• Entrepreneurs that are in business, are starting a business, or are thinking about starting a business, and
• Existing companies that want to become more entrepreneurial or want to spin off a business.

The workshop focuses on the following questions:

1. Why should I think about exit strategy during the startup and growth phases of my business?
2. What determines the valuation of my business at any particular time, and how can I improve this valuation?
3. How should I decide between further investing in my business and selling out?
4. How should I structure my business so that it can continue in the case of accident to the founder or a key contributor?
5. How should I organize my business so that I can continue to own it while someone else runs it?
6. How do I bring a "partner" or co-owner into the business in a way that is fair, affordable, and creates the right incentives?
7. What mechanics and resources are available to help me build my business so I can leave it in style?
8. What are some examples of successful and failed exit strategies?
9. How do I decide among exit strategy alternatives?

The workshop includes:

• A comparison of businesses that have had successful and unsuccessful exits
• A review of the tools and techniques that can help the entrepreneur maximize success in exiting a business
• Shared best practices and references that have been developed by:
• Bert Vermeulen;
• Other successful consultants and entrepreneurs;
• The Business Catapult, a Denver-based network of consultants and entrepreneurs; and
• The Entrepreneurial Standards Forum; an open non-profit Colorado-based organization that is developing standards for entrepreneurial processes
• Case study materials presented by a successful Colorado entrepreneur
• Discussion of the participants’ specific situations and questions.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own questions, problems, and success stories to share and work on with others.

Expected Outcomes:

Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how to build a business that they can sell in its entirety, sell shares of to investors, or restructure in a way that allows the entrepreneur to step away from full-time involvement.

EVENT: Building a Successful Exit Into Your Business Trajectory

INSTRUCTORS: Bert Vermeulen and Walter Eberspacher

COST: $99 for registrations on or before March 19, 2006; $119 starting March 20, 2006. $49 for students of accredited academic institutions showing a valid student id at the door.

REGISTRATION: Register on-line below, or register at the door. Note: registration will close after 30 participants have signed up, so sign up early!

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS:

Bert Vermeulen grew up in Boulder County; lived in Fort Collins while working for HP; managed, grew, and helped sell a manufacturing business in Longmont; and now is in the business of helping entrepreneurs. His experience includes:

• A strong background in engineering and business.
• Building a manufacturing business, selling it, and then buying and funding other similar businesses in Mexico, Ireland, and Hungary.
• Working with over 30 entrepreneurial companies since 2002. Some of these have since gone out of business, some have not gone anywhere, some have muddled through, and some have been spectacularly successful.
• Co-leading an open, non-profit organization that is developing standards for entrepreneurial processes, the Entrepreneurial Standards Forum.