Poised for Exit
Welcome to the Poised for Exit podcast! Poised for Exit is an under 30-minute strategic planning guidance podcast for busy small business owners. Each week you’ll hear certified exit planning advisor, Julie Keyes, talk with a range of entrepreneurs and professionals about preparing your business for a future transition. Guests at every stage of company ownership will share their personal stories and lessons learned about topics such as the anatomy of the exit planning process, developing a growth strategy, how to sell on your terms, exit planning for women small business owners, handling business diversity, and how to sell a family business. Whether you’re planning an exit in the near future or not, this show will provide you with the same action-oriented content that Julie utilizes while consulting with Keyestrategies clients. Building an exit strategy can be overwhelming, especially with all the decisions and details you have to consider. “Poised for Exit” will simplify the process and help you unwrap the unknowns, giving you more confidence in your planning process. Previous episodes are available for download, so if you are new to our show, you can listen to them in any order that suits you. Join us each week for timely, relevant content that will surely impact your business exit outcome! Subscribe to our newsletter below to receive your weekly episode link and stay updated on new strategic planning content. Find “Poised for Exit” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, and others. Thank you to our Sponsors: Sunbelt Business Advisers and JAK CPA's. A special note of thanks to Tyler Keyes who produced the music for the “Poised for Exit” show.
Poised for Exit
How One Business Drew 4 Private Equity Offers in 81 Days
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In this episode of Poised for Exit, Dr. Michael Filosi, dentist, exited business owner, and entrepreneur, shares how he transformed a worn-out dental practice with possums in the walls into the largest dental practice in Adelaide, Australia. Ten years after purchasing the struggling business, Michael sold it in just 81 days after receiving offers from four different private equity firms, with no earn-out or required retention period.
Michael explains how he created competitive tension among prospective buyers, why he declined to name his own asking price, and what it was like to negotiate directly with professional private equity buyers. He also shares why clean financial records made the practice easier to value, reduced perceived risk, and allowed buyers to submit stronger offers with confidence.
The conversation explores what makes a business truly sellable, including eliminating dependence on the owner, building a capable leadership team, and preparing the company to operate successfully after the founder exits. Michael also discusses when and how he informed his team about the sale, the emotional realities of walking away, and why business owners should begin preparing long before they are ready to enter the market.
Connect with Dr. Michael Filosi here
Learn more about Dr. Michael Filosi here
Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor