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The Power Exit Podcast

The Power Exit Podcast

By: Marsh Creek Advisory
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 Welcome to The Power Exit Podcast, the show that empowers business owners to confidently prepare for and profit from their ultimate exit. Hosted by John Marsh, each episode dives deep into the strategies, insights, and real-life experiences of M&A experts and veteran entrepreneurs who’ve already navigated the selling process. Whether you’re eyeing retirement, poised for a transition, or simply exploring your options, this podcast delivers actionable advice and mindset shifts to help you exit on your own terms—without leaving money or legacy on the table.Marsh Creek Advisory Economics
Episodes
  • From HR Founder to Florida Freedom

    From HR Founder to Florida Freedom
    Feb 18 2026
    “Don’t be so arrogant that you think you know how to do everything.” — Ralph Cimperman​In this episode of the Power Exit Podcast, John Marsh sits down with Ralph Cimperman—Founder of Marathon HR, a human resource outsourcing company serving small to medium-sized businesses—to unpack his journey through two successful business exits. They dig into why preparation starts years in advance, the rigor of due diligence even for repeat sellers, and how building long-term advisor relationships maximizes value and smooths the process.​Ralph shares lessons from selling his first HR business in 2004 and Marathon HR in December 2023 to a private equity-backed PEO, including the importance of documented processes, thinking like a buyer, and transitioning to Life 2.0 in Florida with golf and boating.​You’ll learn:🔹 Why business owners need a 3-5 year timeline to document processes and build key relationships with accountants, attorneys, coaches, and advisors.​🔹 How Ralph knew it was time to sell and why hiring an advisor was invaluable over a "bird in the hand" buyer.​🔹 The value of cumulative client retention in HR outsourcing (first 10 clients, 5 still there after 19 years) and prioritizing team fit and cultural alignment with buyers like Venture.​🔹 Due diligence as a "full-time job on top of your regular job," but easier with preparation; lessons from earnouts and losing control post-sale.​🔹 Hiring a business coach 2.5-3 years pre-sale; tech changes in payroll/HR as a sale trigger; positive PE experience with aligned culture.​🔹 Ralph’s best advice: Plan 3-5 years out, get processes documented, develop relationships, budget for earnouts (e.g., 5 years), and think from the buyer's perspective.​Connect With JohnLinkedIn - / marshcreek Connect With RalphLinkedIn - / ralph-cimperman-sphr-mba ​🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation:https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus...📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/About John Marsh:John Marsh is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marsh Creek Advisors, a boutique M&A advisory firm that helps business owners navigate the sale of their companies with confidence and clarity. Since founding the firm, John has closed hundreds of millions in transactions and earned national recognition as Top Global Producer by the International Business Brokers Association and part of the Firm of the Year by M&A Source — the highest honors in the industry.Before launching Marsh Creek, John served as CFO and later General Manager of a high-growth medical device company, where he led over $300 million in M&A activity, including a $161 million sale to private equity. Earlier in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young and Frazier & Deeter, where he focused on financial reporting and audit services for both Fortune 100 companies and privately held businesses. John holds a BA from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. He lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with his wife and two daughters.#PowerExitPodcast #BusinessExit #SellYourBusiness #HROutsourcing #PEO #DueDiligence #BusinessPreparation #MultipleExits #AdvisorTeam #Earnout #PrivateEquity #Entrepreneurship #BusinessOwners #MarathonHR​
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    31 mins
  • Start Early, Sell Smarter

