DRIVE VALUE INTO YOUR COMPANY AND ALIGN YOUR GOALS

Driving value means intentionally building a company that is more profitable, more transferable, and less dependent on you, as the owner. It means shifting from managing for income today to building value for the future. This guide walks through the steps business owners can take to start that journey, from adopting a value-creator mindset to understanding how value is calculated and how to systematically grow it over time.

THE FOUR STEPS TO DRIVING VALUE IN YOUR COMPANY AND ALIGNING YOUR GOALS

  • STEP ONE
    Change Your Mindset
  • STEP TWO
    Measure Company Value
  • STEP THREE
    Drive Company Value
  • STEP FOUR
    Align Personal and Financial Goals
STEP ONE
Change Your Mindset

Understand What A Value Creator Mindset Is

Driving value begins with understanding what a value creator mindset is.

If it is true that 70-80% of business transitions fail, it is also true that 20-30% are successful. Those transitions that are successful begin with changing your point-of-view from income-driven to value-driven. There are 11 mindset shifts that must take place. You can find these 11 actions outlined below, and explore them deeper in Walking to Destiny.

  • Recognize that exit planning is simply good business strategy.
  • Focus on the present, not the future.
  • Embrace the personal nature of owning a business.
  • Make value, not income, your pimary goal.
  • Manage your five stages of value creation.
  • Measure the value of your intangible assets.
  • Adopt a process.
  • Execute relentlessly.
  • Measure your results.
  • Involve your team.
  • Invest in your success.
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STEP TWO
Measure Company Value
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Understand How Value is Determined

Once you begin thinking like a value creator, the next step is understanding how business value is actually determined. Business value comes down to a simple equation: 

Cash Flow x Multiplier = Business Value. 

But what do those terms mean?

  • Recasted EBITDA: The Real Number. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. It is determined by adding Addbacks to and subtracting Takebacks from net income.
  • Range of Multiples: A range of industry multiples, Recasted EBITDA or sales, that are determined by the private capital market.
  • Range of Value Determined: A valuation range, which includes specific industry multiples for the specific company, and the company’s RecastedEBITDA or sales, that showcases what the business owner’s company would sell for in the market. From low or no value to best-in-class value.
Companies with strong leadership teams, predictable revenue, diversified customers, and scalable systems typically receive higher multiples. Businesses that depend heavily on their owner or have operational risks tend to receive lower multiples.
 
STEP THREE
Drive Company Value

Drive Value In Your Company

80% of your business' value is trapped within your four intangible capitals. 

Unlock that value by strengthening your company's intangible capitals which are the elements that make your business scalable, transferable, and attractive to buyers.

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STEP FOUR
Align Personal and Financial Goals

Align the Three Legs of the Stool

75% of owners profoundly regret selling their business within one year of selling.

You've prioritized building value within your company, but now is the time to align your personal goals and financial needs. Alignment means your personal goals, financial needs, and business value all point in the same direction. 

Without alignment, even a 'good' exit can feel like a failure.  

To begin aligning your three legs of the stool, ask yourself: 

  • Personal Goals - What does life look like after exit? 

  • Financial Needs - Do I have enough to be financially free? 

  • Business Value - Can my business fund my goals?

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YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS ALONE

Driving value in a company is a process, and most owners benefit from guidance along the way.

The Value Acceleration Methodology™ (VAM) provides a structured approach to improving business value while aligning personal and financial goals. It brings together the right advisors, tools, and assessments to help owners move from where they are today to where they want to be. You can also begin by completing a business readiness assessment to understand your company’s current strengths and opportunities.

And when you're ready, you can connect with an advisor trained to guide business owners through the results of your readiness assessment and through the value-building journey.

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