“Chris Mercer is a nationally known business valuation expert who has over 30 years of experience working with owners on buy-sell agreement issues.“ - Back Cover of Buy-Sell Agreements for Closely Held and Family Business Owners In this short video Chris explains the problem with the definition of disability in far too many Buy-Sell Agreements.…
In 2020 we witnessed business owners adapt and fight to keep the doors open. We are constantly reminded of the importance of Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMB) as we reflect back on the challenges faced in the past year. The success of SMB’s is critical to everyone in the communities they serve. Our Message…
Craft Breweries - Part 5 of 5 There are founders and everyone else is a successor. In the United States today there are more Craft Breweries owned by Founders than Successors due to the significant growth in the industry over the past ten years. Now we are in a period where many Craft Breweries are…
Craft Breweries - Part 4 of 5 Your Craft Brewery may be your largest and most important asset. It also might be the primary source of income supporting your family’s lifestyle and the causes you care about. Everyday you go to do your work you are focused on surviving and thriving and creating success as…
Craft Breweries - Part 3 of 5 In 2020 the word for most Craft Breweries was “survival.” Yet we know businesses focused only on surviving rarely succeed. Growth is survival. What lessons can we take away from 2020 and how can it help Craft Brewery owners focus on growth? There are two key lessons to…
Craft Breweries - Part 2 of 5 Your Craft Brewery serves and is a part of a diverse community. Now is a good time to reflect on everyone impacted by your business as we near the new year, 2021. Your FamilyCustomers/FansEmployeesPartners - Co-OwnersSuppliersInvestorsCauses you SupportFood Truck Partners This business you’ve created is important to many…
Craft Breweries - Part 1 of 5 We are sitting down for a pint in your Craft Brewery. Chances are you’ve been in business for less than ten years and chances are still good it’s been less than five. Tell me the story about you and your Craft Brewery. I want to know. More than…
Business Owners benefit when advisors partner together to deliver the best Business Value Protection Planning available. This includes Financial Advisors, CPA’s, Attorneys and others with specific skills. People who work together will create better results and better plans. Partners hold each other accountable. It is a good combination. Planning can get complicated. Two or more…
In Seth Godin’s book “The Practice” he writes about constraints. So does Scott Berkun in his book “How Design Makes the World.” Constraint is a word which has freed us to do better work at Marshall+Viliesis even though Peter Viliesis and I don’t often use it. But it is there every day. There are always…
I’ve been reading Seth Godin’s new book “The Practice” since it came out on November 3, 2020. In the book he examines and amplifies the importance of process in our work. Three quotes from the book jump out at me. A good process can lead to good outcomes, but it does not guarantee them.Seth Godin…