    Start Early, Sell Smarter
    Feb 3 2026
    “A transaction is like brain surgery. You should have a neurologist, a brain surgeon working on it.” — Mitesh Patel​In this episode of the Power Exit Podcast, John Marsh sits down with Mitesh Patel—Founder and Principal of Blue Sky Law, a boutique M&A law firm in the metro Atlanta area—to unpack what really separates sellers who are ready to transact from those who get surprised (and delayed) by the process. They dig into why overconfidence can derail a deal, why you “don’t know what you don’t know,” and how the right deal team helps you spot issues early—before the buyer does.​Mitesh breaks down the purchase agreement sections that matter most (and why), explains reps and warranties in plain English, and shares the post-closing risks sellers worry about—especially working capital and indemnification—so you can go into diligence prepared instead of playing defense.​You’ll learn:🔹 Why most owners only go through one transaction—and why that makes education and preparation non-negotiable.🔹 Why you need a deal-specific attorney (and why Mitesh compares M&A to “brain surgery”).🔹 The key purchase agreement sections to focus on: purchase terms/structure, reps & warranties, employment items, working capital, and indemnification.🔹 Real examples of reps & warranties (including litigation and even “threats of litigation”) and how problems show up after closing.🔹 How earnouts and rollover equity can add upside—but also shift control and increase seller risk.🔹 What legal due diligence really feels like (John’s “colonoscopy without the anesthetic” analogy) and what buyers request when they’re spending millions.🔹 Mitesh’s best advice in 60 seconds: start early, interview multiple firms, and build a team you can be fully honest with when things get hard.Connect With JohnLinkedIn - / marshcreek Connect With MiteshLinkedIn - / miteshblueskylaw 🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation:https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus...📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/About John Marsh:John Marsh is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marsh Creek Advisors, a boutique M&A advisory firm that helps business owners navigate the sale of their companies with confidence and clarity. Since founding the firm, John has closed hundreds of millions in transactions and earned national recognition as Top Global Producer by the International Business Brokers Association and part of the Firm of the Year by M&A Source — the highest honors in the industry.Before launching Marsh Creek, John served as CFO and later General Manager of a high-growth medical device company, where he led over $300 million in M&A activity, including a $161 million sale to private equity. Earlier in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young and Frazier & Deeter, where he focused on financial reporting and audit services for both Fortune 100 companies and privately held businesses. John holds a BA from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. He lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with his wife and two daughters.#powerexitpodcast #mergersandacquisitions #businessexit #sellyourbusiness #duediligence #workingcapital #privateequity #entrepreneurship #businessowners
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    38 mins
  • Fire Yourself: Your Business Won't Sell Without It

    Fire Yourself: Your Business Won't Sell Without It
    Jan 21 2026
    "You don't buy a house without a real estate agent. Don't sell your business without experts on your side of the table." - Grant EdwardsIn this episode of the Power Exit Podcast, John Marsh welcomes Grant Edwards, a fractional CFO based in Atlanta with over eight years of experience helping business owners prepare for, successfully exit, and move forward into a better life post-sale.Grant has worked with founder-led businesses, private equity groups, and family offices across all revenue stages—from pre-revenue to $300M+. And he's seen the same pattern repeat: business owners who go into a transaction without professional guidance leave millions on the table.You'll Learn:🔹 Why adjusted EBITDA and "mud in your numbers" determine your true valuation🔹 How quality of earnings audits uncover hidden value (and why buyers won't share it with you)🔹 The difference between private equity acquisitions and founder-led buyouts🔹 Why owner dependency kills deal value and how to systematically reduce it🔹 The one financial action to take right now if you're two years out from selling🔹 How to identify the three types of discretionary spending before a buyer does🔹 What buyers really look for in financial statements—and what owners consistently overlookGrant's core philosophy: as a fractional CFO, his job is to be the non-emotional, expert voice on your side of the table. Because when millions are at stake, emotions cost money.Connect With JohnLinkedIn - / marshcreek Connect With GrantLinkedIn - / grant-edwards-35b3794 🔸 Get a Complimentary Business Valuation:https://www.mcreek.com/what-is-my-bus...📌 Subscribe To The PowerExit™ Insights Newsletter:https://www.mcreek.com/newsletter/🌐 More resources ➝ https://www.mcreek.com/About John Marsh:John Marsh is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marsh Creek Advisors, a boutique M&A advisory firm that helps business owners navigate the sale of their companies with confidence and clarity. Since founding the firm, John has closed hundreds of millions in transactions and earned national recognition as Top Global Producer by the International Business Brokers Association and part of the Firm of the Year by M&A Source — the highest honors in the industry.Before launching Marsh Creek, John served as CFO and later General Manager of a high-growth medical device company, where he led over $300 million in M&A activity, including a $161 million sale to private equity. Earlier in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young and Frazier & Deeter, where he focused on financial reporting and audit services for both Fortune 100 companies and privately held businesses. John holds a BA from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. He lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with his wife and two daughters.#PowerExitPodcast #BusinessExit #FractionalCFO #OwnerDependency #ExitStrategy #BusinessValuation #EBITDA #PrivateEquity #BusinessSale #Entrepreneurship #ExitPlanning #FounderLed #BusinessOwner #DealStructure #FinancialAdvisory #QualityOfEarnings #BusinessCoach #M&A #ExitReadiness #SuccessfulExit
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    32 mins
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