The Public Bank Fix: A Real Solution or Just Another Pipe Dream?

How I Stumbled Into the World of Public Banking (Accidentally, of Course)

Let me set the scene: I’m sitting at my buddy Greg’s kitchen table, half a beer deep, arguing about why banks are broken. You know the type of conversation—starts with a casual gripe about overdraft fees and suddenly you’re ranting about the 2008 financial collapse like it happened yesterday.

Greg, who fancies himself a contrarian (mostly because he still pays cash for everything), tosses out, “What we need is a public bank. Like a real one. Owned by the people.”

I rolled my eyes. “A bank? Run by the government? That’s rich.”
He just grinned. “Look it up. North Dakota’s had one for a hundred years.”

Well, damn. That sent me down a rabbit hole that night, and I didn’t resurface until 2 a.m. So if you’ve ever wondered if public banks are the fix to our broken financial system or just another bureaucratic Band-Aid, buckle up. I’ve got some thoughts.

What Even Is a Public Bank?

Imagine a bank that doesn’t answer to Wall Street, doesn’t pay out big bonuses to execs, and doesn’t gamble your deposits on the next big speculative bubble. Instead, it reinvests locally—in infrastructure, small businesses, renewable energy, schools. Sounds like fantasy, right? It’s not.

A public bank solution is, at its core, a financial institution owned and operated by a government—municipal, state, whatever. Think of it as your tax dollars doing something other than vanishing into the abyss. These banks partner with credit unions or community banks to fund public projects and lend responsibly without trying to squeeze every last drop of profit.

And yeah, North Dakota’s been doing it since 1919. The Bank of North Dakota (BND) isn’t some fringe experiment. It’s profitable, stable, and has arguably helped shield the state from multiple financial crises. No bailouts. No drama.

My “Aha” Moment (Or, Why This Actually Makes Sense)

So I’m reading through reports, watching some crusty C-SPAN replays (don’t judge), and it hits me: we’ve been sold the idea that banking has to be predatory. That fees are normal. That billion-dollar quarterly profits are just the price of doing business.

But that’s like accepting potholes as a feature of roads.

Public banks flip that logic. Instead of bleeding communities dry, they nourish them. You’ve got cities paying obscene interest to private banks to finance infrastructure. Why not cut out the middleman?

It’s not about handing the keys to Uncle Sam and hoping for the best. It’s about local control, transparency, and breaking free from the Wall Street leash.

Yeah, But What’s the Catch?

Let’s be real—every solution sounds dreamy until you scratch the surface. Public banks aren’t magic.

Setting one up? Not cheap. There’s red tape, regulatory hurdles, and you’re gonna tick off the banking lobby like you just insulted their mothers. They’ll scream “socialism” before you can say “municipal bond.”

Plus, governance matters. A badly run public bank is just a taxpayer-funded disaster waiting to happen. Think: cronyism, incompetence, mission drift. You’ve got to build it right—with transparency, oversight, and clear rules about what the bank can and cannot do.

There’s also the risk of mission creep. One day it’s funding affordable housing, the next it’s underwriting a new stadium for a billionaire sports owner. Without guardrails, the whole thing goes sideways fast.

I Talked to a City Councilmember. Here’s What Blew My Mind.

Okay, I didn’t mean to get this deep into it, but when you start following the money, you get curious. I emailed a city councilmember who’d supported a feasibility study for a public bank in her town (not naming names, but you’d recognize it). She replied.

Her words? “If our city had its own bank, we could save millions every year in fees and interest alone. That money could go toward schools, affordable housing, and actual services. But the opposition is fierce.”

It’s always about control. The current system works great—for the people already at the top. They don’t want competition. Especially not from an institution that doesn’t care about maximizing shareholder value.

What Public Banks Could Actually Change

If implemented the right way, a public bank could do more than just save a few bucks. It could actually shift power. Here’s what that might look like:

• Municipal Savings: Cities could finance their own infrastructure projects at lower interest rates.

• Small Business Lending: Local entrepreneurs—especially those ignored by big banks—could get access to affordable credit.

• Disaster Resilience: Public banks aren’t driven by panic and profit. They can provide stability when things get rocky.

• Community Control: Decisions are made locally, not in some glass tower in Manhattan.

• Financial Justice: Redirect profits into public good, not private yachts.

Final Thoughts: A Revolution in the Slow Lane?

Here’s the rub: public banks won’t change everything overnight. But they might be the kind of slow, steady revolution we need.

It’s not sexy. It’s not flashy. But it’s real. The kind of fix that doesn’t make headlines but makes a hell of a difference over a decade.

And yeah, it’s not perfect. It needs watchdogs, serious governance, and civic pressure. But tell me—when was the last time your mega-bank reinvested in your kid’s school or your neighbor’s plumbing business?

Exactly.

Key Takeaways

• Public banks are government-owned financial institutions that reinvest locally.

• The Bank of North Dakota proves they can be profitable and crisis-resistant.

• Public banks can reduce municipal debt costs and boost local development.

• The biggest challenges? Red tape, political resistance, and banking lobby pressure.

• With the right structure and oversight, they can reclaim power from Wall Street and put it back in the hands of communities.

So yeah, maybe Greg was onto something after all. I owe him another beer. 🍻

I Didn’t Think I’d Be That Guy Buying Gold… Until I Was

So picture this.

It’s 3AM. I’m half-asleep, scrolling through my phone, trying to figure out how to outsmart inflation, avoid another crypto faceplant, and maybe stop my retirement plan from looking like a joke.

Then it hit me—gold. Yeah, real shiny bars of metal. The kind pirates fight over. The kind your granddad buried in coffee cans in the backyard because he didn’t trust the banks. And for some reason, in that late-night haze, it made complete sense.

But here’s the kicker: I had no idea what kind of gold to buy.

I thought gold was just gold. Turns out, there are types. Layers. Grades. And if you pick the wrong one? You might as well be buying costume jewelry off eBay.

Let me save you from the same spiral. This is what I wish someone had told me before I started tossing thousands at yellow metal. If I had started reading Merrimack Mortgage, I could have saved myself a lot of headaches.

What Is Investment Grade Gold Anyway?

Let’s break it down like we’re talking over a beer.

“Investment grade gold” is just a fancy way of saying “gold that actually holds its value and is easy to buy, sell, and trade.”

It’s not your grandma’s necklace (unless she was stashing bullion under the bed). It’s high-purity, recognized gold that’s typically in the form of coins or bars, and it’s often issued by governments or reputable refiners.

And yeah, there are different types of this stuff—and not all of them are created equal.

1. Gold Bullion Bars: The Big Dogs of Wealth Storage

When I first saw one of these in person, I thought, dang, this looks like something you’d steal in a heist movie.

Gold bars—also called “bullion bars”—are pure, hefty, and scream “I mean business.”

• Purity: Usually 99.5% to 99.99% pure

• Sizes: Anywhere from 1 gram to 400 ounces (but let’s be honest, most of us start small)

• Pros: Low premium over spot price, great for stacking serious value

• Cons: Harder to sell in huge chunks; storing them securely is a whole thing

I went with a few smaller bars at first because, well, the idea of holding a literal gold brick felt absurd. And also kind of thrilling. Like I had a secret vault behind a painting (I didn’t—but I wanted to).

2. Gold Coins: The Collector’s Favorite (And My First Mistake)

Alright, confession time.

I bought a few coins early on because they looked cool. Eagle on the front, lady liberty doing her thing—artistic, patriotic, whatever. It was only later I realized not all coins are created equal.

Some are numismatic, which means collectors value them for their rarity, age, or design. That’s great… if you’re a collector. I wasn’t.

If you want investment grade, stick with bullion coins. These are minted by governments and are priced based on gold content, not fancy history.

Top players:

• American Gold Eagle

• Canadian Maple Leaf

• South African Krugerrand

• Australian Kangaroo

Why people love them:

• Highly liquid

• Recognized worldwide

• Easy to store and sell

Lesson learned: unless you want to dive into the world of coin collecting (which is a whole other rabbit hole), skip the numismatics.

3. Gold Rounds: Like Coins, But Less Fancy

Imagine a gold coin… without the government stamp. That’s a gold round.

They’re produced by private mints, and while they still have high purity levels, they don’t carry the same instant recognition as a Gold Eagle or Maple Leaf.

That means:

• Lower premiums (yay!)

• Lower resale value (meh…)

If you’re stacking gold purely for metal value and don’t care about recognizability, rounds can be a solid choice. I picked up a few as an experiment. Felt like the off-brand cereal of the gold world. Still gets the job done.

4. Gold ETFs and Digital Gold: Not My Cup of Tea, But Worth Knowing

Okay, this one’s controversial.

Some folks swear by gold ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) or digital gold accounts where you “own” gold that’s held somewhere in a vault you’ll never see.

It’s convenient. You don’t have to worry about burglars or safes or accidentally dropping a coin down the sink (don’t ask).

