Dropping Bombs The Exit Strategy That Turns a $3M Business Into an $18M Payday
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May 3, 2026 Brian Franco, M&A advisor who has closed over $2B and founded Meritage Partners and Inevitable Exit. He breaks down why many founders are building jobs not businesses. Learn the seven value drivers that unlock much bigger paydays. Hear practical takes on deal structure, earnouts, timing your exit, and when to partner with private capital.
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How His Father's Collapse Shaped An Exit Career
- Brian Franco saw his father's successful business deteriorate after disability, which drove him into M&A to protect founders' legacies.
- He and his brother ran the family firm briefly, then dedicated his career to making companies transferable so wealth isn't lost to sudden life events.
Investors Want A Transferable Machine
- Investors buy machines not founders, seeking predictable, scalable revenue and transferability into a growth path.
- Treat private companies like public comparables: create recurring/predictable streams and a pathway to critical mass to unlock liquidity.
Calculate Valuation From Revenue Type And Terms
- Do the math on EBITDA and revenue types to estimate valuation: service revenue and recurring revenue carry different multiples.
- Use headline valuation plus deal terms (cash at close, earnouts, seller equity) to judge real value.
