The Built to Exit Podcast with Jason Sisneros

Jason Sisneros
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The Built to Exit Podcast with Jason Sisneros is meant for those looking to cut through the noise of business ”gurus” and the fake online digital marketers. My goal is to serve viewers and listeners with tools to identify their freedom and build their businesses to exit. I successfully exited my businesses and learned much through both failure and success. I hope that this podcast creates a community through which you can acquire knowledge, strategies, tactics, tools, and connections so that you can build your business for exit and earn your freedom.

  1. 4d ago

    What Is Your Business Really Worth? (with Tomas Milar)

    Most business owners have no idea what their company is actually worth, and neither does anyone else. Private companies don't trade on a market. There's no ticker, no graph, no daily price. So when it's time to raise capital, reward early employees, or sell, you're guessing. That guessing costs you real money. If you've been grinding for years, building something real, and you still can't answer "what's my company worth today?" this one is for you. In this episode of Built To Exit, Jason Sisneros sits down with Tomas Milar, founder of Eqvista, a company that issues stocks and provides equity valuations for private companies. Tomas has worked with over 20,000 clients and nearly half a billion dollars in client assets, all bootstrapped, no VC money. Together, we break down: How to price a private company when there's no public market to referenceWhy rewarding early employees with equity is a competitive weapon, not just a nice gestureHow a logistics company cut from 170 employees to 24 and went from $28M to $12M in revenue with better marginsWhy raising $35M on $5M in revenue can leave a founder with $8-10M after a $100M exitHow AI should be used to make your business efficient without replacing the human judgment that keeps clients safeWhy revenue before fundraising is the discipline that separates builders from burn-rate companiesWhat "cap table hygiene" means and why ignoring it kills your exit This episode is for business owners who want to: Understand what their company is actually worth right nowStop diluting themselves into a corner with bad fundraising mathUse AI and lean operations to increase enterprise value before they sell You don't have to figure out valuation, equity, and exit math alone. Tomas and Jason lay out where business owners go wrong and what the smartest operators are doing differently. Chapters 00:00 - Why most business owners can't answer "what's my company worth?" 00:27 - Welcome to Built To Exit 01:07 - Tomas Milar's story: from Hong Kong incorporations to private-company valuations 04:22 - The core question: how do you price something that doesn't trade? 07:43 - What "always ready to sell" actually means 11:01 - Operator vs. executor: the shift that makes a business transferable 11:39 - Rewarding the believers: stock liquidity for early employees and investors 15:11 - WIIFM: how gamifying your business changes everything 19:29 - AI in business: why "automate but human-deliver" works 22:26 - The real cost of replacing your analyst with AI 25:51 - Two identical businesses, one with AI: what happens to valuation 30:02 - Future revenue multiples and the three things owners can do today 34:16 - The $35M raise on $5M revenue: a cautionary tale in dilution math 🔗 Connect with Tomas Milar & Eqvista Website: eqvista.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tomasmilar/ 🔗 Built To Exit Website: builttoexit.biz Dare To Exit live event: daretoexit.com #BuiltToExit #BusinessValuation #ExitStrategy

  2. Sep 5

    Your Business Plan Drastically Impacts Your Family And Identity (with Jeffrey Condren)

