The Selling Successfully Podcast

Hosted by Jim Friesen - Portage M&A Advisory

Business Education

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Episodes

Latest episode

Mar 2026

Language

EN-CA

About the show

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.

Listen to episodes

16 recent

March 13, 2026Episode 451 min

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 timedJim 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.

February 27, 2026Episode 331 min

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.

September 23, 2025Episode 226 min

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.

May 29, 2025Episode 135 min

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.

April 15, 2024Episode 1240 min

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.

March 8, 2024Episode 1126 min

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

February 12, 2024Episode 1029 min

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

January 15, 2024Episode 929 min

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

December 18, 2023Episode 821 min

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

November 20, 2023Episode 723 min

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