- Exit Ready: The owner's guide to a profitable and timely exit. (Prepare yourself for Exit or Transition)
- Building a Business That People Will Want to Buy
(Building Business Systems)
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- Cash Flow Forecasting and Business Plan Writing
(Learn to model a business purchase or startup and write a business plan for funding.)
The following sections outline online courses available for
sale from David C Barnett and team along with learning outcomes and who they're for.
Exit Ready: The Owner’s Guide to a
Profitable and Timely Exit
A 7-Stage Framework for Planning, Preparing, and Selling
Your Business
About This Program
Exit Ready is designed for small business owners who want to
plan, prepare, and successfully exit their business—profitably and on their
terms.
The course follows a clear 7-stage journey, blending strategy, valuation
insight, and real-world deal experience to help you understand what buyers look
for and how to structure a sale that meets both your financial and personal
goals.
This is not a “how to list your business” course—it’s a decision-making roadmap
for owners who want to exit with dignity, clarity, and control.
Students can enroll following a link at https://www.HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com
The 7-Stage Exit Planning Framework
Stage 1 — Personal Financial Readiness
Can I afford to retire? Learn to calculate your post-exit
income needs, identify any financial gap, and assess how much of that gap must
be filled by the sale of your business. Includes tools for lifestyle budgeting,
net worth assessment, and retirement income forecasting.
A seller who knows their “number” negotiates rationally.
Stage 2 — Business Reality Check
Do I have a sellable business? Discover what actually makes
your business transferable. Learn to normalize financials, distinguish SDE vs.
EBITDA, and separate personal benefits from real profits. Includes practical
case studies (“Bob’s Windows & Blinds”) and normalization exercises to
reveal true value and risk from a buyer’s perspective.
Stage 3 — Exit Options Analysis
What’s the best path for me? Explore your options: sell to
an outsider, insider, family, or liquidate. Compare the implications of each
path—including tax treatment, control, and legacy. Understand emerging
structures like Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) and how hybrid exits can
balance liquidity with continuity.
Stage 4 — Business Preparation
How do I make my business attractive to buyers? Implement
value-building steps: document SOPs, improve financial presentation, reduce
owner dependence, and optimize operations. Focus on transferability—buyers pay
more for businesses they can step into confidently. Includes SOP templates,
readiness checklists, and transition prep tools.
Stage 5 — Marketing & Confidential Sale Process
How do I find the right buyer? Learn how to present your
business professionally without jeopardizing confidentiality. Topics include
writing a Confidential Business Profile (CBP), vetting prospects, managing
NDAs, and avoiding tire-kickers. Understand how to help buyers fall in love
with the business through clear, honest information.
Stage 6 — Deal Making
How do I structure a win-win deal? Understand the interplay
of price, terms, and risk. Learn about seller financing, earnouts, and vendor
notes—and how flexible terms often yield higher total outcomes. Includes offer
evaluation worksheets and buyer empathy exercises to help you see the deal
through both sides of the table.
Stage 7 — Transition & Legacy
How do I exit with dignity and peace of mind? Plan your
final handoff: training, consulting agreements, farewell letters, and
stakeholder communication. Includes tools for succession letters, will review
checklists, and legacy planning discussions with advisors. Exit Ready ensures
your sale doesn’t just close—it transitions well.
Program Highlights
• Video + Audio Lessons – Easy to follow, downloadable, and
mobile-friendly through the Gumroad app.
• Worksheets & Tools – Spousal alignment sheets, valuation calculators,
net-worth statements, and transition templates.
• Real-World Examples – Based on hundreds of small business sales and
valuations.
• Buyer Empathy Framework – Understand what motivates buyers and structure your
deal for mutual success.
• Advisor Integration – Learn when and how to coordinate with CPAs, lawyers,
appraisers, and financial planners.
For Best Results
• Print the handouts and fill them out as you go.
• Don’t binge—reflect and apply lessons before moving forward.
• Revisit stages over time; each viewing reveals new insight.