But me? I like touching what I own. I want to feel the weight of it. See the shine. Smell the… okay maybe not smell. But you get the point.

If you’re more spreadsheet than survivalist, ETFs could be your thing. Just know you’re not holding the metal—you’re holding paper that says you own metal.

What I Did (And What I’d Do Differently)

Looking back, I jumped in with more excitement than strategy.

I bought coins for the art, rounds for the bargain, and bars because they felt baller. But what I should have done is this:

• Start with 1 oz bullion coins — they’re liquid, easy to store, and widely accepted.

• Diversify into smaller bars for flexibility in case I ever needed to sell in pieces.

• Avoid collector coins unless I’m ready to nerd out over historical mints (spoiler: I wasn’t).

• Actually think about storage before buying thousands of dollars in metal. (Let’s just say my sock drawer wasn’t cutting it.)

The Real Value? Peace of Mind

Look, I’m not saying gold is some magical solution to all of life’s financial problems. It won’t make your ex less annoying, it won’t fix your 401(k), and it definitely won’t stop you from impulse-buying things on Amazon at midnight.

But it does offer a kind of quiet comfort. Like, no matter what happens—market crashes, dollar dives, another social media platform ruining your productivity—gold’s just… there.

Solid. Heavy. Real.

That’s something, isn’t it?

Final Thoughts: Don’t Be the Guy Googling “What Is Investment Grade Gold” at 3AM

Or do. I mean, it worked out for me eventually.

If you’re thinking about gold, don’t overthink it—but don’t wing it either. Stick with the well-known bullion coins and bars, skip the frilly stuff unless you’re deep into collecting, and for the love of all things shiny, figure out how you’re going to store it before you start stacking.

At the end of the day, gold isn’t just an investment. It’s a statement.

And now, every time I open that safe (yes, I bought one), I feel just a little more secure. A little more in control.

And hey—if the world ever does go sideways?

At least I’ve got something better than toilet paper and crypto coins.

✌️ Stay golden.

You ever stare at your 401(k) and think, “This thing’s hanging by a thread and a prayer”? Yeah, I’ve been there. One too many stock market dips and I started questioning whether my retirement was actually a retirement or just a long, slow practical joke. That’s when I first looked into buying gold bullion in an IRA—not coins, not ETFs, but the real-deal bars. And let me tell you, that rabbit hole goes deep. 🕳️🐇

But if you’re thinking about diversifying your retirement account and want something that doesn’t evaporate every time Wall Street sneezes, gold bullion might just be your lifeboat.

Here’s the story—and the steps—that got me there.

Why I Ditched the Stock Market Kool-Aid

There was a moment, mid-pandemic, when I logged into my brokerage account at ENV Plan and saw a sea of red. Not the “oops-I-lost-$200” kind. I’m talking “this-could-buy-a-used-Tesla” level red. That was the wake-up call.

It wasn’t just about the money anymore. It was about peace of mind. I started asking myself: What actually holds value when everything hits the fan?

Crypto? Been there, got burned. Real estate? Overleveraged and already in.

Gold? Solid. Literally.

But I didn’t want to just hoard coins in a shoebox under the bed. I wanted physical gold inside my retirement plan. That led me to the golden unicorn: the Gold IRA.

First Things First: What’s a Gold IRA?

Think of a Gold IRA like your traditional or Roth IRA that you keep at a fiduciary like ENV plan, but instead of stocks and bonds, you’re holding physical gold bullion. Not paper promises. Not gold ETFs. Real, tangible, heavy gold.

But here’s the kicker: You can’t just waltz into a coin shop, buy a bar, and toss it into your Schwab account. The IRS has rules (of course they do 🙄).

So you need a self-directed IRA. That’s a fancy way of saying you get to decide what alternative assets go into it—like gold, silver, maybe even crypto or real estate if you’re feeling spicy.

Step-by-Step: How I Bought Gold Bullion in My IRA

1. Found a Self-Directed IRA Custodian

Not all IRA custodians will touch gold. Most are like, “Ew, physical assets? That’s not scalable!” So I had to do a little digging. I called around, asked questions like:

• “Do you allow IRS-approved gold bullion in a self-directed IRA?”

• “Can I choose my own precious metals dealer?”

• “Where do you store the metal?”

I ended up with a custodian that didn’t sound like a robot and actually knew what a kilo bar was. Win.

2. Rolled Over My Existing IRA or 401(k)

This part made me sweat more than it should’ve. Moving money from one account to another just feels sketchy, right?

