MaxValue Podcast

Ben Towne
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship

MaxValue is an audio and video podcast for business owners and advisors looking for actionable insights into how to make their business more valuable. Our show covers a broad range of topics designed to help you improve your business value. Each episode features a guest who shares practical insights on areas like exit strategy development, calculating business value, improving business valuation, building efficient processes, outsourcing globally to scale, and implementing strategies that drive growth.  Whether you're looking to sell, scale, or increase profitability, MaxValue equips you with the tools and knowledge to succeed.

  1. Sep 15 ·  Video

    Why procedure ain't standard Ft. Marie Mills

    On this episode of Max Value, I sit down with Marie Mills, founder of Clear Solutions LLC and a business process documentation expert with over a decade of experience helping companies protect their most valuable (and most overlooked) asset: institutional knowledge. We talk about why so much of what makes a business run lives only in the heads of a few key people and what happens when those people retire, quit, or just win the lottery. Marie shares real stories of costly, preventable crises, explains how solid SOPs directly increase business value by lowering risk for buyers, and breaks down where AI genuinely helps (and where it still falls short) in capturing process knowledge. If you're a business owner thinking about scaling, exit planning, or just tired of being the only person who knows how anything works, this one's for you Download our FREE EBOOK: https://ebooktowne.com/ LET'S CONNECT! Ben Towne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-towne-advisory/ Web pages: https://towneadvisory.com/ || https://assurentadvisors.com/knowledge-center/ MARIE MILLS: Website: https://www.clearsolutionsbymarie.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariecmills/

    Why procedure ain't standard Ft. Marie Mills

  2. Sep 8 ·  Video

    Max Productivity = Max Value ft. Sarah Tetlow

    In this episode of Max Value, I sit down with Sarah Tetlow. Sarah is the founder of Firm Focus and author of The Perfectly Productive Day. We talk about the daily habits that separate business owners who build real, lasting value from owners who stay stuck in the day-to-day grind.  Sarah and I dig into why deep, strategic work, like exit planning, never has a deadline of its own. She explains Parkinson's Law and why that work keeps getting pushed aside unless you protect time for it on your calendar. We break down her TORQUE framework for delegation. We also talk about why owner dependency is one of the biggest limits on a business's value. Sarah walks me through her shutdown routine for planning tomorrow before you leave today. She shares her take on prioritization, using the classic urgent-and-important matrix. Trusting yourself, she says, matters more than any productivity hack.  Along the way, we get into procrastination, her book club goal of 26 books in 2026, and a few fun personal stories. If you want a business that doesn't depend on you showing up every single day, Sarah Tetlow's frameworks are a great place to start. Download our FREE EBOOK: https://ebooktowne.com/ LET'S CONNECT! Ben Towne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-towne-advisory/ Web pages: https://towneadvisory.com/ || https://assurentadvisors.com/ SARAH TETLOW: Sarah’s book, The Perfectly Productive Day: https://perfectlyproductiveday.com Productivity Hacks in Your Inbox: https://connect.firm-focus.com/join-mailing-list More information about Firm Focus: https://www.firm-focus.com/contact Speaking engagements: https://www.sarahtetlow.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-tetlow/

    Max Productivity = Max Value ft. Sarah Tetlow

  3. Sep 1

    Business & Real Estate - Avoid a House of Cards

    Should real estate ever sit inside your business? On this episode of Max Value, host Ben Towne talks with Tamara Pow, managing partner and founder of Strategy Law, about the hidden real estate risks that can derail a business sale. Tamara explains why holding property in a C corporation triggers double taxation, how lease terms can make or break a deal, and what really slows down a sale, from lender and title issues to buyers who don't want your real estate. She shares real client stories on sale-leasebacks, partnership disputes, and family real estate mistakes, plus strategies like 1031 exchanges, exit planning, and smart buy-sell agreements. Essential listening for business owners planning an exit, real estate investors, and advisors alike. Learn more about Tamara Pow at StrategyLaw.com, and subscribe to Max Value for more on business valuation, exit strategy, and real estate.

    Business & Real Estate - Avoid a House of Cards

  4. Jul 28

    Finding Firm Value May Be a Mindset Shift Away

    In this episode of Max Value, I sit down with Erin Daiber, a CPA turned leadership coach and founder of Well Balanced Accountants, to talk about the mindset shift that separates firms that build real value from firms that just generate cash. We use the analogy of maintaining a house before you sell it: firms that keep reinvesting in their people, processes, and technology build a more valuable asset, while the ones that defer that maintenance end up leaving money on the table when it's time to exit. Erin breaks down her de-risking approach to selling harder-to-buy services like coaching and partner off-sites, and why she always starts with in-depth conversations to define the problem before recommending a solution. We also dig into why so many AI and offshoring initiatives fail (hint: it's rarely the technology's fault), how to measure ROI beyond what shows up on the P&L, and why uncoupling "time" from "value" might be the single biggest mindset shift accounting firm leaders need to make. Plus, we get to know Erin a little better, from her golf game to her Sommelier certification. If you're a firm owner thinking about capacity, succession, or simply want to build a business that's worth more than the hours you put into it, this one's for you.

