Andrew | The Exit Engineer

In 2026, you don’t need AI to 10x your business. You need a business that a buyer actually wants to own. Here’s the framework I use to help owner-operators build premium, sellable businesses: The 5 P’s of a Sellable Business (2026 Edition) If you want a high multiple, you need these locked in: 1. Profit – Clean, consistent, ideally >15% margins. Recurring revenue? Even better. 2. Processes – Systems that run without you. SOPs, workflows, automations - get it out of your head. 3. People – A reliable second layer. Buyers don’t want to buy your job. 4. Positioning – Clear niche, strong brand, and a unique hook. Commodities get discounted. 5. Proof – Rock-solid books, clean financials, and data that builds confidence. Sloppy numbers kill deals. I’ve sold businesses that ran on QuickBooks and spreadsheets, because they nailed these 5. If you’re planning to sell in the next 12–36 months, start here. 2026 is the year to turn your business into an asset.

@SMB_Attorney I feel this one… cheers to a good year, Eric!

This is the year it all comes together for you. All the hard work finally clicks. This is your year. I can feel it. That goal you set, triple it. Let’s go.

@lindsaybitcoin Legend, so well deserved!!

$500 for 2 weeks of posting on X? What a time to be alive. Thank you guys for rocking with me! Straight into $BTC 🧡

Your passion is best illustrated in the people and team you’ve built around you - a gang of killers who crave success every day, helping business owners grow their businesses by leaps and bounds. Truly impressive, Stryker’s biggest and best days are ahead of it 🫡 can’t wait to work with y’all

The most successful business owners I’ve met all have one thing in common They focused on one thing to get to their first $10M+ Then they diversified When I owned the dumpster rental business I wasn’t fulfilled I hit a ceiling and needed capital to grow, but I didn’t want outside money and didn’t want to dilute myself I even asked a mentor of mine who owns a massive roofing company if I could do sales for him That’s how badly I wanted out Instead I pivoted and started this marketing agency Easily the best decision of my life Everything changed because I finally moved into something that actually fulfilled me Now I love what I do every day And I don’t think about chasing 10 other ideas My focus is this agency and that’s why it grows If you’re in the same spot I was, you only have two options Double down on what you’re doing Or pivot into something that actually FIRES you up I know multiple guys worth $20M+ Every one of them says the same thing Make your money with one thing Then diversify later on…..

Paul starts the year off with another banger!

@paulswaney3 This is amazing Paul, would love to see it! Integration 🫡

@SMB_Attorney This is the way!

Buy or start a business. Build free cash flow. Reinvest it and scale the business. Use the cash flow to diversify your portfolio. Leave it all to your kids.

Thinking about Monday. Getting back together with our team. Back to building. Back to shipping the future of commerce. Dare you to get in our way.

@SMBJackieHirsch @SBurkholder7 Thanks for the shoutout, Jackie! A major compliment coming from one of the GOATs of our industry I truly appreciate you

@SBurkholder7 I don’t sell up in Canada but I will give you a great broker @exit_expert is a good one.

Business owners…you might not be ready to sell now, but always have your books in order as if you could sell anytime. Great books, organized systems, trained staff, that’s how you get top dollar in any market.

@BoringBiz_ Classic film 😅

The type of performance you need to land an entry level minimum wage job that requires a college degree and 3 years of work experience

@SMB_Attorney Great reward comes with great risk, and usually not before.

If you want to win the lottery, you have to buy a ticket. (this post is not about the lottery)

Finding the right buyer isn’t about getting the highest number. It’s about getting the right outcome. Here’s what I’ve seen after a decade in the trenches: ➡️The wrong buyer will nickel-and-dime you post-LOI. ➡️The right buyer will fight to close. ➡️The wrong buyer will see your business as a fixer-upper. ➡️The right one sees the foundation and wants to scale it. This matters especially for owner-operators. Because the “fit” shows up in: 1️⃣How earnouts are structured 2️⃣How they treat your team 3️⃣How they value your legacy One of my best deals wasn’t the highest offer. It was the buyer who understood the culture, backed the GM, and had a 10-year plan…not a 3-year flip. The seller told me 6 months later: “Best decision I ever made.” Remember: you’re not just selling numbers. You’re handing over your life’s work. Choose accordingly. If you’re thinking about selling someday, but don’t just want a spreadsheet buyer - follow me for grounded M&A advice.

Just read @STLChrisH latest newsletter and it is a must-read if you’re operating (or buying) anything with people and phones. They’re shifting to an AI-led call center. And he’s honest about the panic, upside, and execution risk. As a buyer, I love this. It shows: ➡️Clear thinking under pressure ➡️Willingness to rethink sunk costs ➡️A path to higher margins + lower churn Change like this doesn’t just improve ops, it moves multiples. Smart operators make bold bets before they need to.

There are generally two types of buyer classes (with many flavours in between). The “Sophisticated Buyer Class” and the “Operator Buyer Class” - knowing who your ideal buyer is, and what they’re looking for, can be crucial for a successful transaction. Most “Operator Class” buyers aren’t looking for a rocket ship. They want a solid boat that won’t tip when they step in. Here’s what they care about: ✅Reliable cash flow ✅Simple business model ✅Clean, understandable financials ✅Transition support from the seller ✅Low working capital and CapEx needs ✅A business they can actively operate Here’s what they fear: 🚫Specialized skills they don’t have 🚫Key staff quitting post-close 🚫Jumbled ops or cash flow complexity 🚫Revenue streams they can’t explain 🚫Major customer/culture shock from new ownership Bottom line: If your business can run clean without you, it’s worth more than you think. Want to prep your business to sell for more? Follow me here @exit_expert - I write for owner-operators who want strong exits.

@fahdananta @Replit Does Roach Capital ever miss? Generational run

This is wild. You can now vibecode a native mobile app with @Replit 🤯

@charliewrich I mean you should atleast tag @collin_ruth89 … no? 🤣

New shitpost format I made is doing well right now Been seeing a bunch of people use it and create some funny stuff (some of them more viral than my original one Cool to see

@aiouy @shakepay Well on the way to comma club!

@shakepay 186 days

Tell us you’re a shaker without telling us you’re a shaker.

@martindesouza_ @dharmesh Canes coming to a Canadian city near you!! (Soon, hopefully 👀)

@dharmesh The best products have both.

Absolutely loved this. Great watch for all entrepreneurs and builders. Not all of us are in industries where we can create "craveable" products. But we can all fight the "death by a thousand cuts". We do that by injecting life by a a thousand delights.

@lindsaystamp3 Have fun Linds!!

Just arrived in New York City for my first ever Bitcoin event 📍

@ConnorAbene These books will be…messy 🤣

"I grew to $1M/year without any accounting" Cool, congratulations. But I pray for your future accountant.