Dan Conklin, a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and founder of Bizical Fitness, has released Business Strong, Beyond the Trap, a guide for business owners preparing to sell, transition, or pass on the companies they've built. The book addresses a critical gap in exit planning that often costs owners millions.
"The gap between what an owner receives and what they could have planned for is frequently measured in seven figures," Conklin said. "This isn't a failure of ambition. It's a failure of preparation." This insight underscores the importance of early and strategic exit planning, a message that resonates in the business services industry where mergers and acquisitions activity remains robust.
Business Strong introduces the V.R.T. Going Vertical methodology, a framework built around three pillars: Valuable, Repeatable, and Teachable. The book identifies eight value drivers that separate a sellable company from a business that functions primarily as its owner's high-income job. By focusing on these drivers, owners can enhance their company's attractiveness to buyers and potentially command a higher valuation.
Structured around six stages of an owner's journey (The Calling, The Training, The Crossroads, The Close, The Legacy Path, and The Champion Mindset), the book lets readers start wherever their business currently stands. It includes a 24-week owner sprint, exit planning worksheets, and a glossary of exit-planning terms. These practical tools provide a roadmap for owners at any stage of their business lifecycle.
Conklin holds CEPA and Certified Employee Ownership Advisor (CEOA) credentials and has advised business owners across a range of exit structures, including stock sales, ESOPs, family transitions, and employee ownership arrangements. His practice, Bizical Fitness, works with companies generating $900,000 to $15 million in annual revenue. This focus on the lower middle market is significant, as these businesses often lack the resources of larger corporations but represent a substantial portion of the economy.
"You built something most people would never attempt," Conklin writes in the book's introduction. "This book makes sure it's worth everything you put into it." This sentiment reflects the emotional and financial stakes involved in exiting a business.
Business Strong, Beyond the Trap is available through major retailers and at bizicalfitness.com. The book's release comes at a time when many baby boomer business owners are approaching retirement age, creating a wave of transitions. According to industry estimates, trillions of dollars in business value will change hands over the next decade. Without proper planning, many owners risk leaving significant money on the table.
For business services providers such as merchant account processors, insurance agencies, and IT infrastructure firms, Conklin's book highlights the importance of advising clients on exit readiness. Companies that are valuable, repeatable, and teachable are not only more sellable but also more resilient and profitable in the long run. By adopting the V.R.T. framework, owners can build stronger businesses that benefit all stakeholders.
Conklin's credentials include the Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) designation and Series 7 and Series 66 securities licenses. He serves as an Investment Advisor Representative at Hunter Street Investment Advisors, an SEC-registered investment advisory firm. His work focuses on helping business owners build sellable, transferable companies and on advising owners considering employee ownership as an alternative to private equity sales. This dual perspective on traditional sales and employee ownership provides a comprehensive approach to exit planning.
The book is published by New York Publishing Labs. For more information, visit New York Publishing Labs.
