The Selling Successfully Podcast Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:37:20 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2164489 en-ca © 2026 The Selling Successfully Podcast yes 430d5073-6e63-5972-ae4a-4b92eaad6d00 viviana.sergio@portagemaadvisory.com Jim Friesen - Portage M&A Advisory episodic false If you’re thinking about or ready to sell your business, this podcast is for you. Tap into the knowledge of industry experts and hear first-hand from clients who have secured life-changing deals. 

Hosted by Portage M&A Advisory Founder + Partner, Jim Friesen.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Jim Friesen - Portage M&A Advisory viviana.sergio@portagemaadvisory.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/tmsfqqk9gig2ttfazylstkk564bw?.jpg The Selling Successfully Podcast Building Better Businesses: How Business Coaching Builds Value, Reduces Risk, and Drives Stronger Exits. Building Better Businesses: How Business Coaching Builds Value, Reduces Risk, and Drives Stronger Exits. In the world of business exits, we often focus on the transaction. The reality is that the strongest exits are built years before a company ever goes to market.

In this episode of the Selling Successfully Podcast, Jim sits down with Dan Holstein, award-winning business coach at Kaizen Performance Improvement Corp, to explore how coaching helps owners build stronger, more scalable, and more transferable businesses long before a sale is on the table.

They discuss:
• What pre-sale readiness really means
• The operational discipline required to build optionality
• The most common risks in founder-led companies
• How coaching reduces owner dependency and strengthens leadership teams
• Why the strongest exits are earned, not timed

Jim and Dan also share a real client story about how coaching transformed a business and laid the foundation for a successful exit once Portage became involved.

If you are a business owner thinking about scaling, succession, or selling in the future, this conversation will reshape how you think about preparation. 

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> In the world of business exits, we often focus on the transaction. The reality is that the strongest exits are built years before a company ever goes to market.

In this episode of the Selling Successfully Podcast, Jim sits down with Dan Holstein, award-winning business coach at Kaizen Performance Improvement Corp, to explore how coaching helps owners build stronger, more scalable, and more transferable businesses long before a sale is on the table.

They discuss:
• What pre-sale readiness really means
• The operational discipline required to build optionality
• The most common risks in founder-led companies
• How coaching reduces owner dependency and strengthens leadership teams
• Why the strongest exits are earned, not timed

Jim and Dan also share a real client story about how coaching transformed a business and laid the foundation for a successful exit once Portage became involved.

If you are a business owner thinking about scaling, succession, or selling in the future, this conversation will reshape how you think about preparation. 

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Jim Friesen - Portage M&A Advisory Buzzsprout-18843241 Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0400 3078 2 4 full false Sell, Stay, and Scale: Flexible Exit Strategies in the Lower-Middle Market Sell, Stay, and Scale: Flexible Exit Strategies in the Lower-Middle Market  In this episode, Jim from Portage joins Kevin Laleyan from PE Gate for a conversation on what drives successful transactions in today’s lower middle market.

They discuss the common pitfalls buyers encounter and why both buyers and sellers need the right team in place to properly implement systems and processes after a deal closes. Alignment between both sides is essential, and PE Gate explains how they help uncover shared objectives and create clarity when navigating complex transactions.

The discussion also explores PE Gate’s flexible approach to deal structuring, including minority investments, rolled equity, vendor take-back financing, and majority ownership. By identifying operational weaknesses early and putting real skin in the game, PE Gate partners with management teams to build stronger businesses and work toward a successful exit.

Together, Portage and PE Gate focus on the lower-middle market, ensuring sellers are matched with buyers who are not only qualified, but truly the right strategic fit. 

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]>  In this episode, Jim from Portage joins Kevin Laleyan from PE Gate for a conversation on what drives successful transactions in today’s lower middle market.

They discuss the common pitfalls buyers encounter and why both buyers and sellers need the right team in place to properly implement systems and processes after a deal closes. Alignment between both sides is essential, and PE Gate explains how they help uncover shared objectives and create clarity when navigating complex transactions.

The discussion also explores PE Gate’s flexible approach to deal structuring, including minority investments, rolled equity, vendor take-back financing, and majority ownership. By identifying operational weaknesses early and putting real skin in the game, PE Gate partners with management teams to build stronger businesses and work toward a successful exit.

Together, Portage and PE Gate focus on the lower-middle market, ensuring sellers are matched with buyers who are not only qualified, but truly the right strategic fit. 

