What happens after you sell your company for millions and walk away with no earnout? In this episode, Bruce Eckfeldt sits down with Thomas Michael, a former SAP consultant turned founder who scaled an online training company and exited with a clean deal. Thomas shares how he transformed his business into a subscription model, prepared for acquisition with precision, and what surprised him most after the sale. A must-listen for founders planning their own exits.
Key Takeaways:
- Switching to SaaS doubled the exit multiple through recurring revenue.
- Preparing for an exit can take 1–2 years—start early and organize everything.
- Making yourself unimportant in the business is key to a clean transition.
- Culture by design significantly improves team morale and buyer appeal.
- A good advisory board can add millions in value pre-exit.
- Many buyers will lowball; knowing industry multiples is essential.
- Post-exit identity loss is real—plan ahead for your next chapter.
- Don't underestimate the power of financial and operational clarity in due diligence.
Links & Resources
- Thomas Michael
- Website: thomasmichaellive.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasmichael1/
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