Succession Stories

Your Business Is Not Your Baby: How to Build a Sellable Company

Justin Goodbread · February 23, 2025

Entrepreneur · Author · Finance · Leadershipin

Interview with Justin Goodbread

Your Business Is Not Your Baby: How to Build a Sellable Company — Justin Goodbread

Podcast: Succession Stories

February 23, 2025 · 41 min

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Your Business Is Not Your Baby: How to Build a Sellable Company
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Key topicsEmpowering Business Owners to Create ValueAs a seasoned business coach and keynote speaker, Justin Goodbread helps business owners achieve the freedom they desire while still growing their businesses. He offers practical advice on increasing business value, financial management, and strategic planning. Justin shows how to balance business growth with personal freedom, demonstrating that it’s possible to enjoy both. The Reality of Business TransitionsJustin can discuss the harsh reality that a vast majority of businesses fail to successfully transition ownership, with only a small percentage of owners being satisfied with the sale price. He can use his real-world experience of growing and selling seven businesses to illustrate common pitfalls and provide strategies on how to increase the likelihood of a successful transition, whether it’s selling to an outside buyer, passing the business to family, or another exit strategy. Preparing for a Successful Business ExitJustin can share his insights on the critical importance of early planning for a business exit, drawing from his extensive experience in value acceleration and exit planning. He can emphasize that many business owners delay this planning and are often unprepared when the time comes, leading to disappointing results. Justin can discuss actionable steps to make a business attractive to buyers, ensuring that the owner can achieve a successful and profitable exit. View all topics →

About Justin Goodbread

Justin Goodbread, podcast guest

Expert in Business Value Growth and Strategic Exit Planning

7 businesses Built and exited1M+ copies Best-selling books sold worldwide5× Top 100 Most Influential Advisor, Investopedia500+ episodes DecaMillionaire Decoded podcast

Justin Goodbread is a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and business strategist with decades of experience building, scaling, and exiting service-based businesses. He launched his first venture at just 15 years old, igniting a lifelong passion for entrepreneurship and financial independence. Over the years, Justin has built multiple companies—culminating in an eight-figure exit—solidifying his reputation as a trusted advisor to growth-minded business owners.

Justin specializes in helping service-based entrepreneurs—particularly those generating over $500,000 in annual revenue—break through plateaus, enhance enterprise value, and prepare for highly profitable exits. He is the creator of the DecaMillionaire Doctrine, a five-phase framework designed to guide business owners from operational overwhelm to strategic freedom and lasting wealth.

A two-time bestselling author, Justin shares his expertise in his books The Ultimate Sale and Your Baby’s Ugly, offering practical, actionable guidance on maximizing business value. He also hosts the long-running podcast DecaMillionaire Decoded, with over 500 episodes packed with strategies for business growth, exit planning, and leadership.

As a podcast guest, Justin delivers engaging stories, strategic insights, and a relatable approach that resonates with entrepreneurs navigating the challenges of growth and transition. His blend of real-world experience and clear communication makes him a standout voice in conversations about business strategy, legacy building, and financial freedom.

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About this episode

Is your business truly valuable—or just another job you've created for yourself? In this episode of Succession Stories, Laurie Barkman speaks withJustin Goodbread, award-winning exit planner, best-selling author, and serial entrepreneur who has built and sold six businesses.

Justin shares how he doubled the value of his financial services firm in just 18 months, the key to making your business a transferable asset, and why your business isn't your baby—unless it's an ugly one. Tune in for actionable insights on scaling, selling, and finding joy beyond the exit.

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This Show is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa®

100 percent of owners will leave their business one day. But few are prepared. Are you?

Learn what every entrepreneur needs to know about making your business more scalable and sellable!

✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook here: https://btsherpa.com/book

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Connect with Laurie Barkman:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebarkman/

Website: https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com/

Book: https://btsherpa.com/book

Course: https://btsherpa.com/course

Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBusinessTransitionSherpa

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Connect with Justin Goodbread:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justingoodbread/

https://www.justingoodbread.com/

For all episodes visit: https://successionstories.com

📣 Leave a Review on Rate This Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

Guest: Justin Goodbread

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