Simon Bedard

Using Valuation Insights To Guide Strategic Growth Decisions

Valuation is more than a number at sale time - it is a diagnostic tool for prioritising growth. Simon shows how valuation analysis can identify which initiatives deliver the biggest uplift and guide investment decisions during the lead-up to a sale. The discussion frames valuation as a management tool that helps owners convert limited resources into demonstrable value improvements for prospective buyers.

Who actually buys your business

Many owners assume their eventual buyer will be a competitor, customer or familiar industry name, yet in more than 90% of Simon’s deals, the successful buyer was someone the seller had never heard of. Buyers may emerge from adjacent industries, investment groups, international markets or individuals looking to become entrepreneurs through acquisition. Simon explains why relying on the obvious shortlist can restrict competition and leave value on the table, and how a properly run sale process uncovers buyers the owner would never have found alone. The discussion changes how founders think about the market for their business and what it takes to create genuine buyer tension.

The wrong exit path can trap good owners

Many owners assume a third-party sale is the obvious end point, but the best exit route depends on the business, the family, the management team, the owner’s timeline and the type of value already built. Choosing the wrong path can create conflict, delay and avoidable value leakage. This conversation gives owner and leadership audiences a practical way to compare sale, succession and management transition options before emotion takes over. Simon can explain how owners should think through control, legacy, valuation, timing and risk before committing to a path they may not be able to unwind easily.