Dean LoBrutto, Author at ValueCap

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Oct

Life After Selling a Business

October 14, 2025Dean LoBruttoBlog, Selling a Business

Selling your business is a big deal. After years of building something from the ground up, you’re finally closing the chapter. The papers are signed, the wire transfer hits your account, and suddenly… now what?

This photograph shows a woman at a desk that is tired after a long day working. It’s a stock image so the individuals should not be identified. It’s being used to illustrate that the article it represents is about Do You Own a Business or Just a Job with Overhead?. The text alternative is "Do You Own a Business or Just a Job with Overhead?" as this best describes the intended impression.

Sep

Do You Own a Business or Just a Job with Overhead?

September 23, 2025Dean LoBruttoBlog, Exit Planning, Selling a Business, Valuation

Most entrepreneurs start with big dreams about owning a business that gives them freedom, steady income, and builds real wealth over time. But here’s what we‘ve noticed after years in this industry: many owners wake up one day and realize they didn’t build a business at all.

This photograph shows a pile of rocks with one rock painted with a question mark. It’s a stock image so the individuals should not be identified. It’s being used to illustrate that the article it represents is about When 'Grow or Sell' Is the Wrong Question. The text alternative is “When 'Grow or Sell' Is the Wrong Question” as this best describes the intended impression.

Sep

When ‘Grow or Sell’ Is the Wrong Question

September 9, 2025Dean LoBruttoBlog, Exit Planning, Selling a Business, Valuation

Business owners often get stuck on one big question: should I keep pushing for growth or start planning to sell? We see this all the time, and honestly, it’s the wrong way to think about it.

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Aug

The Right Way to Decline a Buyer’s Offer

August 26, 2025Dean LoBruttoBlog, Selling a Business

Turning down a business buyer is never easy. In our many years as a business brokerage, we’ve watched sellers navigate these delicate conversations successfully by combining clarity with genuine respect. However, the most successful sellers often avoid having these conversations directly at all. They work with experienced business brokers who handle buyer communications professionally.

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Aug

What and When to Tell Employees About Selling Your Business

August 12, 2025Dean LoBruttoBlog, Exit Planning, Selling a Business

One of the most challenging aspects of selling your business is deciding how and when to tell your employees. For most owners, their team feels like family, and these conversations require careful consideration.

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Jul

Why Do Business Owners Struggle With Retirement?

July 22, 2025Dean LoBruttoBlog, Exit Planning, Selling a Business

For many business owners, the idea of retirement is complicated. If you’re a business owner struggling to imagine what comes next, you’re not alone. Here’s why so many owners hesitate to retire and what can help.

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Jul

Selling a Portion of Your Business

July 8, 2025Dean LoBruttoBlog, Exit Planning, Selling a Business

Selling a business isn’t always an all-or-nothing decision. In fact, selling part of a business can be a smart, strategic move for owners looking to unlock capital, bring in a partner, reduce operational responsibility, or prepare for future growth or succession.

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Jun

Options When Your Business Doesn’t Sell

June 24, 2025Dean LoBruttoBlog, Selling a Business

When a business doesn’t sell, it can be discouraging, but it is not the end of the road. There are still valuable options for business owners to consider, and each one requires a clear-eyed understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead.

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Jun

The Risks of Underreporting Income

June 10, 2025Dean LoBruttoBlog, Exit Planning, Financing the Deal, Selling a Business

Underreporting income may seem like a harmless way to reduce tax liability in the short term, but for business owners preparing for a sale, it poses serious risks.