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 

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What if charitable planning could become an important part of your business exit strategy? In this episode of The Exit, Steve McGarry sits down with Phoenix Hafen, Director of Advisor Solutions at UI Charitable, to explore how business owners can incorporate charitable giving into their exit. Phoenix explains why donating appreciated assets can be significantly more tax efficient than giving cash, how donor advised funds work, and why some founders choose to contribute a portion of their business interest to a donor advised fund before a sale.
Phoenix also breaks down how these donations are valued, what happens to the assets after they enter a donor advised fund, and why waiting until a deal is about to close can mean missing the opportunity entirely. The conversation explores less conventional assets, including real estate, Bitcoin, private investments, and even crypto mining equipment, showing how founders can think differently about philanthropy while preparing for a major liquidity event.

Key Takeaways:
Why appreciated assets can be more tax efficient than cash
How donor advised funds work
Planning charitable giving before a business exit
Why timing matters when making a donation
How donated business interests are valued
Using real estate, Bitcoin, and other alternative assets
Avoiding common charitable planning mistakes
Growing charitable assets tax free

Personal Bio:
Phoenix Hafen is the Director of Advisor Solutions at UI Charitable, where he works with financial advisors, donors, and institutions to make charitable giving more efficient and impactful. He has held several roles within UI Charitable, giving him experience across the organization and a deep understanding of donor advised funds and complex asset donations. Phoenix specializes in helping individuals incorporate philanthropy into their broader financial planning, including strategies involving privately held businesses, real estate, securities, and other appreciated assets. He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Utah.

Phoenix’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoenix-hafen/

UI Charitable Website - https://www.uicharitable.org/learnmore 

Key Chapters:
[0:01] Welcome and Episode Preview
[03:35] Phoenix Hafen and UI Charitable
[04:57] Why Philanthropy Is a Strategic Part of Exit Planning
[06:05] The Most Tax Efficient Assets to Donate
[07:31] Using Donor Advised Funds for Business Asset Donations
[09:25] Valuation and Timing Considerations for Donations
[10:42] Handling Different Asset Types: Stocks, Real Estate, Crypto
[15:54] Preparing Your Business for Charitable Donations
[18:39] Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
[24:37] Creative and Unique Assets for Donation
[27:31] Timeline and Flexibility in Donation Strategies
[28:41] Final Advice and Where to Learn More

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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/

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 

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What does it take to build a business you can walk away from completely? In this episode of The Exit, Steve McGarry sits down with Dr. Michael Filosi, a dentist turned entrepreneur who transformed a run down two chair dental practice into a thriving ten chair operation with more than 35 staff. After a decade of growth, Michael decided it was time to move on and managed the entire sale process himself, creating competition among private equity buyers and ultimately closing the deal just 81 days after first telling his accountant he wanted to sell.

Michael shares how removing himself from day to day production helped create a business that could operate without him and why clean financials, strong systems, and reduced founder dependency can make a company significantly more attractive to buyers. He also discusses creating competitive tension during a sale, knowing when the right time is to exit, avoiding the dangers of waiting until burnout takes over, and the mistakes he made while scaling. Plus, Michael reflects on life after the exit and why founders should start building a sellable business long before they are actually ready to sell.

Key Takeaways:
Building a business that runs without you
Reducing founder dependency before an exit
Creating competitive tension between buyers
Keeping financials clean and transparent
Preparing your business to be sellable
Knowing the right time to exit
Increasing value while reducing buyer risk
Managing burnout before it impacts the business
Learning quickly from hiring and leadership mistakes
Planning for life after the exit

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Dr. Michael Filosi is an Australian entrepreneur and dentist who transformed a run down dental practice into a multi million dollar healthcare business before successfully exiting to private equity in 2025. Over ten years, he removed himself from day to day operations and built a highly profitable business with minimal founder dependency, allowing him to complete a clean walk in, walk out exit with no earn outs or retention period. Today, Michael shares practical insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, scaling, systems, succession, and building a business that can thrive beyond its founder.

Michael’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfilosi/ 

Timestamps:
[0:01] Welcome and Episode Preview
[3:06] From Dentist to Entrepreneur
[6:09] From Wall Possums to Practice Owner
[8:57] Scaling the Practice and Building for Growth
[11:57] Knowing When It Was Time to Sell
[15:16] Managing a Fast and Competitive Exit
[18:14] Understanding Valuation and Business Worth
[22:16] Mistakes, Lessons, and What He’d Do Differently
[24:58] Life After the Exit and What Comes Next

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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/

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 

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If you're planning to sell your business someday, preparation starts much earlier than most founders realize. In this episode of The Exit, Steve McGarry sits down with Matt Andersen, President and CEO of Westlake Securities, to break down what separates premium acquisitions from deals that stall, retrade, or fall apart entirely.
Drawing on more than 27 years of M&A experience and over $5.7 billion in completed transactions, Matt shares the practical strategies founders can use to increase business value, reduce buyer risk, and navigate every stage of the exit process. From financial readiness and quality of earnings to timing the market, deal structures, and the common mistakes that derail transactions, this episode is packed with actionable insights for entrepreneurs preparing for their eventual exit.

Key Takeaways:
• The biggest drivers of business valuation and buyer interest.
• Why financial readiness can make or break a transaction.
• Matt's proven nine month framework for preparing and executing a successful sale.
• How to determine the right time to exit your business.
• The pros and cons of earnouts, seller notes, and rolled equity.
• The most common mistakes founders make before going to market.
• Why communication, expectations, and preparation are critical after closing.
• Matt's advice for entrepreneurs looking to scale before they sell.

