Most entrepreneurs spend years building a business but almost no time preparing to sell one.

In this episode of Built The Hard Way, Josh sits down with entrepreneur, investor, and M&A advisor Carey Sobel to unpack the lessons learned from building, operating, buying, and selling businesses across multiple industries.

From launching a college media company and owning restaurants, bars, and marketing agencies to helping founders navigate business acquisitions and exits today, Kerri shares the wins, mistakes, partnerships, seller-financed deals, and hard-earned lessons that shaped his career.

The conversation goes deep into what most owners get wrong when preparing to sell a company, why private equity buyers often have an advantage, how deal structure can matter more than price, and the practical steps every entrepreneur should take long before they ever consider an exit.

If you're building a company, thinking about selling one, or simply want to understand how real wealth is created through business ownership, this episode delivers a candid look at the realities behind successful exits.

Connect with Joshua Pies

👉LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuapies/

Connect with Carey Sobel 👉LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/careysobel/

Want to be a guest? Sign up here https://c47films.com/about/bu-business-podcast-network/built-the-hard-way/

00:00 The Cost of Business Success

01:21 Founder's Journey: Carrie Sobel's Story

05:01 Navigating Mergers and Acquisitions

10:01 Lessons from the Restaurant Industry

16:30 The Evolution of a Business Mindset

22:14 Future Vision: Exit Planning and Beyond

25:31 Navigating the Business Brokerage Landscape

28:20 Maximizing Business Value for Sale

30:43 The Emotional and Financial Aspects of Selling

35:07 Preparing for a Successful Business Exit

41:10 The Importance of Integrity in Business Transactions

44:15 Strategizing for Future Business Success

🔔Follow Built the Hard Way on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartradio, Deezer and etc., for honest conversations with founders, operators, and builders who know success is never as simple as it looks online.

Because behind every great business is a story nobody talks about enough: what it cost to build it.

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