Grow Scale and Exit Podcast

Chantel Ray
  • 5.0 (47)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Welcome to the Grow Scale and Exit Podcast, where we share real-life stories from leaders to help you become a better leader in your organization and build a business that's truly valuable. Listen to top entrepreneurs, pastors, and executives share REAL stories about the lessons they've learned while growing, scaling, and positioning their businesses for a successful exit. Discover practical strategies you can implement right away to increase impact, strengthen leadership, and build a company that could one day sell for millions.

  1. MAR 3

    #133 How to Make Millions Building and Selling a Business | Chantel Ray and John McLaren

    Welcome back to the podcast! In today's episode focused on strategies for selling a business for top dollar, featuring Chantel and John discussing key considerations for business owners. They explored the importance of preparing a business for sale, emphasizing the need to transition from working in the business to working on it, which can increase its value. Chantel shared examples of successful business exits, including a strategic acquisition by Home Depot, and highlighted the significance of recurring revenue in boosting a business's value. John and Chantel also discussed the challenges of selling to private equity and the risks involved in earnouts. They stressed the importance of marketing in enhancing a business's appeal to potential buyers and offered insights into the various structures of business sales. The episode concluded with an invitation for listeners to schedule a free strategy call with Canzell Business Advisors to assess their business's readiness for sale.

    33 min

  2. MAR 3

    #132 How To Sell Your Business For Top Dollar | Chantel Ray Finch

    Welcome back to the podcast! In today's Episode Chantel Ray Finch discuss the strategies for selling a business for top dollar. Chantel emphasizing the importance of identifying a unique competitive advantage and avoiding cross-selling to maintain business value. She discussed different exit strategies, including selling to private equity groups, strategic investors, and roll-ups, while highlighting the risks and benefits of each approach. Chantel also stressed the significance of creating recurring revenue streams and reducing dependency on key customers, suppliers, or employees to make a business more attractive to potential buyers. She shared examples of successful businesses that focused on their niche and avoided diluting their offerings, emphasizing the need for entrepreneurs to align their business goals with their personal motivations for selling. Chantel discussed strategies for selling a business for top dollar, emphasizing the importance of identifying a unique offering that sets a business apart from competitors. She highlighted the mistake of becoming involved in every aspect of the business, which can lead to a loss of value if the owner leaves. Chantel also mentioned the concept of a competitive moat, as described by Warren Buffett, and the need for businesses to have a deep and wide moat to be more acquirable.

    36 min

  3. FEB 9

    #131 How to Analyze Businesses Like a Broker (P&Ls, Tax Returns & SBA Loans) | Dane Desantis

    Welcome back to the podcast! In today's must-listen episode, Chantel sits down with Dane Desantis from Hallmark Business Brokers, Inc. In this in depth training episode, we explore why the next five to seven years will create the largest wave of business sales in history and how this creates a massive opportunity for those who want to step into business brokering. With baby boomers exiting at record rates, business owners facing burnout, and SBA backed acquisitions becoming the most common path to selling small businesses, understanding how businesses are valued, funded, and transitioned has never been more important. This episode is designed as foundational training for anyone who has considered becoming a business broker, advisor, or deal facilitator, as well as business owners who want to make sure their company is truly sellable.

    18 min

  4. FEB 9

    #130 The Real Strategy Behind Growing, Scaling, and Exiting a Business| Dane Desantis

    Welcome back to the podcast! In today's must-listen episode, Chantel sits down with Dane Desantis from Hallmark Business Brokers, Inc. Most business owners think they have a valuable company... until a buyer looks under the hood. In this episode, we sit down with business broker and exit strategist Dane DeSantis to pull back the curtain on how businesses are actually valued, financed, and sold and why so many owners are shocked when they discover their "beautiful baby" isn't nearly as attractive to buyers as they believed. We break down: -What really determines the value of your business (and what doesn't) -The critical difference between revenue, profit, EBITDA, and seller's discretionary earnings -Why your P&L doesn't match your bank account—and why buyers care -How SBA loans work (and why 85% of business sales depend on them) -The hidden mistakes that quietly destroy valuations  -What buyers look for when deciding risk vs. reward -How owner dependency, poor financial structure, and burnout kill deals -The difference between financial buyers and strategic buyers (and who pays more) -When to tell employees you're selling—and when to stay silent -Why waiting until you're burnt out can cost you millions Whether you're growing, scaling, or even thinking about selling one day, this episode will change how you look at your business forever. If you want to exit on your terms... and not get blindsided at the closing table... this is required listening.

