Dan Conklin, a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and founder of Bizical Fitness, has released a new book titled Business Strong, Beyond the Trap, aimed at business owners who are preparing to sell, transition, or pass on their companies. The book addresses a critical gap that often costs owners millions: the difference between what they receive at exit and what they could have planned for. "The gap between what an owner receives and what they could have planned for is frequently measured in seven figures," Conklin said. "This isn't a failure of ambition. It's a failure of preparation."
Business Strong introduces the V.R.T. Going Vertical methodology, a framework built around three pillars: Valuable, Repeatable, and Teachable. The book identifies eight value drivers that distinguish a sellable company from one that primarily functions as the owner's high-income job. It is structured around six stages of an owner's journey: The Calling, The Training, The Crossroads, The Close, The Legacy Path, and The Champion Mindset, allowing readers to start wherever their business currently stands. The book also includes a 24-week owner sprint, exit planning worksheets, and a glossary of exit-planning terms.
Conklin holds CEPA and Certified Employee Ownership Advisor (CEOA) credentials and has advised business owners on a range of exit structures, including stock sales, ESOPs, family transitions, and employee ownership arrangements. His practice, Bizical Fitness, works with companies generating $900,000 to $15 million in annual revenue. The book is available through major retailers and at Business Strong, Beyond the Trap on Amazon, as well as through the Bizical Fitness website.
For business owners, the implications of this release are significant. Many owners spend decades building their companies but fail to prepare adequately for an exit, resulting in a lower sale price or a failed transition. Conklin's framework aims to change that by providing a structured approach to increasing business value and ensuring that owners capture the full worth of their life's work. As Conklin writes in the book's introduction, "You built something most people would never attempt. This book makes sure it's worth everything you put into it."
The book also serves as a resource for advisors and consultants who work with business owners, offering a common language and methodology for exit planning. With the wave of baby boomer retirements and the increasing interest in employee ownership as an alternative to private equity sales, tools like this could help more businesses transition successfully, preserving jobs and wealth in local communities.
Bizical Fitness, founded by Conklin, is an exit-planning coaching practice focused on business value optimization and positioning owners for strategic exits through sale, employee ownership, or family transition. The practice serves business owners with $900,000 to $15 million in annual revenue. More information is available at bizicalfitness.com. The book was published by New York Publishing Labs.