But turns out, it’s pretty standard. I did a direct rollover, which means the money never touched my hands—smart move because Uncle Sam gets real grabby if you so much as breathe near that cash.

3. Picked My Gold Dealer Like I Was Choosing a Tattoo Artist

I didn’t go with the first guy flashing shiny ads and “guaranteed returns.” I wanted a dealer who sold IRS-approved bullion, like:

• 24-karat gold bars (must be 99.5% pure or better)

• American Gold Eagles (the exception—they’re 91.67% but still approved)

Also, they needed to ship directly to my IRA custodian’s approved depository. You can’t store this stuff at home, unless you enjoy IRS audits (I don’t).

4. Made the Purchase Through My IRA

Here’s a twist: I didn’t swipe a card or wire the money. My custodian did, using the funds I’d already rolled over. Once the gold was bought, it went to the vault—not to me, not under my pillow.

And yes, I got paperwork for everything.

Storage Isn’t in Your Basement (Sorry, Prepper Nation)

Let me crush a myth real quick: you can’t buy gold with your IRA and store it in your gun safe at home. The IRS wants it in an approved, insured depository, where it’s held in your name.

Is that a little frustrating? Maybe. But hey, I sleep better knowing my gold’s chilling in a bomb-proof vault with 24/7 surveillance.

What Surprised Me the Most

You know what shocked me? It wasn’t hard. Not “easy” like ordering a pizza, but once you understand the rules, it’s rinse-and-repeat.

The real challenge was mental. Shifting my thinking from paper assets to physical wealth—it took time. But the moment I held a small gold bar in my hand (from a personal purchase), something clicked: this stuff is real. It’s lasted thousands of years.

No quarterly earnings report required.

Is Gold Bullion in an IRA Right for You?

Look, I’m not your financial guru. I’m just a guy who got tired of gambling on the Dow and wanted something with weight—literally. If you’re looking to diversify, hedge against inflation, or just want to feel like Scrooge McDuck without the ego, gold bullion in an IRA might be your play.

Just know this:

• It’s not a get-rich-quick move. It’s a protect-what-you’ve-earned move.

• It comes with fees (custodian, storage, setup). Factor those in.

• You gotta play by the IRS rules, or the tax man will come knocking.

Final Thoughts: Do I Regret It?

Not even close.

If anything, I regret not doing it sooner. There’s something empowering about knowing part of your retirement is backed by a metal you can touch, feel, and—if it all goes south—barter with.

Stocks can crash. Banks can fail. Currencies inflate. But gold?

Gold just is.

So yeah, if you’ve been flirting with the idea of adding gold bullion to your IRA, stop swiping and make the move. Just do it smart, do it legally, and don’t let fear or analysis paralysis keep you stuck in paper purgatory.

Ready to dig deeper? I’ll be sharing the pros and cons of gold vs silver in a future post—and which metal I’m betting on next. Spoiler: it’s shiny. 😎

How I Ended Up Selling My Manufacturing Business (Spoiler: It Wasn’t My Original Plan)

I wasn’t planning to sell. Let me just start there.

If you’d asked me three years ago, “Hey, are you ever gonna sell the company you built from nothing in your garage with a secondhand lathe and a dream?” I probably would’ve laughed. Or cried. Depends on the day.

This company was me. Every 12-hour shift. Every missed vacation. Every supplier nightmare that kept me up at night with spreadsheets and cold coffee. And I was proud of it—proud in that gritty, sleeves-rolled-up way you only understand if you’ve ever bootstrapped a company from zero.

But here’s the thing no one tells you: the burnout doesn’t always come all at once. Sometimes it sneaks in like a leak in the roof. You start to notice it when things that used to excite you now just feel… heavy.

That’s where I was when a buddy of mine—who had just sold his CNC operation for what I can only describe as “generational money”—dropped a name I’d never heard before.

“You gotta talk to my guy. He’s a broker, but he specializes in manufacturing. Real deal.”

And that’s when the seed was planted.

Why a Manufacturing-Focused Business Broker Makes All the Difference

Now listen, I’ve talked to business brokers before. Mostly tire-kickers or spreadsheet-slingers with suits two sizes too tight trying to talk EBITDA with a tone that says, “I once watched a YouTube video about Six Sigma.”

But this guy? Whole different animal.

First thing he asked me wasn’t about revenue. It was about tooling capacity.

Then he dug into throughput, SKU complexity, equipment depreciation, labor efficiency ratios—I mean, I was either talking to a savant or someone who’d actually been in a plant, not just Googled one.

