitions as baby boomers exit the marketplace, leaving more sellers than buyers.
With interest rates dropping, access to capital is expanding, fueling stealth consolidations and strategic acquisitions across industries. They explore how fluctuating valuations and market dynamics make this a pivotal time for entrepreneurs to act. Tune in for insider strategies to navigate this shifting landscape to elevate your business.
Napkin Numbers Talking Points
[0:00] Introduction to M&A in 2025
- Scott and Rahsaan discuss the current state of the M&A space, highlighting the impact of lower interest rates on financing and the trend of consolidation due to the “silver tsunami” of baby boomers exiting the business world.
[0:37] Market Dynamics and Consolidation
- The conversation delves into the impact of the silver tsunami, with more sellers than buyers creating a trend of consolidations in the business world.
- Companies, big and small, are strategically acquiring businesses in their sector for long-term exit strategies.
[1:10] Buyer Strategies and Market Trends
- Scott discusses how interest rates and cost of capital are influencing buyer strategies.
- He explains that as lower rates and increased access to capital lead to more buyers in the market, the conversation emphasizes the shift towards a seller’s market and the need to act quickly in making acquisitions.
[2:30] Business Valuation and Acquisition Strategy
- Scott and Rahsaan discuss the evolving nature of business valuation in the current market, highlighting the importance of considering synergies and economies of scale in determining the value of a business.
- They emphasize the need to understand the shifting dynamics in the acquisition landscape.
[3:34] Call to Action for Potential Acquirers
- Scott and Rahsaan conclude by encouraging listeners to get involved in the M&A game, highlighting the opportunities presented by the current market dynamics.
- They invite interested parties to reach out and emphasize the potential for growth through acquisition in 2025.
The business landscape is shifting rapidly, and opportunities for growth through acquisition are more abundant than ever. Freeman Lundt specializes in helping businesses navigate fluctuating valuations, leverage dropping interest rates, and capitalize on strategic acquisitions.
If you’re ready to make your next big move in 2025, don’t wait—contact us today to discover how we can help you seize the moment and grow your business.
Freeman Lundt is here to help you plan your business’s growth, and exit from your business on your terms. The #1 question of CEOs looking to grow or sell their business is always, what is my business worth? Don’t worry, we have a free, confidential, industry-leading tool for that! Please use our complimentary business evaluation calculator to determine your business’s worth.
2024 Year in Review: Insights & Highlights
In this year-end episode of the Napkin Numbers podcast, Scott Lundt and Rahsaan Freeman recap the key trends of 2024, from innovative deal structuring in commercial finance to the growing role of real estate syndication and electrification initiatives.
They share strategies for closing financing gaps, highlight opportunities in infrastructure and skilled labor industries, and explain how their adaptive approach can help you achieve your goals in the year ahead.
Napkin Numbers Talking Points
[0:23] Year in Review – M&A Side
- Scott discusses Freeman Lundt, the buyer’s market, value gap tools, and roll-up strategies. He also offers predictions of hot industries for buyers in 2025.
[1:48] Commercial Capital and Critical Thinking
- Rahsaan emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in lending and finance, highlighting the need to think outside the box and find creative solutions to get deals done.
[3:50] Introduction to Syndication
- Scott introduces their new division focused on real estate syndication, expressing excitement about providing opportunities for clients to succeed through investments and tax-saving strategies in 2025.
[4:46] Portfolio Companies and Electrification
- The team delves into their electrification movement, emphasizing the need for creative financing solutions and education to drive energy efficiency and sustainability in infrastructure projects in 2025.
[6:49] Closing Remarks and Gratitude
- Scott Lundt expresses gratitude to their audience, clients, and supporters, highlighting the success of 2024 and expressing excitement for the growth and opportunities in 2025.
Financing and growth opportunities are abundant, but navigating them requires creativity and expertise. Freeman Lundt specializes in helping entrepreneurs and businesses close financing gaps, leverage syndication strategies, and capitalize on electrification trends.
With 2025 on the horizon, we offer actionable insights into structuring deals, securing grants, and identifying the hottest industries for growth. Don’t wait—reach out to Freeman Lundt today to explore the opportunities that can elevate your business in the year ahead.
Freeman Lundt is here to help you plan your business’s growth, and exit from your business on your terms. The #1 question of CEOs looking to grow or sell their business is always, what is my business worth? Don’t worry, we have a free, confidential, industry-leading tool for that! Please use our complimentary business evaluation calculator to determine your business’s worth.