    Selling your business should not destroy your family or your finances. Most owners get the company ready to sell but never get themselves ready, and that gap costs them their identity, their family, and sometimes the deal itself. If you are a business owner staring down an exit and wondering who you will be on the other side of it, or if you have never once talked to your family about what happens when the business is gone, this conversation is for you. In this episode of Built to Exit, Jason Sisneros sits down with Jeffrey Condren. Jeffrey is a wealth advisor who has spent over a decade helping business owners handle the money and the mindset that come with selling. Part advisor, part therapist; he breaks down the risks that nobody warns you about until it is too late. Together, we break down: -Why owner risk, client risk, and people risk determine what a buyer will actually pay -How losing your identity during a sale can blow the deal before it closes -What happens when a business owner who has never had that much cash suddenly sees it in a checking account -Why the first 30 to 90 days after the wire hits are when most owners blow through their money -How families fight over the money when the business owner never told them why it was split that way -Why one owner's $20 million exit turned into $1 million in less than two years -What a family office that has lasted nine generations can teach you about raising kids around money This episode is for business owners who want to: -Exit without losing themselves in the process -Protect the wealth they spent decades building -Stop avoiding the family conversation that gets harder the longer they wait You do not have to figure this out alone. Jeffrey and Jason show where owners go wrong, and what it looks like when someone does it right. Chapters: 00:00 - Why most business owners are not ready for what happens after the sale 00:30 - Welcome to Built to Exit 02:01 - Jeffrey Condren: wealth advisor, sometimes therapist, and the person you need on your team 02:54 - Jeffrey's background and why he focuses on owners who are selling 04:03 - The four traits that built your business and now hold you back 06:01 - Three critical risks every buyer evaluates before writing a check 09:00 - What buyers are really looking for: certainty across four quadrants 10:04 - Involuntary, dictated, or custom-tailored: which exit are you headed toward 11:45 - The horizon: the psychological danger zone between decision and closing 12:55 - Why owners lose their identity mid-deal and how to reframe the next chapter 15:17 - Sudden liquidity: why the first purchase after the wire is almost always a mistake 17:00 - The 30-60-90 day rule: no major decisions after the sale 20:00- From $20 million to $1 million: what happens when nobody manages the money 22:00 - Why avoiding the family conversation creates more conflict than having it 24:00 - Start with the why before the what: dividing assets among your children 26:00 - Disaster story: the owner who died before signing the documents 27:30 - Teaching kids about money at every age without handing them entitlement 30:00 Shirt to shirt: why generational wealth disappears by the third generation 31:00 - Nine generations deep: what one family office got right starting at age six 34:00 - Jason's own kids and what it means to be the first-generation way maker 35:30 - When to bring in a mediator, estate planner, or specialist 37:30 - How to reach Jeffrey Condren and the Built to Exit team Connect with Jeffrey Condren Website: mesirow.com/wealth-management Built To Exit Website: builttoexit.biz Dare To Exit live event: daretoexit.com #BuiltToExit #ExitPlanning #WealthAfterSale

  3. Aug 28

    Why Settle For $1M When You Can Get $50M (With Blue Collar Millionaire's Kevin Marron)

    Selling your business alone is the most expensive decision you will never see on the invoice. Most exits do not fail because the business was broken. They fail because the owner refused to get the right people around them before the deal started. If you have been telling yourself "I'll figure it out," grinding through every problem solo, and treating expert help like an expense instead of an investment, this conversation is going to cost you nothing and save you everything. In this episode of Built To Exit, Jason Sisneros sits down with Kevin Marron, serial entrepreneur, strategic investor, and founder of the 335,000-member Blue Collar Millionaires community. Kevin built and exited Gutter King across 29 states, planned that exit five years in advance, and now operates and invests in multiple businesses using the exact playbook he wishes someone had handed him at 23. Together, we break down: Why "I'll figure it out" is the four-word sentence that shrinks your exit and steals your time How Kevin left $100K on the table on his first exit by skipping the lawyer and the accountant What borrowed belief actually looks like and why it accelerates you faster than hard work alone Why your fractional CFO should show up on day one, not the year you decide to sell How to build a network that compounds into real deals instead of stacking business cards The difference between an architect and a specialist and why confusing them costs you everything Why wearing losses as a badge is overrated when you can learn from someone who already took the hit This episode is for business owners who want to: Exit on their terms with their family, health, and wealth intact Stop guessing and start surrounding themselves with people who have already done it Build something worth $50 million instead of grinding alone toward $2 million You do not have to white-knuckle your way through this. Kevin and Jason have both taken the hits and come out the other side. This is what they wish someone had told them 20 years ago. Chapters 00:00 - The four words that will shrink your exit 00:37 - Who is Kevin Marron and why Jason showed up to his stage for free 02:37 - How Blue Collar Millionaires grew to 335,000 members 09:49 - Why work-life balance is a lie entrepreneurs need to stop repeating 12:26 - How Kevin built a tribe from zero connections in Atlanta 20:46 - Your mask meets my mask: why fake networking kills deals 24:04 - What Kevin would tell his younger self before his first exit 27:09 - Why Kevin started planning his Gutter King exit five years early 32:50 - "I'll figure it out": four words that cost you everything 34:13 - Architects vs. specialists: the mistake that looks like good advice 39:53 - Borrowed belief: how two SCORE mentors changed Kevin's whole trajectory 51:03 - Kevin's last piece of advice to any business owner watching 🔗 Kevin Marron / Blue Collar Millionaires Website: bluecollarmillionaire.net Blue Collar Millionaire on Facebook (335,000+ members) Boardroom Elite Atlanta — October 23-24 🔗 Built To Exit Website: builttoexit.biz Dare To Exit live event: daretoexit.com #bluecollarmillionaire #builttoexit #businessexit