He understood the difference between a job shop and a lean-run OEM supplier. He knew that a drop in aluminum prices could choke margins before it hit the balance sheet. This guy was talking my language. And not in a fake “synergy and scaling” way. I mean real shop talk.

Pro tip from me to you: If you’re in manufacturing and thinking about selling, don’t mess with a generalist broker. It’s like hiring a dentist to do heart surgery—technically, it’s still in the body, but good luck.

The Dirty Truth About Valuations (and Why I Almost Screwed It Up)

Here’s a little embarrassing moment for ya…

I thought I knew what my company was worth. I had a number in my head, and I’d gotten pretty cozy with it.

Turns out, I was off by a lot. Like…six-figures-wrong a lot.

But here’s what the broker did that I’ll never forget: he walked me through why. He broke down the components—recurring contracts, specialty certifications, machinery condition, customer concentration—all the things that either drive value or kill deals.

He even explained why having one client that made up 43% of my revenue was a red flag for buyers (which, by the way, is why we worked on diversifying before even listing).

It wasn’t just about the dollar signs. It was about setting the business up to survive the handoff. And that meant knowing what buyers cared about—even if I didn’t want to hear it at first.

The Bizarre World of Buyers (Yes, One of Them Tried to Lowball Me at My Kid’s Soccer Game)

No joke: one potential buyer actually cornered me at a weekend soccer match, introduced himself as “just a guy interested in the business,” then tried to offer me 40% of asking price like he was doing me a favor.

Dude had never run a shop in his life. Probably never even changed his own oil.

But my broker? He handled it. Quietly. Professionally. And ruthlessly (in the best way possible). He filtered out the nonsense and only brought serious buyers to the table—folks who understood the industry. Private equity guys with actual portfolios in industrial tooling. Strategic acquirers who saw our product line as the missing puzzle piece in their vertical.

In the end, we didn’t just find a buyer—we found the right one. Someone who respected the team, kept the crew intact, and even let me consult part-time during the transition.

(Also, that guy from the soccer game? Still shows up at games. Avoids eye contact. 😅)

Post-Sale: The Surreal Feeling of Not Waking Up at 4 AM to Check the CNC Queues

It’s weird.

I still wake up early sometimes, expecting to check shift reports or freak out over a late order from a Chinese supplier.

But then I remember—I’m out.

And not in a “I cashed out and moved to Bali” kind of way (though…maybe next year). I mean I walked away knowing the business is in good hands, my team’s taken care of, and my blood pressure’s finally back to normal.

If I hadn’t found a business broker who actually got manufacturing, I honestly don’t think I’d be saying any of this.

Most brokers will tell you what you want to hear. The right one tells you what you need to know—and then helps you get it done.

What You Should Look For in a Business Broker (Especially in Manufacturing)

Let me give it to you straight, in bullet form:

• Industry experience is non-negotiable. Ask them what ERP system you use. If they stumble, walk.

• They should talk value drivers, not just multiples. Good brokers know the levers to increase value.

• Network matters. Strategic buyers, family offices, PE firms—this isn’t Craigslist.

• Process is everything. You want someone with a proven, repeatable process—not winging it.

• Confidentiality = Sacred. You don’t want your vendors or employees finding out from LinkedIn.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Go It Alone

Selling your manufacturing business is a beast.

It’s emotional. It’s technical. And yeah, it’s personal.

But with the right broker by your side—someone who speaks your language, respects your journey, and fights like hell to get you the deal you deserve—it doesn’t have to be a disaster. It can be the proudest close of your career.

Mine was. And if I could go back, I’d do it the exact same way.

Except maybe I’d ignore that guy at the soccer game a little faster. 😉

Thinking of Selling Your Manufacturing Business?
Find a broker who lives and breathes shop floor strategy—not just sales commissions. It’ll change everything.

Thinking About Selling Your Business? Here’s What Actually Happened When I Did

So there I was—halfway through a cold brew and a mild existential crisis—staring at a spreadsheet that looked more like a ransom note than a financial statement.

I’d built this company from scratch. No silver spoon. No magic funding. Just late nights, strong coffee, and a borderline-unhealthy obsession with making it work. But after 9 years of grinding, I was tired. Like, deep-soul-weary tired.

I wanted out. I wanted time. I wanted to surf more and stress less. But here’s the kicker:

I had no idea how to sell a business.

I thought I did—until I realized I was in way over my head.

The DIY Delusion: “How Hard Could It Be?”

Spoiler: Harder than you think.

