CEO Joe Braier Shares What Business Owners Need to Know About Valuation, Exit Planning, and Successfully Selling Their Life’s Work
CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, October 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Lake Country Advisors, a mergers and acquisitions advisory firm specializing in the sale and transition of privately held businesses, will be featured on Inside Business Today, hosted by Bill Rancic and Giuliana Rancic. President and CEO Joe Braier joins the program to discuss what entrepreneurs should know before selling a business—and why preparing for an eventual exit should begin long before an owner is ready to sell. The feature story will air nationally on Bloomberg Television as sponsored programming on October 9, 2026 at 8:30 PM PST / 10:30 PM CST.
For many entrepreneurs, selling a business represents the culmination of decades of hard work, sacrifice, risk, and investment. Yet while owners may spend years building their companies, many have never been through the process of selling one.
Founded in 2007, Lake Country Advisors helps bridge that knowledge gap, advising privately held businesses throughout Wisconsin and Illinois on valuations, exit planning, buyer identification, negotiations, due diligence, and closing. The firm primarily works with companies generating between $1 million and $50 million in annual revenue and has completed nearly 1,000 business transactions.
“Our philosophy is entrepreneurs helping entrepreneurs,” said Braier. “For many owners, this is the company they spent decades building, and the decisions they make can affect their family, employees, customers, financial future, and legacy. Our role is to give them the information and guidance they need to make those decisions with confidence.”
During the Inside Business Today interview, Braier addresses one of the most common questions owners have: What is my business actually worth?
According to Lake Country Advisors, revenue alone does not determine value. Cash flow, growth potential, customer concentration, management structure, owner dependence, market conditions, and risk can result in two similarly sized businesses receiving very different valuations. Understanding those factors early can give owners time to strengthen their companies before going to market.
“The best time to prepare for a sale is before you’re ready to sell,” said Braier. “Whether your timeline is next year or ten years from now, understanding your company’s value and what drives that value puts you in a much stronger position.”
The segment also takes viewers inside the confidential process of selling a privately held company. Lake Country Advisors works with owners to protect confidentiality through buyer screening, nondisclosure agreements, controlled information sharing, and a structured sale process designed to generate buyer interest without unnecessarily disrupting the business.
“Joe’s story speaks directly to entrepreneurs because he understands that building and ultimately selling a company involves much more than numbers on a spreadsheet,” said Bill and Giuliana Rancic. “There are financial considerations, but there are also employees, families, relationships, and years of work behind every business.”
Potential buyers can include strategic acquirers, private equity groups, family offices, search funds, and individual entrepreneurs. For sellers, understanding those different buyers—and what each may envision for the future of the company—can become just as important as evaluating the purchase price.
Braier recalls representing a Midwest business owner who received an attractive offer from a private equity buyer but ultimately chose not to proceed because he did not feel comfortable entrusting his company to that buyer. The experience reinforced an important lesson: for many entrepreneurs, finding the right steward for their life’s work can matter alongside the financial terms.
“We’re excited to feature Lake Country Advisors on Inside Business Today because they understand that an exit is both a financial transaction and a deeply personal transition,” said Gila Stern, Vice President of Production. “Joe brings the perspective of an M&A advisor who has also been an entrepreneur himself, allowing him to understand firsthand what it means to build something, take risks, and eventually decide what comes next.”
That entrepreneurial perspective is central to Lake Country Advisors. Braier joined the firm in 2008 after working as a real estate entrepreneur and later gained firsthand experience on both sides of business transactions by acquiring, building, and ultimately selling a training facility.
Lake Country Advisors itself was founded by Tim Bullard, who came from large corporate M&A and saw an opportunity to bring the sophistication and discipline of larger transactions to smaller privately held businesses. Nearly two decades later, the firm continues that philosophy through a hands-on, local approach focused particularly on manufacturing, distribution, construction, medical, and other privately held businesses.
For Braier, the most important advice for owners is simple: know your options before you need them.
“This isn’t about pushing someone to sell,” said Braier. “It’s about helping entrepreneurs understand what they’ve built, what it’s realistically worth, and what choices they have so they can make an informed decision about the next chapter of their lives.”
Tune in to Inside Business Today on Bloomberg Television (sponsored programming) on October 9, 2026 at 8:30 PM PST / 10:30 PM CST to learn what business owners should know about valuation, exit planning, confidentiality, and preparing for a successful ownership transition.
About Lake Country Advisors
Founded in 2007, Lake Country Advisors is a mergers and acquisitions advisory firm helping owners of privately held businesses confidentially sell their companies, maximize value, and transition ownership. Specializing in businesses with annual revenues between $1 million and $50 million, the firm provides guidance on valuation, exit planning, buyer identification, negotiations, due diligence, and closing. Lake Country Advisors has completed nearly 1,000 transactions and serves business owners throughout Wisconsin and Illinois. Learn more at http://LakeCountryAdvisors.com.
About Inside Business Today
Inside Business Today, hosted by Bill and Giuliana Rancic, is a premier business series exploring innovation, leadership, and transformative ideas across industries. Airing on Bloomberg Television (as sponsored programming) and ReachTV, the show inspires audiences with insights from visionaries driving meaningful change. Learn more at insidebusinesstoday.com.
Gila Stern
Inside Business Today/ Life+Leisure
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