How to sell your company in parts (yes, it’s possible)

October 31, 2023
​Read on web​

Does it ever make sense to sell your company in pieces?

It can be complicated, but sometimes it’s the best route.

That was the path chosen by the four co-founders of Digital Natives Group, a marketing agency, after a deal for their full company fell through.

“It was a blessing,” co-founder Jonathan Jacobs told us, “because it forced us to take a look at our offering and realize we could achieve a better exit by ‘cleaving’ the business in two.”

How much better? The two sales raised their payout by 15% – to a high 6-figure deal, with 80% cash up front.

Jacobs and his co-founders identified a natural split, separating the technical and marketing sides of their companies. Both parts sold to agencies that wanted to bring those skills in-house.

The separate sales also allowed the co-founders to better reach their individual goals with the sale.

More details in our story:

​They split their digital marketing agency into two pieces — and sold for 15% more​

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Get your (personal) financial ducks in a row 💸

Most founders dial in their company finances as they head into a sale.

But what about your *personal* finances?

If you're expecting a meaningful windfall — and yes, even 6 or 7 figures can be meaningful — make time to get your personal financial plan in shape.

That means looking at how you'll minimize taxes when you sell, getting your estate plan in order, and identifying your sources of cash flow post-sale.

If you think about this after you sell, you'll be able to make some optimizations.

But if you're proactive about optimizing *before* you sell, you'll have far more options, and likely end up with more money in the bank.

Matt Camrud, a Certified Financial Planner at Brighton Jones who supports entrepreneurs, offers some high-level ideas on how to develop a personal financial plan in this conversation.

Watch the interview, or if you prefer an audio version, there's a podcast option, too:

Behind the business (of TGA)

For 1.5 years now, we've used this section of the newsletter to share a more personal angle of growing a new business.

I've talked about how we approach branding and design for a content business, what has worked for us in terms of growing an audience, how I like to work with a remote team, what I struggle with when it comes to juggling a business and a family, and more.

Now I'd like to ask you:

What would you like to read about here?

What do you wish I'd share?

What kind of behind-the-scenes content is most helpful for you?

Press reply and let me know, and we'll answer your questions in an upcoming newsletter.

See you next time,

Lexi Grant
Founder & CEO
​They Got Acquired​

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P.S. We're now booking sponsors for this newsletter, as well as our other products (podcast, reports, live events) for 2024.

If you'd like to get your company and what you offer in front of 7,000 founders who are building with a sale in mind (plus some M&A professionals and buyers mixed in), get it touch. The easiest way to do that is responding to this email.

Look forward to chatting about how a sponsorship can help you reach your goals!