At first, I figured I’d just list it online. You know, toss it on one of those business-for-sale sites like it was a used lawnmower and wait for the offers to roll in. “It’s a cash-flowing business with a great team and loyal clients,” I told myself. “Who wouldn’t want that?”

Turns out… a lot of people. Or rather, the wrong people.

The first guy who contacted me? He wanted to know if I’d finance all of it. Like, 100%. The next was a self-proclaimed “serial entrepreneur” who ghosted after asking for a full download of our client list. (Nice try, Chad.)

After three months of that circus, my confidence was shot. My team was getting nervous. And I was starting to feel like the business I’d built was turning into an albatross around my neck.

That’s when I finally admitted what I’d been avoiding:

I needed help.

Enter: The Business Broker (aka My Exit Sherpa)

I’ll be honest—I was skeptical. The idea of handing over control (and a cut of the deal) to a stranger felt like inviting a raccoon to manage my pantry.

But I interviewed a few brokers anyway. I asked hard questions. I checked references. I treated it like hiring a top-level employee, not a Craigslist gig.

And finally, I found the one. Let’s call him Mike. Mike had this calm, “I’ve done this 100 times” energy that made me feel instantly less like I was drowning and more like I was sailing toward a shore I couldn’t see yet.

Here’s what changed when Mike stepped in:

1. He Valued My Business More Accurately Than I Ever Could

Turns out, my idea of “what it’s worth” was more emotional than logical. I priced it based on sweat and sentiment. Mike brought comps, cash flow multiples, and cold-hard objectivity.

He ran a real valuation. Not a back-of-the-napkin guess, but a legit breakdown based on EBITDA, market trends, and buyer psychology.

Guess what? His number was higher than mine. Go figure.

2. He Found Serious Buyers While I Slept (Literally)

Within two weeks of listing with Mike’s network, we had a shortlist of vetted, motivated buyers. These weren’t tire-kickers or dreamers—they had capital, experience, and actual plans.

Mike screened them like a protective dad meeting prom dates. I didn’t have to deal with flaky time-wasters anymore.

And the best part? I didn’t have to pitch myself. Mike knew how to tell the story of my business in a way that made it sound… cooler than I ever could. Like Shark Tank meets a TED Talk.

3. He Handled the Drama So I Didn’t Have To

Selling a business is weirdly emotional. There are egos involved. Surprises. Legal landmines. Negotiations that feel more like poker than logic.

There was a moment during due diligence when one buyer asked for a clause that would’ve basically let him fire my entire team post-sale. Old me might’ve panicked.

Mike? He shut it down in two sentences and pivoted the conversation like a pro.

I realized then: This is what I was paying for.

4. He Made Me More Money Than I Would’ve Alone

I know, it sounds cliché. But it’s true.

Mike negotiated like it was his business on the line. He fought for fair terms, earn-outs, non-compete timelines, and tax-advantaged structuring I wouldn’t have thought of in a million years.

By the time we closed, I had not only a better deal—but peace of mind. I could actually enjoy the beach instead of wondering if I got fleeced.

What I Wish I Knew Before Selling

If I could hop in a time machine and give myself three pieces of advice before selling, it’d be this:

• Don’t try to DIY your exit unless you’ve sold multiple companies before. It’s not like selling a car. It’s like selling a car with a franchise and loyal customer base and a reputation on the line.

• Start earlier than you think. Getting your books clean, team stable, and processes documented makes the sale way smoother—and more valuable.

• Choose your broker like you’d choose a surgeon. Interview a few. Ask about their track record in your industry. Trust your gut.

So… Should You Hire a Business Broker?

Look, I’m not here to sell you on it. (Well, kind of—but only because I lived it.)

If you’re thinking of selling your company, I’d say this:

Hiring a business broker doesn’t make you weak or lazy. It makes you smart. It shows you respect what you’ve built enough to exit the right way.

There’s no prize for struggling through it alone. No trophy for grinding through deal terms on your own at midnight.

What there is, though, is a better way to walk away with more money, less stress, and your legacy intact.

And maybe—just maybe—a few extra surf days, too. 🌊

Final Thoughts: Your Business Deserves a Clean Exit

You wouldn’t wing your business launch. Don’t wing the exit either.

Get someone in your corner who knows the terrain. Someone who’s walked this path dozens of times. Someone who can spot the potholes before you fall into them.

That was the biggest unlock for me.

And now? I’m officially out, sipping espresso in Portugal, tinkering with my next big idea—with zero regrets and one heck of a story.

You could be next.

✌️