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Owner Academy Series

Series: How to Create Enterprise Value

Academy

Series / Bootcamp

Growing Your Business

Expert Network

This series of articles are a guide to build enterprise value now, so you have options later.

By Jon Polenz, M&A Expert

August 28, 2025

4 Articles in Series

01

Think Like an Investor: The Mindset Shift That Makes Your Business More Valuable

You didn’t build your business just to be its most overworked employee. Learn the mindset shift that helps owners reclaim their time, increase profits, and build a business that runs—and grows—without them.

02

The Risks That Scare Investors—and the Strengths They Pay For

The best time to prepare your business for sale isn’t when you’re ready to exit—it’s years before. Discover what buyers actually look for, and how building a sellable company makes it easier (and more profitable) to run right now.

03

Positioning, Customers, and the Future: The Real Drivers of Value

Even the best product won’t sell if it’s solving the wrong problem for the wrong people. Learn how to build a business around the right customers, predictable revenue, and a product-market fit that scales and sells.

04

Why a Great Sales Process is Your Most Valuable Asset

Without a predictable sales system, your business isn’t scalable—or sellable. Learn how to build a repeatable, hands-off sales process that attracts buyers, boosts value, and frees you from doing all the selling yourself.

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About the Author Jon Polenz, M&A Expert

Jon Polenz, the Managing Partner of Owner 1st, LLC, built and sold a commercial service business to PestCo, then helped scale PestCo to over $120M in revenue through strategic acquisitions in just 18 months. His passion for the business owner journey makes him a great expert resource at Ownly.

Click here to learn more about Jon →

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