    Finding Firm Value May Be a Mindset Shift Away

  5. Jul 14

    Digital Transformation Should Be Human-Centric Ft. Peter Adams

    In this episode of Max Value Podcast, I sit down with Peter Adams, VP of Business Strategy at BACSIT and a serial entrepreneur who's built, sold, and advised companies for over four decades. We dig into what digital transformation actually means for small and mid-sized businesses — and why Peter believes it's never really about the technology itself, but about the people and culture behind it. He breaks down how technology can only do three things (increase productivity, decrease risk, and enable new capabilities), and shares two unforgettable real-world examples: a $100 fix that solved a warehouse inventory nightmare at Traeger Pellet Grills, and how simply asking customers what they value led to a major boost in retention for another client. If you're a business owner wondering whether digital transformation is worth the investment — or how to choose the right consultant instead of getting stuck with another "tool" you don't need — this conversation is full of practical, no-fluff insight. We also get into how to find the right technology partner, why coaching beats prescriptive consulting, and wrap up with a fun "Get to Know You" segment covering Peter's black belt in martial arts, his love of boating in Alaska, and his go-to business book recommendation.

    Digital Transformation Should Be Human-Centric Ft. Peter Adams

  6. Jun 30

    Evolve or Dissolve: The Future of Accounting & Professional Services Ft. Jessica Levin

    What's really driving the succession crisis in accounting firms, and is private equity the fix everyone thinks it is? I sit down with Dr. Jessica Levin — COO of Abacus Worldwide, CEO of Seven Degrees, and co-author of Accounting for Times — to talk about why accounting and professional services firms have to evolve or dissolve. We dig into what's really driving the wave of private equity deals, and why PE isn't always the "people first" partner it claims to be. Jessica makes the case that due diligence on culture matters just as much as due diligence on the numbers. We also get into her system for using core values to drive every business decision — not the vague values that end up on a website, but the specific ones that actually shape hiring, client relationships, and brand equity. Jessica explains why losing one employee can cost a firm far more than their salary, why accountants are missing their moment to become true trusted advisors, and how firms can boost business value and exit readiness long before a sale. If you're a business owner, CPA, or firm leader thinking about succession, private equity, or exit planning, this conversation on the Max Value Podcast is for you.

    Evolve or Dissolve: The Future of Accounting & Professional Services Ft. Jessica Levin

  7. Jun 16

    Leading People, Reading Culture, Building Value Ft. Mike Roe

    What does it take to truly know what's going on inside your organization — and why do so many leaders get it wrong? In this episode of the Max Value Podcast, we sit down with Mike Roe, CEO of 10Sense, a UK-based software company that uses sensemaking science to give leaders a real finger on the pulse of their teams. Mike shares his remarkable career journey — from failed banker to 30-year police veteran commanding 1,500 officers in Bristol, to leading a software company that's transforming how organizations understand culture, leadership, and performance. We explore why great leadership requires vulnerability and a trusted peer circle, the four pillars every leader needs for long-term success, and how 10Sense goes beyond engagement surveys to give organizations what Mike calls "organizational experience data" — turning team culture into measurable, actionable insight. Whether you're preparing for an exit, scaling a team, or simply trying to stay ahead of the game, this conversation is packed with hard-won lessons from the boardroom, the police force, and everything in between. Download our FREE EBOOK: https://ebooktowne.com/ LET'S CONNECT! Ben Towne LinkedIn:   / ben-towne-advisory  Web Pages: https://towneadvisory.com/ || https://assurentadvisors.com/

    Leading People, Reading Culture, Building Value Ft. Mike Roe

  8. Jun 3

    Valuable Services Ft. Loren Fogelman

    What if you could work less, earn more, and deeply serve your clients — all at the same time? In this episode, we sit down with Loren Fogelman, founder of Business Success Solution, to break down why up to 57% of accounting firm owners are undercharging — and exactly what to do about it. Loren walks through the difference between fixed fees and true value pricing, how to tackle scope creep, and her proven good-better-best framework for raising rates with confidence. From her background as a sports psychologist, Loren draws powerful parallels between elite athletes and growth-minded firm owners — and shares the real story of a client who raised fees 60% across her entire client base in under 90 days while retaining 90% of them. If you're ready to stop trading time for money and start building a firm that works for you, this episode is a must-watch. Download our FREE EBOOK: https://ebooktowne.com/

    Valuable Services Ft. Loren Fogelman
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About

MaxValue is an audio and video podcast for business owners and advisors looking for actionable insights into how to make their business more valuable. Our show covers a broad range of topics designed to help you improve your business value. Each episode features a guest who shares practical insights on areas like exit strategy development, calculating business value, improving business valuation, building efficient processes, outsourcing globally to scale, and implementing strategies that drive growth.  Whether you're looking to sell, scale, or increase profitability, MaxValue equips you with the tools and knowledge to succeed.

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Towne
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 MaxValue Podcast
  • Show Website
    MaxValue Podcast