Topic: Value – What Is It Good For?

Speaker:  Steven P. Eschbach, Business Advisor, Transworld Business Advisors NorthStar and The FENG Minneapolis/Saint Paul, MN Chapter Co-Chair

Presentation:

This presentation is aimed at business owners on why and when to think about business valuation — covering the reasons owners eventually exit (the "10 D's" like death, disability, disaster, etc.), factors that affect a business's value, when to start planning (the longer the better), types of buyers and typical valuation multiples by buyer category, and market data.
 

A focus on business value is not only important for exit planning but critical for any earlier business cycle stage - start-up, growth (by organic expansion or strategic acquisition), or family transfer, among other things.
 

It closes with an "Am I Ready?" self-assessment prompt than can be adapted to whatever stage you are in.
 

Steve has been professionally involved in mergers/acquisitions for over 40 years, and his insights come from experiences learned both from Wall Street and Main Street business transactions with market values ranging from under $100,000 to over $20 billion.
 

Speaker's bio:

Steven P. Eschbach, CBI, CFA, CFC, joined Transworld Business Advisors NorthStar in October 2024. He is a former President of Transworld Business Advisors of Naperville, IL, an office he owned/operated from August 2016 through February 2025.

Steve has over 40 years of mergers and acquisitions experience in various financial executive roles with both Fortune 1000 companies as well as an entrepreneur with business entities in a number of states.  He has been involved in dozens of Main Street, Small- and Mid-Market and private/publicly traded transactions ranging in size from less than $100,000 to over $20 billion.

His expertise spans many industries, including but not limited to energy, healthcare, technology, retail, entertainment, manufacturing, restaurants, daycare centers, healthcare and construction.  He has represented both sellers and buyers, building and enhancing relationships for optimum transaction value.

A Chartered Financial Analyst since 1989, Steve holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Connecticut and an MBA in Investment Finance from the University of Hartford.  In addition to holding Minnesota, Illinois (affiliated with Trelleum in Naperville, IL), Wisconsin, Iowa, and Connecticut (affiliated with Coldwell Banker in Cheshire, CT) real estate licenses; he is a Certified Business Intermediary through the International Business Brokers Association; a registered business broker in Illinois; a certified Franchise Consultant with the International Franchise Professionals Group; and a licensed life and health insurance producer in Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin.

Steve and his wife, Kathy, recently moved to Woodbury, MN 2025 after living in Naperville, IL since 2007.  In his spare time, Steve enjoys golfing and spending time with his family that includes three adult children and nine grandchildren in both Minnesota and Connecticut.

Transworld Business Advisors NorthStar is an independently owned and operated franchise location.