    43 min

  5. FEB 9

    #129 How to Sell Your Business at a Top Dollar| Dane Desantis

    Welcome back to the podcast! In today's must-listen episode, Chantel sits down with Dane Desantis from Hallmark Business Brokers, Inc. Just like baking the perfect brownie, selling your business for top dollar isn't about luck—it's about using the right ingredients in the right order. In this episode, we break down the exact ingredients required to grow, scale, and sell your business for maximum value—without burnout, chaos, or being trapped as the "key person" holding everything together. Too many owners build businesses that depend entirely on them, and that's exactly what kills exit value. Alongside Rhyan Chantel and Dane, we walk through the 10 key ingredients we've personally used to build multi-million-dollar companies—and the same framework we've used to help business owners 2X, 3X, and even 10X what their businesses are worth before selling. Whether you're just getting started, actively scaling, or thinking about selling someday in the future, this conversation will change how you think, build, and operate your business—starting today. They explore how to: ✅ Identify hidden value ✅ Fix deal-killing weaknesses ✅ Increase profit and multiples ✅ Prepare your business to actually sell

    43 min

  6. 08/08/2025

    #128 Escape the Money Trap: Real Passive Income Strategies That Work | Russ Morgan

    Welcome back to the podcast! In today's must-listen episode, Chantel sits down with Russ Morgan from Wealth Without Wall Street.   In this powerful episode, Russ unpacks why traditional investing might not be the best path to financial freedom—and what to do instead. Chantel shares her own story of parking $25K in an account that barely moved over a decade, prompting a deep dive into real passive income.   Together, they explore how to: ✅Escape the "money traps" that limit financial growth ✅Use Russ's Passive Income Operating System to build cashflow ✅Align your Investor DNA with the right income stream ✅Open simple bank accounts to transform your financial habits ✅Create true freedom by replacing active income with passive strategies   Whether you're a seasoned business owner or just getting started, this episode gives you clear, actionable steps to move closer to financial independence—without relying on Wall Street.   📚 Grab your FREE resources: https://www.wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/chantelray 🔔 Like, comment & subscribe for weekly wealth-building wisdom! 👉 Go to JoinCcanzell.com for all the details and start building your future today! 🔑   #PassiveIncome #FinancialFreedom #WealthWithoutWallStreet #ChantelRay #InvestorDNA #MoneyTraps #EntrepreneurTips

    24 min

  7. 05/29/2025

    #127 Profit First Explained: New Cash Flow Insights for Entrepreneurs | Mike Michalowicz

    Welcome back to the podcast! In today's episode, Chantel sits down with bestselling author and business expert Mike Michalowicz! Mike is the author of Profit First, a groundbreaking book that flips the traditional accounting formula and empowers entrepreneurs to prioritize profit. In this powerful Q&A-style episode, Chantel and Mike tackle real questions from business owners facing today's economic challenges. They dive into how to handle tough staffing decisions during a down market, when (and how much) to cut marketing expenses, the ideal balance between admin and sales, and how to measure team performance with his ROP (Return on Payroll) method. You'll also learn Mike's simple yet game-changing "of service" sales strategy, how to effectively fractionalize your workforce, and why you should delegate what you love to truly step into the role of business owner. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur or leading a growing team, this episode is packed with honest advice, strategic insight, and practical tools to help you stay profitable and lead with confidence. 📚 Grab Mike's book Profit First: https://mikemichalowicz.com/books/#profit-first 🔔 Like, comment & subscribe for more business wisdom every week! #ProfitFirst #MikeMichalowicz #SmallBusinessTips #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessStrategy

    8 min

  8. 05/21/2025

    #126 How to Attract Your Dream Clients with Lead Magnets & Value-Driven Marketing | Chantel & Devin Herz

    Welcome back to the podcast! In today's must-listen episode, Chantel is joined by marketing expert Devin Herz for a powerhouse conversation on how to attract your dream clients using lead magnets, value-driven content, and omni-channel marketing strategies.   Whether you're in real estate, roofing, dentistry, or any other industry, this episode dives deep into how to serve your audience, build trust, and grow your business with purpose. From choosing the right "bait" to creating irresistible opt-ins and staying top-of-mind with email and text drips, you'll get practical steps you can implement today.   Learn how to: ✅ Identify your ideal client ✅ Build high-converting lead funnels ✅ Leverage AI to create free resources ✅ Join Facebook groups the right way ✅ Stay consistent with emails, texts, and follow-ups ✅ And much more...   🎯 Ready to level up your marketing game and serve clients you love? Don't miss this one!   📈 Learn more about Devin Herz's marketing solutions: https://devinherz.com/ 👇 Watch now and learn how to stop grinding and start growing! 🔗 Learn more: chantelray.com/passive 🎯 For digital marketing training: bizboxfunnels.com/marketing   #MarketingTips #LeadMagnets #EmailMarketing #SmallBusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurTips #ValueMarketing #BusinessStrategy #RealEstateMarketing #OmnichannelMarketing

    17 min
See All (100)

5
out of 5
47 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Grow Scale and Exit Podcast, where we share real-life stories from leaders to help you become a better leader in your organization and build a business that's truly valuable. Listen to top entrepreneurs, pastors, and executives share REAL stories about the lessons they've learned while growing, scaling, and positioning their businesses for a successful exit. Discover practical strategies you can implement right away to increase impact, strengthen leadership, and build a company that could one day sell for millions.

Information