Launch of The Endgame Entrepreneurship™ Masterclass Empowers Business Owners for Successful Exits

Laurie Barkman, a seasoned business transition expert and the founder of The Business Transition Sherpa®, has announced the launch of The Endgame Entrepreneurship™ Masterclass. This online course aims to demystify the complexities surrounding business exits for entrepreneurs, business owners, and family business leaders in the lower middle market. The masterclass is designed for those who aspire to increase their enterprise value and sell their businesses on their own terms in the future.

Barkman, who previously served as the CEO of a company with $100 million in annual revenue that was sold to a Fortune 50 firm, brings a wealth of experience to the table. She is also a certified mergers and acquisition advisor, an Amazon best-selling author of "The Business Transition Handbook: How to Avoid Succession Pitfalls and Create Valuable Exit Options", and the host of the award-winning podcast Succession Stories. Her expertise is aimed at guiding business owners through successful transitions and helping them avoid common exit regrets.

Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal that 45 percent of companies fail to celebrate their fifth anniversary, and only 20 percent of small businesses that attempt to sell actually succeed. Furthermore, The Exit Planning Institute estimates that 4.5 million small businesses, worth a staggering $14 trillion, will face owner retirement over the next decade. Given this substantial wealth at stake, the guidance provided by Barkman’s masterclass becomes critically important.

"Buyers want to acquire companies on their timing, but many sellers are not prepared. The Endgame Entrepreneurship Masterclass is developed for entrepreneurs who want to be more in control of their transition and improve opportunities to sell," says Barkman, who is also an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business in Pittsburgh, PA. "The online masterclass provides immediate value to entrepreneurs to utilize the information now for value-driven growth with their future endgame in mind."

The Endgame Entrepreneurship Masterclass comprises more than 70 lessons, 45 exercises, 10 tools and assessments, and 5.5 hours of short video modules. It includes three comprehensive courses: "Personal and Financial Readiness," "Measuring and Maximizing Value," and "Scale, Succession, and Exit." Participants will also have access to a peer-to-peer online forum, live mentor training, and monthly group coaching and advisory sessions led by business transition experts. These resources will be available at no additional cost for 12 months for a limited time.

Barkman elaborated on the course's creation by stating, "I approached the creation of this course for business owners and entrepreneurs from three perspectives. First, to provide a financial foundation and how the mergers and acquisition process works. Second, to share real-world experiences from other companies they can build upon. Third, to spotlight opportunities for growth and value creation that increase their marketability to potential buyers."

"We have included all of these aspects in the online course, with no content expiration, so you can learn at your own pace. If you own a small business and want to avoid falling into the 80 percent who fail to have an exit, this course is inherently unique and valuable for you," adds Barkman.

For more information about the Endgame Entrepreneurship Masterclass, please visit https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com/course.