  4. Aug 21

    How to Think About an Exit Worth Millions and Millions of Dollars (with Todd Polyniak)

    Selling your business should not be the moment you realize you weren't ready. But for a majority of owners, that is exactly what happens. Most exits don't fall apart apart because the owner never cleaned up the financials, never built a team that could run without them, and never sat down long enough to figure out what comes after the wire hits the account. In this episode of Built to Exit, Jason Sisneros sits down with Todd Pollock, "The Todd Father." Todd is a CPA, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, and 35-year veteran known as Together, we covered: - Why financial statements built for tax savings destroy deal value when a buyer runs due diligence - How lifestyle expenses buried in your books become the red flags that kill buyer confidence - What "pro forma adjusted EBITDA" actually means and why it matters years before you list - Why most owners sabotage their own exit without seeing it coming - How the 18-month retirement cliff catches even the most successful founders off guard - What happens when an owner dies at their desk and the family inherits chaos instead of a plan - Why working with the wrong advisors — people chasing the fee — is worse than working with none Chapters 00:00 - Why most owners aren't ready when it's time to sell 00:39 - Welcome to Built to Exit with Jason Sisneros 02:59 - Todd Pollock: The Todd Father's 35-year track record 05:32 - What "clean financials" really means before a sale 08:34 - The add-backs and lifestyle expenses buyers catch first 11:25 - Why exit planning starts 5-10 years before you sell 14:33 - The 18-month retirement cliff that catches every owner 18:46 - Misdiagnosis: handing the business to your kids unprepared 26:20 - Contingency plans and buy-sell agreements most owners skip 30:51 - How to build a team that runs without you 37:04 - The blind spots nobody on your team will tell you about 38:34 - One piece of advice: Don't wait. Start now. Connect with Todd Pollock: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-polyniak/ Firm: https://saxadvisorygroup.com/ Connect with Jason Sisneros: Built to Exit: https://builttoexit.com #BuiltToExit #ExitPlanning #BusinessExit

  5. Aug 14

    He Built A Business That Truly Runs Without Him (w/ Stuart Burgess)

