198 ⎸ Building toward an Exit with Maggie Lord

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast

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In this episode of the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast, Serena chats with Maggie Lord, a powerhouse entrepreneur who sold her media company to David's Bridal and now helps female founders do the same. Maggie shares her journey from starting a wedding blog in 2008 to selling her company 12 years later, and reveals insider knowledge about business valuations, exit strategies, and how bookkeepers play a crucial role in preparing businesses for sale.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Why Maggie is passionate about helping female founders prepare their businesses for acquisition
• The three common scenarios when founders seek M&A help
• How bookkeepers play a key role in successful M&A transactions
• Beyond-the-numbers valuation factors that founders often overlook

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Whisper Group: https://www.wearethewhispergroup.com/

Meet Maggie

Maggie Lord was an early pioneer in the online digital wedding media space establishing her media company, Rustic Wedding Chic in 2008. As the founder + CEO of Rustic Wedding Chic, Maggie led the company for 12 years before it was acquired by David’s Bridal in 2020. Maggie is also the author of 6 books. Today, Maggie has become a sought-after strategic advisor to female founded brands allowing her to focus on sharing her knowledge and expertise with other like minded entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. Maggie and her businesses have been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, Success Magazine and much more. Maggie is a partner at The Whisper Group, working daily with female founders to help them sell their companies and close the exit gap.

Connect with Maggie

📱 IG: https://www.instagram.com/maggielordandcompany/

🌐 Website: https://maggielord.com/

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Chapters

1. Introduction to Selling a Business (00:00:00)

2. Meet Maggie Lorde: Entrepreneurial Journey (00:02:28)

3. The Role of Bookkeepers in Business Sales (00:04:21)

4. Identifying Potential Clients and Preparing for Sale (00:05:55)

5. Navigating the Acquisition Process (00:10:00)

6. Types of Businesses and Industries (00:13:07)

7. CPG (00:13:57)

8. Understanding Mergers and Acquisitions (00:16:46)

9. Success Stories and Increasing Valuation (00:20:06)

10. Exit Planning and Final Thoughts (00:26:11)