Episode
Beyond the Highest Bid: Selling Your Business with Legacy in Mind, Ep #26
- Podcast
- Buy the Numbers
- Published
- Aug 14, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 3980
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
Selling a business is rarely just about the numbers—and in this episode of Buy the Numbers , we explore why. Recorded at the CLA Connect Center in Minnesota, Mike Payne and guest co-host Erin Mickels sit down with two sets of owners who have recently gone through the process of selling their companies. From fielding unsolicited offers to choosing between 26 potential buyers, their stories highlight the strategic, emotional, and deeply personal factors that shape a sale. Joel Bauer of Midsota Manufacturing shares his unlikely journey from part-time welder to co-owner of a thriving 132-employee operation. When industry consolidation threatened to change the game, he had to decide whether to expand aggressively or seek the right partner to carry the business forward. Tyler and Ashley Arrell, owners of Perfect Exteriors, walk us through their experience navigating private equity interest, evaluating strategic buyers, and prioritizing their team's future over the highest payout. Throughout the conversation, Erin provides expert perspective from CLA's owner transition services team, breaking down how to evaluate offers, run an efficient process, and protect your legacy. The discussion covers everything from preparing your books for sophisticated buyers to why you should always run your business as if you're planning to sell—even if you aren't. If you've ever wondered how to choose between multiple offers, when to bring in professional advisors, or how to ensure your employees and customers are taken care of after the deal closes, this episode delivers both the technical insights and the human side of the transaction. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:32) Grow your top and bottom line with CLA (1:40) Introducing the guest co-host and today's pa…