How To Prepare For a Smooth and Successful Agency Acquisition

<p>After the life of digital nomad led to the failure of his first company, Dean Dutro started <a href="https://worthecommerce.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Worth eCommerce.</a> Since then, found the <a href="http://jasonswenk.com/mastermind" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">Digital Agency Elite mastermind</a>, learned the importance of having a mission and values, and grew an amazingly successful agency that helps eCommerce stores drive new and repeat sales with email & SMS marketing.  He recently sold that company and today he’s here to talk about how his early failure led to having a strong belief in the agency’s values and mission, the process of getting ready for an opportunity to sell your agency, and what he advises everyone to do in order to enjoy a successful agency acquisition.</p> <h2>3 Golden Nuggets</h2> <ol> <li><strong>It can be lonely at the top.</strong> One of the things mastermind members learn is the importance of having a mission and values, in order to surround yourself with <a href= "https://jasonswenk.com/agency-vision/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">people that you want to work with</a>. This a foundational step to elevating your business. You can succeed with a self-centered business, but it can get lonely at the top. It’s better if you’re thinking about elevating your team and having an end goal with your mission.</li> <li><strong>Prepare yourself for acquisition.</strong> The end goal for every agency owner should be to exit at some point. If you’re thinking about <a href= "https://jasonswenk.com/improve-digital-agency-value/" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">selling your agency</a>, Dean shares some key parts of the process, including how he discovered some accounting and business terms that were key to the process and he had never even heard of before. He mentions that the two most important pieces that buyers look for is EBITDA and the age of the company.</li> <li><strong>Get a Broker.</strong> With so many things to consider and prepare before even being ready for buyers, De