Joshua Carnes

Principal @ Lion Business Advisors, Business Valuations, Exit Planning, Mergers & Acquisitions | Podcast @ The Expert Exchange

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

Many business owners do not realize that the final net check they receive is heavily impacted by a technical negotiation that happens late in the transaction, specifically the allocation of the purchase price for tax purposes.

#ExitPlanning #BusinessBroker #BusinessValuation

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

In the $1M to $100M revenue space, true leverage is not just about driving a higher purchase price, it is about securing the terms that ensure you actually keep the wealth you have built.

#ExitPlanning #BusinessBroker #DealStructure

[Lion Business Advisors | Business Sales @LionBizAdvisors]

Today, we pause to honor and remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

From all of us at Lion Business Advisors, thank you to those who served, and to the families who carry their legacy forward.

#MemorialDay #HonorAndRemember

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

Many business owners focus entirely on the valuation number at the top of a Letter of Intent. However, the real value of a deal is won or lost in the fine print of the structure.

#BusinessOwner #DealStructure #WealthProtection #BusinessBroker

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

If you are still the primary problem-solver, your valuation has a ceiling.

We use technology to help our clients prove this autonomy to buyers, turning "trust me" into data-backed certainty.

#BusinessOwner #Scale #BusinessBroker #ExitPlanning #Management

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

A buyer cannot purchase your intuition.
At @LionBizAdvisors, we use Agentic AI to map these dependencies before we ever go to market.
#BusinessBroker #ExitPlanning #ValuationEngineering

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

Technology is the new baseline for M&A due diligence.

At @LionBizAdvisors, we fight fire with fire. We use Agentic AI to run Shadow Diligence on our own clients.

#AgenticAI #DueDiligence #BusinessBroker #TechForward

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

The first 48 hours of a buyer’s review are the most expensive.
When private equity or strategic looks at your business, they are not reading your "About Us" page. They are running your financials through an analytical filter.

#BusinessBroker #AgenticAI #ExitStrategy

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

A buyer is not purchasing your talent. They are purchasing your team.
In a professional valuation, "Human Capital Risk" is one of the most common reasons a deal is discounted.
#ExitPlanning #BusinessBroker #StrategicGrowth

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

The "Vacation Test" for business owners.
If you cannot step away from your business for thirty days without the wheels falling off, you haven't built an asset yet. You’ve built a high-paying job.
The work of preparing for an exit
#BusinessBroker #Scale #ExitStrategy

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

Your multiple is a reflection of your risk profile.
De-risking your revenue isn't just a growth strategy, it's a valuation strategy. The more spread out your income is, the more certain a buyer feels about the future of your company.
#BusinessBroker #ExitPlanning #RiskMitigation

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

I often work with founders who are proud of their multi-million dollar contracts with Fortune 500 companies. They are surprised to learn that those same contracts might actually lower their company’s valuation.

#Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #BusinessBroker #ExitPlanning

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

In a professional valuation, "trust me" is not a strategy. The more you can prove that your success is a result of your systems, the more leverage you have at the closing table.

#BusinessBroker #ExitPlanning #IP

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

Stop selling your time and start selling your system.

The moment you document your "secret sauce" is the moment your business starts becoming more valuable.
#BusinessValuation #BusinessBroker #ServiceBusiness

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

Your business is worth exactly what its systems can guarantee.

The work of a consultative exit is the work of making the founder optional.
#BusinessBroker #BusinessValuation #ExitStrategy

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

Most founders celebrate the signed LOI, but the next 60-90 days are often the most difficult.

Don't let the final days undo 20 years of hard work.

#BusinessBroker #BusinessOwner #ExitPlanning #DueDiligence

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

You just signed the LOI. You’re ready to pop the champagne, but let me tell you the truth, the next 60-90 days could be the most important days of your professional life.

Due diligence isn't just about "checking the books".
#ExitPlanning #DueDiligence #BusinessBroker

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

If your legacy is as important as your liquidity, your choice of buyer isn't just a financial decision, it's a moral one. We help you vet the "Human Factor" of every LOI before you sign.

#Legacy #BusinessOwner #CompanyCulture #BusinessBroker #ExitPlanning

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

I was speaking with an owner yesterday who was frustrated. He had a $12M offer from a competitor and a $10M offer from a Private Equity group.

If they hit their 3x growth target, your 'rolled' 20% will be worth another $6M to $8M

#ExitPlanning #BusinessBroker

[Joshua Carnes @JoshuaRCarnes]

I asked a client a simple question: "If you had to step away for 90 days starting tomorrow, what would happen?"

The silence was the answer.

If you're essential, you're a liability. If you're replaceable, you're a legacy.
#BusinessBroker #Leadership #ExitPlanning