Recent research from UBS revealed that a whopping 81% of business owners who sold their business regretted not spending more time preparing for the sale. 73% of respondents said they spent less than two years.
This article explores the transition from a founder-driven company to an innovation-driven culture. Learn how to empower employees, establish Value Creation Councils, and celebrate wins to reduce founder dependence and foster sustainable growth.
When a business begins, the founder often assumes the operator role, handling every aspect of the operation. As the company grows, it’s easy to remain involved in the day-to-day tasks. However, for a business to thrive and grow, it’s essential to transition from an operator mindset to an owner mindset. This shift allows the founder to focus on long-term strategic goals, creating enterprise value and ensuring the company’s sustainability.
Founder dependence is the single greatest threat to a company's value. When potential buyers notice that essential operations are tied to the founder, they often lower their offers to mitigate risk, extending earn-outs with conditional payments as a safeguard. This reliance on the founder not only reduces the company's value but also complicates the sale process.