If your business can't run without you, you don't own a company.

You own a job.

Today's guest has guided over $2 billion.

That's be with a billion in business sales and shows founders how to turn owner-run chaos

into durable companies that buyers actually want.

If your exit plan is someday, this episode will challenge everything you're doing today.

Hello, and welcome to the Jake and Gino podcast.

My name is Gino Barber, one of the co-founders of Jake and Gino.

I'm joined today by Brian T. Franco.

He's the founder and CEO of Meritage Partners, a business

sale and acquisition advisory firm in Newport Beach, California. He has guided more than $2 billion

in business sales and helps entrepreneurs plan and execute successful exits. He's also

the author of an inevitable exit, which outlines a practical approach for building

owner-run companies that sell for top value. Welcome to the show, Brian. Gino, thank you for

having me here. It's going to be here with you and your audience. Listen, we started talking for 30

seconds and we could probably go to talk for 30 minutes. I just say let's hit the record button.

Let's let it rip because I mentioned a couple words to you.

I mentioned legacy.

I mentioned exit, crystallizing equity.

And I saw like the smile like you had right now.

You were just like, we're like two kindred spirits because I've learned so much in my 30 years of pain in business.

But I think one of the biggest lessons that I learned

...