{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Before You Buy a Business, Check These Red Flags","description":"Would you buy a business that loses its clients the minute the owner walks out the door? Muriel Touati reviewed more than 100 businesses while hunting for an acquisition. A lot of them looked good from across the room. Up close? Different story. Founder dependency. Weak recurring revenue. Too much money tied to one client. No real digital marketing system. And, in one case, a $3.7 million deal with 40% monthly customer churn. Hard pass. Muriel joins Matthew R. Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca to break down the biggest red flags in business acquisition, what lenders really care about, and how owners can build a company that is easier to grow, finance, and sell.   \ud83c\udf78 What you'll hear in this episode: Why founder dependency can kill a business sale How customer concentration scares buyers and lenders Why predictable revenue matters in business valuation The difference between recurring revenue and starting from zero each month How digital marketing can increase company value Why off-market deals may beat crowded business listings How LinkedIn and email can support deal sourcing What buyers should check before signing an acquisition deal How SBA loans and rent replacement may help finance a purchase Why a \u201cgood deal\u201d can still be a very expensive headache   \ud83d\udc64 About our Guest: Muriel Touati is the founder of Exit 3D Studio and author of The Valuation Gap: What Buyers See That Sellers Miss. She helps business owners reduce founder dependency, build better lead generation systems, and prepare their companies for growth or sale.    \ud83c\udfa7 Why Listen: Before you buy a business\u2014or try to sell yours\u2014listen to this episode. It may save you from buying a very polished dumpster fire. Visit exit3dstudio.com to learn more about Muriel\u2019s work and get the first chapter of The Valuation Gap.   \ud83d\udd17 Links + Stuff Get the first chapter of The Valuation Gap FREE: https:\/\/www.exit3dstudio.com\/the-valuation-gap Muriel on LinkedIn: https:\/\/linkedin.com\/in\/murieltouati       \ud83d\udd14 Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe so you don\u2019t miss future conversations on business growth, funding, strategy, and the stuff most people don\u2019t explain clearly. If this episode helped, a quick rating or review goes a long way. It helps the show reach more business owners who actually care about getting this right.     \ud83c\udfa7 Listen or watch The Liquid Lunch Project Available on all major podcast and video platforms: \u2022 Official site: https:\/\/theliquidlunchproject.com \u2022 Apple Podcasts: https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/the-liquid-lunch-project\/ \u2022 Spotify: https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/12HPEDMmsbfsp8tHt5LiZJ \u2022 Audible: https:\/\/shorturl.at\/6j4vz\u2022 YouTube (full episodes + clips): https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@theliquidlunchproject     \ud83d\udcec Want more than just the podcast? Every Friday, we publish The Weekly. A fast, smart rundown of what actually matters in finance, tech, small business, and the economy\u2026without the noise. Subscribe here: \ud83d\udc49 https:\/\/theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com\/     \ud83d\udcbc Need funding or working capital? If today\u2019s conversation raised questions about capital, cash flow, or financing options, you can schedule a conversation with our sponsor, Credit Banc. Credit Banc helps business owners make sense of their options and move forward with a clear plan, without pressure or guesswork. \ud83d\udc49 Book a free 15-minute call here: https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/3dh9vy86   \ud83d\udcf2 Connect with the hosts Follow along for behind-the-scenes clips, commentary, and things that don\u2019t make it into the episode. \u2022 Matt Meehan: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/matthew.r.meehan \u2022 Luigi Rosabianca: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/luigi_rosabianca \u2022 The Liquid Lunch Project: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/theliquidlunchproject\/     \ud83d\udcac One last thing Know a business owner who would appreciate this conversation? Send them the episode. That\u2019s how this show grows.    ","author_name":"The Liquid Lunch Project","author_url":"https:\/\/theliquidlunchproject.com","html":"