EBITDA, Earn-Outs, and the Exit Plan with Todd Taskey

Deal Playbook with Tom Shipley

Todd Taskey discusses the key strategies digital marketing agencies need to know when preparing for a successful exit. He explains why finding the right buyer matters more than you think and how clear messaging about your business can drive up your transaction value. Todd also covers the importance of realistic projections, navigating earn-outs, and the factors that can either help or hurt your chances of closing a good deal. With examples, including a case study on Social SEO’s 8X growth, this episode is packed with advice for agency owners looking to sell.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 - Kickoff: Making Partners as Happy as Customers
• 00:00:53 - Meet Todd Taskey: Maximizing Digital Marketing Exits
• 00:01:54 - The Top Advice for Agencies Eyeing an Exit
• 00:02:15 - Aligning with the Right Buyer for Lasting Success
• 00:03:38 - How Social SEO Scaled 8X with Private Equity
• 00:04:46 - EBITDA Demystified: Boosting Your Transaction Value
• 00:10:24 - The Power of Realistic Projections in Business Deals
• 00:11:56 - Earn-Outs and Retention: How to Stay in Control
• 00:17:20 - Navigating Market Trends & What They Mean for Agencies
• 00:23:28 - Secrets to Client Retention: Don’t Let Them Walk
• 00:33:19 - Final Prep: How to Ensure a Successful Business Exit

Links and Resources:

• Todd on LinkedIn
• Second Bite Podcast
• Potomac Business Capital
• Tom Shipley
• Tom on LinkedIn
• Agency Ventures Aggregator

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Deal Playbook? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!