    Your business should give you freedom, even when you step away. It should not grind to a halt without you. Stuart Burgess built a business that works without him through clear systems, smart delegation, and a strong culture. Burgex Mining Consultants now has 25 full-time employees. The team handles 100 projects at a time. In this episode of Built to Exit, host Jason Sisneros talks with Stuart Burgess, founder of Burgex Mining Consultants. Stuart's story starts in a grocery store, where he worked as a butcher. He went on to become a mining entrepreneur. Stuart explains how he gave up daily control and freed his calendar. He then built a company that no longer depends on his labor. Stuart also believes a commodity boom that will last for decades is starting. He points to rising copper demand, AI data centers, and old infrastructure that needs to be replaced. He also sees a severe lack of mining talent. This interview covers - The difference between a lifestyle company and a real business. - How SOPs and delegation stop knowledge from getting trapped in one person's head. - Why free time gives a founder room to build new sources of revenue. - How Burgex hires for "can do, will do, team fit." - Stuart's view on copper supply and demand. - The "gray tsunami" and the mining talent shortage. - How private equity can hurt a good company by replacing a strong culture with short-term thinking. This episode is for business owners who want a team that runs without them. It is also for business owners who want a company they can sell and more time for the next opportunity. If cash flow disappears when you step away, your first exit is not a sale. First, build a company that serves customers without depending on you each day. Chapters 00:00 - Why Built to Exit shares real business lessons 02:24 - From grocery-store butcher to mining founder 05:48 - When a lifestyle company becomes a real business 10:30 - Remove yourself from the business to test its value 13:19 - How owner freedom creates new revenue lines 17:30 - Why AI workflows depend on clear SOPs 20:57 - The multi-decade commodity boom Stuart sees ahead 22:34 - Copper demand, AI data centers, and declining supply 25:36 - Mining's gray tsunami and talent shortage 28:23 - Hiring for can do, will do, and team fit 30:20 - Why private equity deals fail when culture disappears 34:27 - Believe in yourself and let consistency compound Subscribe for more business-owner conversations about building companies that give you more freedom and choices. #BuiltToExit #BusinessSystems #Enterpreneur

  6. Aug 11

    We ran out of cash... so we bought a $15M business (w/ Tom Shipley)

    If you own a business, organic growth may be the longest route to the exit you want. The right acquisition can add scale and raise your company's sale price. It can also bring that exit closer if you buy well and manage the handoff. You may know your company can do more, yet the market you serve feels too small. Cash is tight, and time is short, yet an acquisition may still be within reach. In this episode of Built to Exit, host Jason Sisneros talks with Tom Shipley. Tom is a consumer-brand builder, acquisition operator, and DealCon host. His businesses generated about $2 billion in revenue. One acquisition helped take a $300,000 business to $100 million. In 2021, Tom sold a portfolio of brands to private equity. Jason and Tom cover: - Why a mature company may grow faster through a purchase than through organic growth. Tom walks through the math. - How buyers can find motivated sellers through day-to-day conversations and trusted relationships. - What lenders look for when the buyer's current company is short on cash. - How seller financing and the right deal structure can cut the cash due at closing. - What to protect during the first 30 days and 90 days after you buy a company. - Which culture problems raise risk before and after closing. Learn what to spot before the deal. - How more scale can help you adopt AI, cut costs, and raise output. This episode is for business owners who want to: - Grow beyond what organic sales alone can produce. - Buy another company without harming either culture. - Build a company that can command a higher sale price at exit. Start with a clear acquisition thesis. Complete your due diligence, and work with experienced advisors. Everybody exits. How matters. YouTube Timestamps 00:00 - Meet Tom Shipley, a $2 billion brand builder and acquisition operator 02:54 - How a cash crisis led to buying a larger business 08:01 - The growth math behind a roll-up strategy 11:03 - How to buy a company with no cash and no spare time 15:15 - Scarcity vs. resourcefulness when a business is failing 19:24 - How the right room helps ambitious business owners grow 25:17 - Special Forces lessons for founders and CEOs 33:18 - Why acquisitions fail after the deal closes 42:10 - Culture problems that can break an acquisition 43:42 - How seller financing can fund a business purchase 47:23 - Using acquisitions to accelerate AI adoption 48:48 - The advice Tom would give his younger self #BusinessAcquisition #MergersAndAcquisitions #ExitPlanning

  7. Aug 3

    Make Your Business Worth 20-30% More (With Scott Gabehart)