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Jim Friesen - Portage M&A Advisory Buzzsprout-18760951 Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0500 1890 2 3 full false Behind the Buyer Network: Global Reach & Data Intelligence Behind the Buyer Network: Global Reach & Data Intelligence In this episode, Nick Olsen, Managing Director at Cornerstone International Alliance (CIA), joins Jim to discuss how global buyer networks and data intelligence are transforming the M&A landscape. He shares insights on CIA’s role in the market, the scope of its international buyer network, and how data-driven strategies empower more efficient deal-making. We also explore how CIA’s reach enhances Portage’s sell-side process, hear examples of successful cross-border engagements, and get advice for business owners preparing for a sale. Packed with practical insights and forward-looking perspectives, this conversation offers a clear view of the strategic value behind buyer intelligence.

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> In this episode, Nick Olsen, Managing Director at Cornerstone International Alliance (CIA), joins Jim to discuss how global buyer networks and data intelligence are transforming the M&A landscape. He shares insights on CIA’s role in the market, the scope of its international buyer network, and how data-driven strategies empower more efficient deal-making. We also explore how CIA’s reach enhances Portage’s sell-side process, hear examples of successful cross-border engagements, and get advice for business owners preparing for a sale. Packed with practical insights and forward-looking perspectives, this conversation offers a clear view of the strategic value behind buyer intelligence.

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Jim Friesen - Portage M&A Advisory Buzzsprout-17893506 Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:00:00 -0400 1611 2 2 full false The Evolution of M&A: Trends, AI, + Winning Strategies The Evolution of M&A: Trends, AI, + Winning Strategies A powerful conversation featuring Liz MacRae, President of Village Wellth. Liz shares her unique journey into M&A, the friction points she’s solving for buyers, and her insights on where the industry is headed in the next 3–5 years. From actionable advice for today’s buyers and sellers to bold predictions about AI and tech disruption in deal-making, this episode is packed with strategic gold.

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> A powerful conversation featuring Liz MacRae, President of Village Wellth. Liz shares her unique journey into M&A, the friction points she’s solving for buyers, and her insights on where the industry is headed in the next 3–5 years. From actionable advice for today’s buyers and sellers to bold predictions about AI and tech disruption in deal-making, this episode is packed with strategic gold.

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Jim Friesen - Portage M&A Advisory Buzzsprout-17248741 Thu, 29 May 2025 14:00:00 -0400 2158 2 1 full false Fractional CFOs: Divide + Conquer Fractional CFOs: Divide + Conquer In this episode, we're exploring the rise of Fractional CFOs, their role in guiding businesses through economic challenges and succession planning as well as their impact on successful deals. Learn why Fractional CFOs are becoming indispensable in today's M&A landscape and how to leverage Fractional CFO expertise for your next big move.

Guest: Bhavna Duggal | Former Principal & Chief Financial Officer at The CFO Centre of Canada and current Interim Chief Financial Officer at Securian Canada.

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> In this episode, we're exploring the rise of Fractional CFOs, their role in guiding businesses through economic challenges and succession planning as well as their impact on successful deals. Learn why Fractional CFOs are becoming indispensable in today's M&A landscape and how to leverage Fractional CFO expertise for your next big move.

Guest: Bhavna Duggal | Former Principal & Chief Financial Officer at The CFO Centre of Canada and current Interim Chief Financial Officer at Securian Canada.

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Jim Friesen - Portage M&A Advisory Buzzsprout-14851571 Mon, 15 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400 2416 Podcast, Fractional CFO, Financial Strategy, Business Growth, Deal Team, Bank Relations, Financial Leadership 1 12 full false Profitable Acquisitions: The Portage Path Profitable Acquisitions: The Portage Path Buying a business can come with twists and turns and we’re here to help navigate. We keep lines of communication open during negotiations, make sure both parties have the right people at the table, ensure due diligence is done correctly and more.

We know all of the steps and keep everyone on the right track throughout.

 Guest: Ryan Buist | Portage M&A Advisory Partner & Head of Valuations.
 ryan.buist@portagemaadvisory.com

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Buying a business can come with twists and turns and we’re here to help navigate. We keep lines of communication open during negotiations, make sure both parties have the right people at the table, ensure due diligence is done correctly and more.

We know all of the steps and keep everyone on the right track throughout.

 Guest: Ryan Buist | Portage M&A Advisory Partner & Head of Valuations.
 ryan.buist@portagemaadvisory.com

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> https://portagemaadvisory.com/podcast-page/ Jim Friesen - Portage M&A Advisory Buzzsprout-14652398 Fri, 08 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0500 1596 Buying A Business, M&A, Mergers and Acquisitions, Portage M&A, Lower Middle Market, LMM, Deal Team, Business, Private Equity, Buyer Network 1 11 full false The Business Behind The Deals The Business Behind The Deals Selling or buying a business is not a decision made lightly, and knowing and trusting the individuals you're working with is crucial. The personal nature of this is front and center in everything that we do, which is why this particular episode is so important. 

