Episode Details

Ep 737: The Studio Exit Playbook

Selling your studio isn't a decision you make when you're ready to leave — by then, you've already lost your negotiating leverage. In this episode, Matt Hanton sits down with Lise Kuecker to walk through the complete exit playbook: how to build a studio buyers actually want, when to start preparing (hint: 18–24 months minimum), and what really happens after the papers are signed.

They cover:

• Why buyers acquire assets, not burnout — and what makes a studio truly turnkey
• The numbers that drive your multiple: profit margins, clean books, and recurring contracted revenue
• The most common deal killers, from lease transfer language to financing that falls through at the underwriter
• The emotional side of exiting — identity, transition planning, and what to do with yourself the day after the sale

Whether you're opening your doors next year or eyeing an exit in five, the planning starts today.