02-11-26 MEDM AM

February 11, 2026

Just talked to a guy who's been running his business for 11 years.

Good revenue. Steady clients. Clean reputation.

But he's done. He's burnt out. Ready to move on.

So he hired a broker to sell it.

The broker came back with bad news: $400K, maybe $500K if they find the right buyer.

He was devastated. "Mark, I thought this thing was worth millions."

Here's the problem.

Everything runs through him. Every client relationship. Every decision. Every approval.

If he leaves, the business dies.

So what the buyer is really purchasing is a customer list and maybe some equipment. Not a solid business.

A business that can't run without you isn't worth what you think it is.

It's worth what it does without you.

I see this all the time. Owners grinding for 10+ years thinking they're building wealth. They're actually building a high-stress job they can never quit without losing everything.

The market doesn't give a damn how hard you worked, how many of your kids' birthdays and holidays you missed or how much of your health and sanity you sacrified to keep everything going.

It only cares if the thing prints money when you're not there.

No one buys a business filled with problems. I sure don't. I got enough of 'em and ain't spending my cash to take on any more.

If you can't step away for 90 days and come back to a healthier business, sorry but it's not gonna catch the eye of anyone in a position to buy it.

You want to get around actual operators who've built, sold and structured businesses that run without them?

Start here. Let's see what we can do for you.


Mark Evans DM