Guest: Ryan Buist | Portage M&A Advisory Partner & Head of Valuations.
ryan.buist@portagemaadvisory.com

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Selling or buying a business is not a decision made lightly, and knowing and trusting the individuals you're working with is crucial. The personal nature of this is front and center in everything that we do, which is why this particular episode is so important. 

Guest: Ryan Buist | Portage M&A Advisory Partner & Head of Valuations.
ryan.buist@portagemaadvisory.com

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Jim Friesen - Portage M&A Advisory Buzzsprout-14464615 Mon, 12 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0500 1798 Selling A Business, Buying A Business, M&A, Mergers and Acquisitions, Deal Team, Business, History, About Us, Portage M&A, Lower Middle Market, LMM 1 10 full false Selling A Business: The Portage Way Selling A Business: The Portage Way Selling a business is a much more complex undertaking than most entrepreneurs realize. Join us for a peek into our proprietary, in-depth process which helps us ensure the successful sale of your business.

Guest: Ryan Buist | Portage M&A Advisory Partner & Head of Valuations.
ryan.buist@portagemaadvisory.com

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Selling a business is a much more complex undertaking than most entrepreneurs realize. Join us for a peek into our proprietary, in-depth process which helps us ensure the successful sale of your business.

Guest: Ryan Buist | Portage M&A Advisory Partner & Head of Valuations.
ryan.buist@portagemaadvisory.com

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> https://portagemaadvisory.com/podcast-page/ Jim Friesen - Portage M&A Advisory Buzzsprout-14291525 Mon, 15 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500 1741 Selling A Business, M&A, Selling Process, Business Valuation, Business Appraisal, Marketing, Buyer Identification, Negotiation, Due Diligence, Closing 1 9 full false Retirement: Ready or Not? Retirement: Ready or Not? When it comes to retirement, there is much more to consider than just the numbers. This episode of The Selling Successfully podcast reminds sellers of a necessary introspective process they must undertake to truly assess their level of retirement readiness. 
Guest: Ryan Buist | Portage M&A Advisory Partner & Head of Valuations.
ryan.buist@portagemaadvisory.com

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> When it comes to retirement, there is much more to consider than just the numbers. This episode of The Selling Successfully podcast reminds sellers of a necessary introspective process they must undertake to truly assess their level of retirement readiness. 
Guest: Ryan Buist | Portage M&A Advisory Partner & Head of Valuations.
ryan.buist@portagemaadvisory.com

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Jim Friesen - Portage M&A Advisory Buzzsprout-14162493 Mon, 18 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0500 1272 Selling A Business, Retirement, Business Planning, M&A, Retirement Planning, Financial Security, Investment Portfolio 1 8 full false Smart Exit: The Power of Wealth Management Smart Exit: The Power of Wealth Management Amidst the daily hustle, it's crucial that business owners do not overlook the long-term financial health of their business and personal wealth. Learn how in the latest episode of The Selling Successfully Podcast, when Portage Founder and Partner Jim Friesen sits down with guest Edward Lee, Investment Advisor at RBC (edward.e.lee@rbc.com)

To learn more about Portage M&A Advisory visit our website at: portagemaadvisory.com


Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Amidst the daily hustle, it's crucial that business owners do not overlook the long-term financial health of their business and personal wealth. Learn how in the latest episode of The Selling Successfully Podcast, when Portage Founder and Partner Jim Friesen sits down with guest Edward Lee, Investment Advisor at RBC (edward.e.lee@rbc.com)

To learn more about Portage M&A Advisory visit our website at: portagemaadvisory.com


Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> https://portagemaadvisory.com/podcast-page/ Jim Friesen - Portage M&A Advisory Buzzsprout-14003515 Mon, 20 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0500 1405 Wealth Management, Wealth Planning, Financial Planning, Business, Selling A Business, Entrepreneur 1 7 full false Mastering Mergers: Acquisition Lessons Learned Mastering Mergers: Acquisition Lessons Learned In the latest episode of The Selling Successfully Podcast, Portage Founder and Partner Jim Friesen gets the inside scoop and buyer perspective from recent client Sean Brown, Partner at Summit Ridge Capital and now CEO of Burloak Tool & Die: sean@summitridgecapital.com.   

To learn more about Portage M&A Advisory visit our website at: portagemaadvisory.com
 

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> In the latest episode of The Selling Successfully Podcast, Portage Founder and Partner Jim Friesen gets the inside scoop and buyer perspective from recent client Sean Brown, Partner at Summit Ridge Capital and now CEO of Burloak Tool & Die: sean@summitridgecapital.com.   

