12: Lessons from Four Exits: How Pete Martin Built, Scaled, and Sold Without Regrets

Serial entrepreneur Pete Martin joins the show to unpack his journey across four business exits, including a standout 12x EBITDA sale to KPMG. Drawing from both personal and professional highs and lows, Pete shares powerful lessons on building scalable, values-driven companies, designing for exit, and avoiding the common pitfalls that sabotage founder success. From crafting a cultural manifesto to structuring clean financials, this episode is a masterclass in M&A readiness for founder-CEOs.

Key Takeaways

• Design your business to function without you to enable a clean exit.
  
• Culture alignment with employees and clients directly impacts scalability.
  
• Strong financial controls are critical—reviewed and audited books build buyer confidence.
  
• Pre-exit partnerships with potential acquirers can significantly boost valuation.
  
• Declining misaligned clients reinforces culture and attracts better opportunities.
  
• Prepare for the worst in partnerships with clear buy-sell agreements.
  
• Retention plans and bonus structures smooth transitions during acquisitions.
  
• Non-founders driving revenue make earn-out-free deals possible.

Links & Resources

• Pete Martin

  • www.askmyboard.com
  • https://scaleupfaster.com/
    
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/petegmartin/
    
  • pmartin@askmyboard.com
    
    

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