Financing the Shift: How to Leverage Grants & Incentives for Business Success
If you’re an entrepreneur navigating the world of government contracts, it’s likely you’ve struggled to secure funds to complete your project. Have you been told to simply figure it out alone, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and stuck in a financial puzzle? The pain of hitting financing gaps and missing out on valuable opportunities may be all too real.
But what if there’s a better way to close those gaps and achieve successful financing for your projects? In this episode of the Napkin Numbers podcast, Scott Lundt and Rahsaan Freeman reveal the secrets they’ve uncovered in financing and implementing projects, including securing grants for EV charging stations and closing financing gaps in energy efficiency.
Scott and Rahsaan draw parallels between their commercial capital experience and manufacturing, taking the lessons from investment banking to increase access within the efficiency movement.
Napkin Numbers Talking Points
[0:00] Introduction and Background.
- Scott introduces the podcast and discusses the transition from financing and investment banking to manufacturing.
- The conversation touches on the connection between electrification and finance.
[1:12] Working with Agencies on Electrification
- Rahsaan explains their work with the Washington Department of Commerce and the challenges faced by businesses in meeting the 25% match requirement for grants.
- They discuss their unique approach to solving electrification problems through finance.
[4:16] Financing Electrification Initiatives
- The conversation delves into the various financing options available for electrification projects, such as state-level incentives, utility incentives, and the use of operating lines of credit and installment loans to bridge financing gaps.
[7:02] Parallel to Business Financing
- Scott draws parallels between financing electrification projects and financing business ventures.
- He emphasizes the availability of federal, state, county, and city-level funding and encourages listeners to explore these options.
[9:18] Opportunities in Energy Efficiency and Electrification
- The discussion concludes with a focus on the opportunities in the energy efficiency space, particularly regarding electrification.
- Scott and Rahsaan emphasize the growth of electrification initiatives and the numerous ways to finance such projects.
Funding sources are available to many different entrepreneurs, but finding that funding and bridging the gaps can be daunting! Freeman Lundt has decades of experience in financing and implementing efficiency and electrification projects, such as securing grants for EV charging stations and closing gaps in funding.
From Federal grants to local incentives, these opportunities don’t last forever. Call Freeman Lundt or visit our website if you’re ready to act today before those funds disappear.
Freeman Lundt is here to help you plan your business’s growth and exit from your business on your terms. The #1 question of CEOs looking to grow or sell their business is always, what is my business worth? Don’t worry, we have a free, confidential, industry-leading tool for that! Please use our complimentary business evaluation calculator to determine your business’s worth.
From Boom to Bust: Understanding the Shake-out, Maturity and Decline Phases
In this episode of the Napkin Numbers podcast, join Scott Lundt and Rahsaan Freeman as they guide you through the crucial last stages of the business lifecycle. From navigating the shake-out phase to thriving in business maturity, they offer actionable strategies for recognizing decline, optimizing funding, and planning your exit – because knowing when and how to step away can be just as critical as knowing how to grow.
Tune in for expert insights to keep your business on the path to long-term success.
Napkin Numbers Talking Points
[0:00] Introduction to Business Life Cycles and Corporate Funding Series Part Three.
- Rahsaan Freeman introduces the third part of the series, focusing on the shake-out, maturity, and decline phases of the business and corporate funding lifecycle.
[0:22] Understanding the Shake-out Phase
- Rahsaan discusses the shake-out phase, which occurs after the growth phase.
- This phase leads to slower sales increase and decreasing profits due to market saturation and increased competition.
[2:42] Navigating the Maturity Phase
- Scott discusses the Maturity phase, which marks stable sales, thinner profit margins, increased competition, and the need for innovation and brand image reinforcement.
- It often accompanies a low business risk and increased debt funding availability.
[5:23] Recognizing the Decline Phase
- The decline phase is characterized by decreasing sales, profits, and cash flow, resulting from failure to keep up with competition and market changes.
- It’s crucial for business owners to have a plan for either reinvestment or exit.
[7:10] Planning for Transition and Retirement
- Business owners entering the decline phase should start setting goals for an exit timeline, assembling a transition team, and keeping up on financial and operational records.
- It’s essential to ensure you have a plan B in case plan A doesn’t work.
The later stages of the business lifecycle—shake-out, maturity, and decline—are crucial in shaping the future and legacy of your business. Applying strategies to navigate these key phases, such as maintaining brand strength, adapting to competition, and preparing for the future, will position your business for lasting success.
Freeman Lundt is here to help you plan your business’s growth and exit from your business on your terms. The #1 question of CEOs looking to grow or sell their business is always, what is my business worth? Don’t worry, we have a free, confidential, industry-leading tool for that! Please use our complimentary business evaluation calculator to determine your business’s worth.