To learn more about Portage M&A Advisory visit our website at: portagemaadvisory.com
 

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> https://portagemaadvisory.com/podcast-page/ Jim Friesen - Portage M&A Advisory Buzzsprout-13797686 Mon, 23 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400 2019 Private Equity Group, M&A, Business, Buying A Business, Deal Team, Lower Middle Market 1 6 full false The M&A Lawyer Leverage The M&A Lawyer Leverage M&A lawyers play a critical role in rounding out a seller’s comprehensive and competitive deal team. Learn what to look for when adding this expert to your team.

Guest: Kevin Fernandes | Partner at KMB Law | kfernandes@kmblaw.com 

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> M&A lawyers play a critical role in rounding out a seller’s comprehensive and competitive deal team. Learn what to look for when adding this expert to your team.

Guest: Kevin Fernandes | Partner at KMB Law | kfernandes@kmblaw.com 

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Jim Friesen - Portage M&A Advisory Buzzsprout-13556109 Mon, 25 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400 1923 Business, M&A Lawyer, Deal Team. Selling A Business 1 5 full false Where Do Buyers Come From? Where Do Buyers Come From? This episode provides all you need to know about buyers - who they are, what drives them and how a proper profiling process can help sellers find their perfect match. 

Guest: Thomas Bevilacqua | Portage M&A Advisory | VP
thomas.bevilacqua@portagemaadvisory.com

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> This episode provides all you need to know about buyers - who they are, what drives them and how a proper profiling process can help sellers find their perfect match. 

Guest: Thomas Bevilacqua | Portage M&A Advisory | VP
thomas.bevilacqua@portagemaadvisory.com

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> https://portagemaadvisory.com/podcast-page/ Jim Friesen Buzzsprout-13257801 Tue, 01 Aug 2023 03:00:00 -0400 2522 Business, M&A, Selling, Buyers, Network 1 4 full false A Seller's Experience: The Right M&A Advisor Makes All the Difference A Seller's Experience: The Right M&A Advisor Makes All the Difference For many, selling their business is uncharted territory. The right advisor will confidently and calmly guide you on your path to a successful sale. 

Guest: Len Hume | Former Portage Client | Former Owner of Professional Cleaning Specialists (PCS) of Niagara


Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> For many, selling their business is uncharted territory. The right advisor will confidently and calmly guide you on your path to a successful sale. 

Guest: Len Hume | Former Portage Client | Former Owner of Professional Cleaning Specialists (PCS) of Niagara


Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Jim Friesen Buzzsprout-13165186 Wed, 05 Jul 2023 10:00:00 -0400 1815 Business, M&A, Selling, Retirement 1 3 full false Financial Planning: The Key to a Seller’s Sanity + Success Financial Planning: The Key to a Seller’s Sanity + Success A comprehensive financial plan that merges business and personal documents is critical for selling your business and enabling your future. Learn how your financial advisor and M&A expert can and should work together to help you better prepare yourself and your business for sale.

Guest: Wesley Haynes | Senior Investment Advisor RBC Wealth Management | Parekh-Haynes Group

To learn more about financial planning contact Wesley at wesley.haynes@rbc.com 

You can catch the next episode on our podcast page at portagemaadvisory.com.

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> A comprehensive financial plan that merges business and personal documents is critical for selling your business and enabling your future. Learn how your financial advisor and M&A expert can and should work together to help you better prepare yourself and your business for sale.

Guest: Wesley Haynes | Senior Investment Advisor RBC Wealth Management | Parekh-Haynes Group

To learn more about financial planning contact Wesley at wesley.haynes@rbc.com 

You can catch the next episode on our podcast page at portagemaadvisory.com.

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Jim Friesen Buzzsprout-12947237 Thu, 08 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400 1433 Business, M&A, Selling, Financial Planning 1 2 full false Don't Sell Yourself (or your business!) Short Don't Sell Yourself (or your business!) Short Canadian business owners continue to leave money on the table when it comes to selling. Learn how early planning and a proper business valuation make all the difference.

Guest: Ryan Buist, Portage M&A Advisory Partner and Head of Valuations.

To learn more about business valuations contact Ryan at ryan.buist@portagemaadvisory.com

You can catch the next episode on our podcast page at portagemaadvisory.com.

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Canadian business owners continue to leave money on the table when it comes to selling. Learn how early planning and a proper business valuation make all the difference.

Guest: Ryan Buist, Portage M&A Advisory Partner and Head of Valuations.

To learn more about business valuations contact Ryan at ryan.buist@portagemaadvisory.com

You can catch the next episode on our podcast page at portagemaadvisory.com.

Thank you for listening!
Find or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

]]> Jim Friesen Buzzsprout-12637398 Wed, 12 Apr 2023 16:00:00 -0400 1701 business, M&A, selling, M&A advisor, selling your business, entrepreneur 1 1 full false