Loren Vandegrift - 2025 Insights from BUSINESS EXITS broker on sales, values, and trends
Today, I’m excited to bring back a guest whose first episode was one of the most listened to of Season 1 and in May this year, it topped the charts again as the most streamed episode on Spotify.Loren Vandegrift is a partner at Business Exits and has brokered over $500 million worth of business sales in just the past five years. He’s also no stranger to the founder journey himself... he previously built and led a couple of tech strategy consulting firms. But it was actually a bad experience selling his own company that motivated him to jump into the world of M&A, determined to give other entrepreneurs a better path than the one he faced.Full disclosure: Loren was my business broker when I sold my last company in 2020. Because that experience was so positive, we’ve kept in touch, and I’m lucky to now call him a friend. In this episode, we talk about how business brokering has changed in just the past year and a half, and what current trends buyers and sellers should be paying attention to.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
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Lauren Vermette — How to Invest in a Franchise on the Side (Without Quitting Your Job)
Today’s guest is Lauren Vermette, founder and CEO of Franchisee Insight.Lauren has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between franchisees and franchisors, offering a unique perspective on the franchise industry.She truly understands the challenges and rewards that come with franchise ownership, having successfully built and sold multiple units in her own portfolio.Now, Lauren’s mission is to guide aspiring entrepreneurs through the journey of self-discovery—helping them take that first step toward business ownership and, ultimately, toward wealth and independence.And just like a health insurance broker, Lauren’s services are completely free to you as the franchisee; she’s compensated by the franchisor for connecting the right people with the right opportunities.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
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John Clapham - From Volcom Australia/ NZ CEO to RAGLAN SURF EMPORIUM
I met John Clapham or "JC" in Raglan, New Zealand last year when I walked into his shop hoping they weren’t yet closing and said while huffing from my brisk walk, “What time do you close?” He responded with a smile, “depends on whose asking…LOL." And from there, we ended up chatting for about half an hour.I left thinking, I want to hear more of this guy’s story.JC didn’t go to college and worked his way up from tagging surf leashes in a retail shop to becoming CEO of Volcom Australia. He is the co-founder of the Raglan Surf Emporium, is a partner of Raglan Roast Coffee - which now has eleven locations across New Zealand - owns a gas station, holds major real estate investments, and continues to consult and build new ventures.In today’s episode, we only scratch the surface of JC’s journey. But wow - what an inspiration.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
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Anne McGinty — Finding My Voice: Lessons from Season 2 (So Far)
What began as a tribute to my dad has unexpectedly become part of my healing journey, transforming from purely business and entrepreneurship to learning through storytelling. How I Built My Small Business recently won a 2025 Communicator Award of Excellence as an educational series, validating the creative endeavor of hosting, editing, and producing this show.• Season One focused on business creation and growth while Season Two explores guests' expertise and perspectives beyond business• Learning through storytelling was deeply valued by my dad, who believed one must never stop learning• Overcoming autoimmune conditions through diet, lifestyle changes, proper exercise, quality sleep, nervous system rebalancing, and the surprising way podcasting filled a missing puzzle piece• Podcasting itself has been healing by providing space to express my authentic voice after years of people-pleasing• Moving away from rigid question preparation to allow for more authentic, flowing conversations• Finding the balance between "doing" and "being" - a lesson learned from New Zealand cultureAs we head into the second half of this season, I'll keep following the joy and leaning into alignment. I wish you less pressure, less stress, and less rushing.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
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David Pope - Buying a Business in Your 40s: Would You Move Your Family? The KAYTECH, INC. Story
Today’s guest is Dave Pope, a friend of mine from college who spent 14 years in sales in the Northeast before making a bold move and buying Kaytech, Inc., a surface preparation company based in Greenville, South Carolina. At the time, he had no prior experience as a business owner.In this episode, Dave shares what it’s really like before, during and after acquiring a small business with stories from his first year as an owner-operator.Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.Let’s connect!Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and BeyondWebsite: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcgintyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
2025 Communicator Award of Excellence in the Educational Series category2024 People's Choice Podcast Awards Finalist Nominee x 2Named "One of the Best Business Podcasts" by RamseyWelcome to 'How I Built My Small Business,' where we explore real-life entrepreneurship and building a meaningful, balanced life. I started this podcast to honor my dad and help others navigate the messy, meaningful path of entrepreneurship. My guests (diverse in industry, experience, and background) open up about the real stories behind building a business: the wins, the mistakes, and the values that shape their choices.It’s turned into more than I imagined… sometimes it’s a masterclass, other times it’s an honest, heart-opening connection between two people. But it’s always about curiosity, growth, and learning through storytelling… with a sprinkle of life wisdom.Every guest has started a business at some point in their journey, and I make a conscious effort to maintain a 50/50 split of women and men.Whether you're a founder, dreamer, curious individual or lifelong learner, I hope each episode makes you think or leaves you with at least one spark that inspires your own path.Thank you for listening. Let’s learn together.My Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcginty/Behind-The-Scenes: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost
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