Exit Planning FAQs

Question 1

What do you actually believe about business?

Accepted Answer

Most founders build themselves a prison without realizing it. You start a company to create freedom. Somewhere along the way the company starts running you instead. Our whole approach is built around reversing that.

Question 2

What is "love it or list it"?

Accepted Answer

It's the question we help founders answer. When you build a business that doesn't depend on you to run, it becomes worth more to a buyer and it becomes something you might actually want to keep.

Question 3

Who is Kevin Oldham?

Accepted Answer

Kevin is the founder of Diffactory, a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), and a Certified Value Builder. He's spent over 20 years in the coaching and info product industry with 30+ portfolio companies as an angel investor.

Question 4

What is exit planning?

Accepted Answer

Exit planning is the process of building a business that can be transferred at full value, on your terms, when you're ready. It starts years before a transaction, not weeks.

Question 5

When should I start exit planning?

Accepted Answer

Most owners need 3 to 5 years of intentional preparation to achieve a premium exit. The best time to start is when you don't need to.

Question 6

What is the Value Acceleration Methodology?

Accepted Answer

It's the foundational framework developed by the Exit Planning Institute that drives everything at Diffactory. Exit planning is simply good business strategy.

Question 7

What is the Value Builder System?

Accepted Answer

A research-backed methodology that measures transferable value across eight key drivers, developed by John Warrillow, author of Built to Sell.

Question 8

What are the 8 Value Drivers?

Accepted Answer

Financial Performance, Growth Potential, Switzerland Structure, Valuation Teeter-Totter, Hierarchy of Recurring Revenue, Monopoly Control, Customer Satisfaction, and Hub and Spoke.

Question 9

What is owner dependency?

Accepted Answer

Owner dependency is when a business cannot operate without the owner's daily involvement. It's the most common value killer in founder-led service businesses.

Question 10

How much does owner dependency actually cost me?

Accepted Answer

Owner-dependent businesses sell for 30 to 50 percent below comparable companies with distributed operations.

Question 11

What does it cost to work with Diffactory?

Accepted Answer

Three primary entry points. The Reality Check assessment is $997. The Value Builders Collective is $997 per month. Growth Partnerships are equity-based and structured individually.

Question 12

What is the Reality Check?

Accepted Answer

Diffactory's $997 business value assessment that gives you a clear picture of where your business stands across the 8 Value Drivers and identifies owner dependency risks.

Question 13

What is the Value Builders Collective?

Accepted Answer

Diffactory's $997 per month implementation program for founder-led service business owners serious about building transferable value, structured around 90-day sprints.

Question 14

What is the Accelerator?

Accepted Answer

Diffactory's most intensive implementation program for founders with a specific exit or transition window who want a structured, accountable path to get there.

Question 15

Why do my clients need value acceleration before they come to me?

Accepted Answer

Most founder-led service businesses aren't exit-ready when they first engage a broker, CPA, or wealth manager. Clients who've gone through value acceleration arrive prepared with stronger numbers and realistic expectations.

Question 16

What is Founder HQ?

Accepted Answer

Diffactory's free community for founder-led service business owners, built on Skool. A place to get straight talk, frameworks, and peer accountability.

Question 17

Does Kevin invest in companies?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Kevin has been an active angel investor with BetaBlox since 2014, with over 30 portfolio companies and notable exits including The Smoothie Shop acquisition.

Question 18

I just found Diffactory. What should I do first?

Accepted Answer

Read the about page to understand who Kevin is. Then take the Reality Check for an honest picture of where your business stands.

Question 19

How quickly can I expect results?

Accepted Answer

The Reality Check gives you clarity immediately. Most founders see meaningful movement within 90 days. A premium exit typically requires 2 to 5 years of intentional preparation.

Every Question We've Ever Been Asked

Philosophy & Beliefs

About Kevin Oldham

What Is Exit Planning

Value Acceleration Methodology

The Value Builder System

Owner Dependency

Working With Diffactory

The Reality Check

Value Builders Collective

The Accelerator

For Advisors

Founder HQ Community

Investments

Getting Started

Still have a question?

Every Question We've Ever Been Asked

Philosophy & Beliefs

What do you actually believe about business?

What is "love it or list it"?

What is "unconditional tough love"?

How does faith factor into how you work?

What is "die empty" and why does it matter?

What is "mind like water"?

Is this a recovery-based program?

About Kevin Oldham

Who is Kevin Oldham?

What credentials does Kevin hold?

What's Kevin's personal history with business failure?

Has Kevin built and sold businesses himself?

What is BetaBlox?

What is BeTheFilament?

What Is Exit Planning

What is exit planning?

Is exit planning only for people who are about to sell?

When should I start exit planning?

What are the Three Legs of the Stool in exit planning?

What is a CEPA?

What is transferable value?

What is the difference between business value and personal goodwill?

Value Acceleration Methodology

What is the Value Acceleration Methodology?

What are the Three Gates of the Value Acceleration Methodology?

What happens in the Discover Gate?

What happens in the Prepare Gate?

What happens in the Decide Gate?

What are 90-day sprints and why do you use them?

The Value Builder System

What is the Value Builder System?

What are the 8 Value Drivers?

What is Hub and Spoke and why does it matter for service businesses?

What is the Switzerland Structure driver?

What is the Valuation Teeter-Totter?

How do you get a Value Builder score?

Owner Dependency

What is owner dependency?

How much does owner dependency actually cost me?

How do I know if my business has an owner dependency problem?

Can owner dependency be fixed?

Won't fixing owner dependency make me irrelevant in my own company?

Working With Diffactory

What does it cost to work with Diffactory?

What is the difference between Consulting and Implementation at Diffactory?

What kinds of businesses do you work with?

Do you work with businesses outside the United States?

What does "done-with-you" mean?

What is a Growth Partnership?

How do I know if Diffactory is the right fit?

The Reality Check

What is the Reality Check?

What do I get from the Reality Check?

Who is the Reality Check for?

What happens after the Reality Check?

Value Builders Collective

What is the Value Builders Collective?

How is the Value Builders Collective different from a typical coaching program?

How long do most members stay in the program?

Is the Value Builders Collective open enrollment?

The Accelerator

What is the Accelerator?

How is the Accelerator different from the Value Builders Collective?

Who should apply for the Accelerator?

For Advisors

Why do my clients need value acceleration before they come to me?

What types of advisors does Diffactory partner with?

Will working with Diffactory conflict with my client relationships?

What does a referral partnership look like?

What is the "12 Deal Killers That Surprise Brokers" resource?

How does Diffactory work with private equity firms?

Founder HQ Community

What is Founder HQ?

Who is Founder HQ for?

What is the relationship between Founder HQ and the paid programs?

Investments

Does Kevin invest in companies?

What does Kevin look for as an investor?