Have you ever built something you love, poured years into it, and never once stopped to ask what it’s actually worth? Most business owners haven’t. And that one blind spot could cost them everything they worked for.
In this episode of The Happy Hustle Podcast, I sit down with Michael Sauer also known as Bone, an exit planning expert who has helped guide business transactions up to a hundred and twenty million dollars. He works with business owners to figure out exactly what their company is worth today, what it could be worth years from now, and how to make it as sellable as possible before life forces the decision for them. You can find him and his work at kandemlaw.com.
What makes this episode matter is the timing. Bone dropped some numbers on me that stopped me in my tracks, and I think they’ll do the same for you. Only twelve to twenty percent of businesses that go up for sale actually sell. Of the ones that do sell, half go for less than the owner needed. And here’s the gut punch. Only five percent of business owners are actually happy with what they walked away with after the sale. Five percent. That’s not a small gap, that’s a system that’s broken for almost everyone going through it.
Here’s what stuck with me most from our conversation.
Fifty percent of businesses get sold involuntarily. Health issues, family emergencies, burnout, none of us plan for these things to force our hand, but they happen. Bone’s point is simple. Build your business to be sellable now, not someday, so you’re never caught off guard.
It takes years to sell right, not months. Most owners come to Bone wanting to sell within twelve months. He tells them straight up that’s not enough time. Three years minimum, five years ideal, if you actually want top value.
The number on paper isn’t the number in your pocket. Broker fees, attorney fees, capital gains tax, they all take a bite. Sell for ten million without a real tax strategy and you might walk away with seven. Bone’s advice is to reverse engineer the number you actually need and plan backward from there.
Seventy nine percent of business owners regret selling within a year. Not sadness. Not stress. Profound regret. That statistic alone is why proactive planning matters so much more than people realize.
Profit First is one of the simplest financial moves you can make. If you haven’t implemented it in your business yet, Bone calls it the number one financial hack for owners. Set money aside before you spend it, not after.
We also got into the fun stuff. I put Bone through my rapid fire round and got some real answers. Taco Bell is his go to food, his spirit animal is a bald eagle, and his best piece of legal advice might be the most important thing you hear in this whole episode. Hire an attorney before you need one. We also talked about family, gratitude, and what it means to build a life you’re proud of, not just a business that sells well.
This episode is a reminder that hustle without a plan is just motion. You can work hard for twenty years and still leave money and peace of mind on the table if you never stop to ask the right questions. Bone’s whole approach is about giving business owners confidence and security, so when the moment comes to sell, they’re ready instead of scrambling.
If you’re ready to start thinking ahead instead of playing catch up with your own business, this conversation is going to hit home. Go listen to the full episode at caryjack.com/podcastin. It just might be the reset you didn’t know you needed.
Connect with Michael
Find Michael on this website: https://kandem.com/
Connect with Cary!
Get a copy of his new book, The Happy Hustle, 10 Alignments to Avoid Burnout & Achieve Blissful Balance
Sign up for The Journey: 10 Days To Become a Happy Hustler Online Course
Apply to the Montana Mastermind Epic Camping Adventure
“It’s time to Happy Hustle, a blissfully balanced life you love, full of passion, purpose, and positive impact!”
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