Thursday May 28, 2026
Why 20% of Small Business Owners Close Instead of Sell | Mike Ehrle
In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Ben Suttles sit down with Mike Ehrle, founder of FinParency, to discuss one of the most overlooked problems in the lower-middle market: business owners who simply lock the door and walk away rather than securing a proper exit. Mike draws on his experience watching UnitedHealth Group complete 65 acquisitions and leading companies through multiple private equity and family office transactions to explain how FinParency is building a platform to get small business owners exit-ready, match them with the right buyers from a pool of 4,500+ private equity groups and 4,000+ family offices, and bridge the knowledge gap that causes so many deals to fall apart.
In this podcast episode, we discuss:
- Why roughly 20% of small business owners in their 60s plan to shut down rather than sell -- and what's driving that trend
- How FinParency's platform diagnoses a business, scores its exit-readiness, and flags red flags before buyers ever see them
- What business owners need to understand about add-backs, working capital, and cleaning up financials before going to market
- How cutting costs (especially benefits and insurance) directly increases your exit multiple
- Inside look at how strategic buyers like UnitedHealth Group approach acquisitions differently than private equity
- How FinParency matches sellers with the right buyers -- PE groups, family offices, and individual investors -- and when to bring in a banker
Guest Contact Info:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeehrle/
- Email: mikeehrle@finparency.ai
- Website: finparency.ai or finparency.com
Additional Resources:
- Thinking about buying or selling a business? Connect with the Equity Launchpad team to learn more about acquisition entrepreneurship and upcoming opportunities.
- Contact Casey Minshew and Ben Suttles: info@equity-launchpad.com
- Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.com
About The M&A Launchpad:
The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions.
The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community.
Connect with M&A Launchpad:
🎧 Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mW6i4ooujqC7eOPWmguU7
🎧 Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m-a-launchpad/id1740382586
🎟️ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/
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