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Matt Andersen is President and CEO of Westlake Securities, where he advises middle market companies on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, growth strategy, and exit planning. With more than 25 years of investment banking experience and billions of dollars in completed transactions, Matt has helped hundreds of business owners maximize company value and navigate successful liquidity events. He is also the author of Completing the Deal and Intentional Growth, and is a frequent speaker on business growth, M&A strategy, and creating long term enterprise value.

Matt’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-andersen-8861811b/

Westlake Securities Website - https://westlakesecurities.com/

Matt’s Latest Book - https://westlakesecurities.com/intentional-growth-the-book/ 

Key Timestamps:
00:01 Welcome and Episode Preview
02:12 Introduction to Matt Andersen
02:39 Matt's Journey from Acquisitions to Investment Banking
04:48 What Drives Business Valuation?
06:13 Building Transaction Readiness
07:50 Preparing Your Financials and Data Room
10:19 Matt's Nine Month Exit Timeline
13:17 When Is the Right Time to Sell?
17:56 Deal Structures: Cash, Earnouts, and Rolled Equity
20:17 Common Mistakes That Derail Business Sales
22:56 Why M&A Deals Fall Apart
26:36 Advice to My Younger Self
28:09 Matt's Book *Intentional Growth* and Current Projects

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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/

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 

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Buying an online business can create life changing wealth, but only if you know what you're looking for. In this episode, Steve sits down with Matt Raad, CEO and co-founder of the eBusiness Institute, to unpack his 15+ year journey of buying, renovating, and flipping online businesses. After starting with traditional manufacturing companies, Matt transitioned into acquiring websites before platforms like Flippa even existed, helping pioneer online business investing.

Together, they discuss how experienced buyers uncover hidden value, avoid expensive due diligence mistakes, increase business valuations, and prepare companies for successful exits. Matt also explains why email lists, recurring revenue, and reducing founder dependency have become some of the most valuable assets in today's AI driven marketplace. Whether you're planning to buy your first online business or preparing to sell one, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.

Key Takeaways:
• What separates great online business acquisitions from bad ones
• The biggest due diligence mistakes buyers make
• How recurring revenue impacts valuation multiples
• Why email lists and community are becoming premium assets
• How to reduce founder dependency before an exit
• What buyers really look for during acquisitions
• Lessons from buying and selling businesses for more than two decades

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Matt Raad is the CEO and Co-Founder of eBusiness Institute and Co-Host of the Digital Investors Podcast. Alongside his wife and business partner, Liz, he has spent more than 30 years buying, renovating, and selling businesses, helping thousands of entrepreneurs build and grow valuable digital assets. Today, Matt specializes in teaching professionals and first time buyers how to acquire, scale, and successfully exit online businesses using practical strategies focused on due diligence, valuation, and long term wealth creation.

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-raad/

Website - https://www.ebusinessinstitute.com.au/

Podcast - https://www.digitalinvestors.com/ 

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Chapters:
00:02:26 Matt Raad's Journey to Online Business
00:07:08 Flippa, Due Diligence, and Hidden Value
00:11:19 Email Lists and Digital Business Assets
00:14:45 Valuation, Recurring Revenue, and Founder Risk
00:19:08 Preparing Your Business for Exit
00:22:26 When Strong Financials Outweigh Founder Risk
00:26:57 Clean Financials and Buyer Confidence
00:27:35 Costly Mistakes in Online Business Acquisitions
00:30:22 Due Diligence Lessons for Entrepreneurs
00:33:52 Where to Find Matt Raad

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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/

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 

Most entrepreneurs spend years preparing their business for sale, but very few prepare themselves for what comes next. In this episode of The Exit, Steve McGarry sits down with Mark Miller, Managing Director of the Hilton Family Office, to discuss what really happens before and after a business sale. From avoiding costly tax mistakes to building the right advisory team and creating systems that increase valuation, Mark shares practical strategies that can help founders protect more of what they've built. 

They also explore the emotional side of selling a company, why lifestyle planning matters just as much as financial planning, and the common mistakes that cause entrepreneurs to lose millions unnecessarily after closing the deal. Whether you're planning to sell next year or a decade from now, this conversation offers valuable insights for maximizing both your company's value and protecting your financial future. 

Mark Miller is the Managing Director of the Hilton Family Office and CEO of Hilton Tax & Wealth Advisors, where he helps business owners, executives, and high net worth families preserve and grow their wealth using family office strategies. With nearly four decades of experience in financial services, he is a bestselling author and nationally recognized financial expert whose work has been featured in major publications including Kiplinger's, The New York Times, and Money Magazine. Mark specializes in exit planning, tax efficient wealth strategies, and helping entrepreneurs protect what they've built long after the sale of their business.

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmiller-hiltonfo/ 

Hilton Wealth Website - https://www.hiltonwealth.com/ 

Hilton Wealth Book - https://book.hiltonwealth.com/ 

Timestamps: 
[0:01] Episode Preview & Guest Introduction 
[2:19] Mark Miller's Background & Career Journey 
[4:22] Preparing for an Exit: Financial & Emotional Planning 
[8:31] Why Specialized Advisors Matter 
[15:24] When Is the Right Time to Exit? 
[18:27] Increasing Company Value Through Systems & Marketing 
[23:14] Lessons Learned & Hilton Tax and Wealth Advisors 

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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/