    A company can turn a profit and still sell for less when it depends on you. Buyers see more risk when one person runs the company. Exit readiness lowers this risk. It creates a business that can transfer to a buyer. The buyer can run it without you. Buyers will pay more to own it. In this episode of Built to Exit, Jason Sisneros talks with Scott Gabehart. Scott is a certified business appraiser. He is also a former business broker. He co-founded BizEquity. They explain how business valuation can affect a sale. They also cover management independence, recurring revenue, and scalable profit. Together, they cover: Why planning for an exit can lead to a better sale price.How management independence makes cash flow easier to transfer.Why strong second-tier management matters. In a firm with transferable operations, it can raise enterprise value by 20–30%.How recurring revenue can lower buyer risk. A wider mix of customers can do the same.Why deal terms and earnouts can matter as much as the price.How emotional readiness can keep business owners from hurting a sale. This episode is for business owners who want to: Build a company that is worth more before it goes to market.Reduce how much the company depends on them and build a stronger management team.Get a better price, better timing, and better terms when a buyer appears. Timestamps 00:00 - Why business owners need to prepare for an exit now02:27 - Scott Gabehart's experience in business valuation05:42 - How BizEquity estimates the worth of owner-operated companies09:05 - Why exit readiness affects sale price11:46 - What makes a business exit-ready15:53 - The data behind the coming ownership transfer20:53 - How exit-readiness tools measure sale-price upside25:14 - Three business factors buyers reward30:50 - Why deal terms matter as much as price35:19 - How emotional readiness protects the sale39:43 - The biggest exit-planning mistake42:34 - The first step business owners should take #ExitPlanning #BusinessValuation #BuiltToExit

  8. Jul 9

    Why Small Businesses Fail (w/ Jethro Hopkins)

    Small business ownership is failing, and owners are paying the price. The system keeps telling them they do not matter. Reserve your seat for Cabo Mastermind: https://builttoexit.biz/yt-cabo Do you carry more than your share? You are not imagining it. You are not alone. And you are not failing. In this episode, I speak with Jethro Hopkins, founder of No Coast Business Advisors and one of our top Built To Exit advisors. Jethro takes on the deals most firms will not touch. He works with owners of firms worth $750,000 to $5 million. Large firms often treat these owners as a low priority. Jethro does not. Together we cover: - Why small business owners hold 63% of U.S. jobs, yet get treated like they do not count - What it meant when the state called these firms "nonessential," and the real cost of that word - Why spread income, not politics, builds real freedom - The three things that give you freedom: time, money, and force as a last resort - Why owners who sell with no plan end up broke or bored in two years - The Owner Syndicate: our plan to help 600 owners exit on their own terms - Why we are bringing this group together in Cabo this fall This episode is for owners who want to: ✔ Build a firm that runs without them ✔ Learn what it takes to make a firm easy to sell ✔ Stop hearing that their work does not matter You do not have to work through this alone. You do not have to sell your firm the wrong way. And you do not have to wait until your options run out to plan your exit. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Why small businesses fail after the owner leaves 00:40 – How to sell a business under 5 million dollars 01:07 – Business broker for main street businesses 03:32 – How to sell a business with messy books 06:41 – Why small business owners were called nonessential 09:16 – How to build financial freedom as a business owner 11:58 – How to get certified in business succession planning 15:42 – Best business owner mastermind events 2026 21:32 – Business owner retreat in cabo mexico 30:19 – How to plan your business exit strategy Reserve your seat for Cabo: https://builttoexit.biz/yt-cabo Connect with Jethro Hopkins: 🌐 Website: https://nebraskabusinessbroker.com/the-right-business-broker 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jethro-hopkins-30b84425/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jethrohopkins/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nocoastbusinessadvisors/ Connect with Jason Sisneros: 🌐 Website: https://builttoexit.biz 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-sisneros 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejasonsisneros/?hl=en 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuilttoExit/

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The Built to Exit Podcast with Jason Sisneros is meant for those looking to cut through the noise of business ”gurus” and the fake online digital marketers. My goal is to serve viewers and listeners with tools to identify their freedom and build their businesses to exit. I successfully exited my businesses and learned much through both failure and success. I hope that this podcast creates a community through which you can acquire knowledge, strategies, tactics, tools, and connections so that you can build your business for exit and earn your freedom.

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