Navigating Deal Killers: Jim Stevenson's 25 Years of M&A Wisdom

The Exit - Presented By Flippa

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business and you’ll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit: Jim Stevenson, founder and CEO of Bletchley Group, shares strategic insights from 25 years of advising companies through exits and acquisitions. Jim discusses crucial aspects of preparing a business for sale, emphasizing the importance of running solid fundamentals while leaving room for buyers to see growth potential. He also highlights common mistakes that kill deals, including overvaluation, waiting too long to sell, and founder dependence. Jim explains how multiples vary by sector and the importance of realistic comparisons with similar companies rather than billion-dollar corporations. Rather than seeking perfect timing, Jim advocates for taking action while being prepared for a process that can span 12-15 months plus earnout periods. For more details and insights from his entrepreneurial journey, listen to the latest episode of The Exit. -- Jim Stevenson is the Founder and CEO of Bletchley Group, an International Growth Consultants company with the goal of making growth the objective of your strategy and the result of your transformation. Jim is passionate about creating strategies that focus on customers while developing propositions, creating go-to-market plans and aligning capabilities to drive revenue and business growth. Website: https://www.bletchleygroup.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimstevenson/ Check Out Flippa’s Data Insights Tool: https://flippa.com/data-insights -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You’ll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/