The One Number Owners Need to Stop Focusing On

The value of your business comes down to a single equation: what multiple of your profit is
an acquirer willing to pay for your company?

profit × multiple = value

Most owners believe the best way to improve the value of their company is to make more
profit – so, they find ways to sell more and more. As experts in their industry, it’s natural that
customers want to personally engage with them, which means spending more time on the
phones, on the road and face-to-face to increase sales.

With this model, a company can slightly grow, but the owner’s life becomes much more
difficult: customers demand more time and service, employees begin to burn out, and soon
it feels like there are not enough hours in the day. Revenue flat lines, health can suffer and relationships get strained – all from working too much. Does this feel familiar?

If you’re spending too much time and effort on increasing your profit, you could find yourself
diminishing the overall value of your business. The solution? Focus on driving your multiple
(the other number in the equation above). Driving your multiple will ultimately help you grow
your company value, improve your profit and redeem your freedom.

What Drives Your Multiple


Differentiated Market Position

Acquirers only buy what they could not easily create, so expect to be paid more if you have
close to a monopoly on what you sell and/or are one of the few companies who have been
licensed to provide the specific product or service in your market.

Lots of Runway

Most founders think market share is something to strive for, but in the eyes of an acquirer, it
can decrease the value of your business because you’ve already sopped up most of the
opportunity.

Recurring Revenue

An acquirer is going to want to know how your business will do once you leave – recurring
revenue assures them that there will still be a business once the founder hits eject.

Financials

The size and profitability of your company will matter to investors. So will the quality of your
bookkeeping.

The You Factor

The most valuable businesses can thrive without their owners. The inverse is also true
because the most valuable businesses are masters of independence.

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