• Ask questions—your feedback helps shape future bonus modules.
Exit Ready helps small business owners transform their years
of effort into lasting wealth, smooth transitions, and purposeful retirements.
By the end of the program, you’ll have a clear, written exit roadmap—one that
balances money, timing, and legacy.
Business Buyer Advantage (BBA):
Online Training Program
Your Proven Path to Buying a Profitable Small
Business—Without Costly Mistakes
Program Overview
Business Buyer Advantage (BBA) is the most comprehensive
step-by-step online training program for people who want to find, analyze,
finance, and buy a small business the smart way.
Launched in 2011 as a live workshop, BBA has evolved into a
robust online course with over 50 hours of structured content and
continually updated materials. The 2025 upgrade fully renovated the
original modules, integrated new topics, and added AI-powered tools to
help students navigate every stage of the acquisition process.
Students receive:
- Lifetime
access to video tutorials, audio files, and enhanced workbooks
- Excel
analysis tools and financial calculators
- PDF
worksheets and planning guides
- Step-by-step
case studies (e.g., Bob’s Windows & Blinds)
- Bonus
modules on specialized topics (recessions, SBA financing, distressed
businesses, share deals, private capital, etc.)
What’s Inside: The Purchase Journey
BBA follows the real-world process of acquiring a business
from start to finish:
- Preparing
Yourself
- Why
buy instead of start a business
- Evaluating
net worth & financial readiness
- Defining
acquisition criteria (industry, size, cash flow)
- Understanding
risk and your BATNA
- Conducting
Your Search
- Where
to find businesses (brokers, platforms, networking, proprietary outreach)
- Evaluating
listings & advertisements
- Building
credibility with sellers
- Talking
to Sellers & Understanding the Business
- Seller
motivations and mindsets
- What’s
actually for sale: assets vs. shares
- Interviewing
sellers and mapping processes
- Understanding
the “machine” that produces cash flow
- Examining
the Business
- Financial
statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow)
- Normalizing
earnings: SDE vs. EBITDA
- SWOT
analysis and spotting hidden problems
- Determining
Value
- Valuation
methods (market, income, cost)
- Building
capitalization rates
- Pro
forma forecasting and case study walkthroughs
- Understanding
Financing & Deal Structures
- Buyer
resources, banks, SBA/BDC loans, seller notes
- Creative
structures and earnouts
- Matching
structure to business risk & cash flow
- Making
Offers
- LOIs
and Offers to Purchase
- Terms,
conditions, contingencies, warranties
- Avoiding
common mistakes and protecting yourself
- Due
Diligence
- Legal,
financial, operational, and reputational checks
- Tools,
checklists, and case examples
- How
findings impact renegotiation
- Building
Your Team
- Choosing
and managing advisors (accountant, lawyer, lender, broker, appraiser)
- Avoiding
advisor red flags
- Enhancing
decisions with AI checklists and prompts
- Closing
& Handover
- Transition
planning with the seller
- Week-one
expectations
- Managing
AR/AP, staff introductions, SOPs
- Operation
& Integration
- 13-step
systematization process
- Building
a business independent of owner involvement
- Preparing
for future sale or expansion
Bonus Content Modules
BBA includes specialized deep dives on advanced topics:
- Buying
in a Recession
- Buying
Distressed Businesses
- Share
Purchases & Working Capital
- Understanding
Financial Statements
- Understanding
Cash Flow Levels
- SBA
Financing in the USA (updated for 2025 rules)
- Raising
Private Capital
- Bigger
Businesses: Do larger firms sell for higher multiples?
- Due
Diligence Expansion
- Excel
Deal Analysis Tool (2025 updated version)
Student Learning Outcomes
By completing this program, students will be able to:
- Identify
businesses that align with their personal, financial, and lifestyle goals.
- Analyze
financial statements and normalize them to reveal true earnings.
- Value
businesses using multiple accepted methods.
- Structure
& Finance deals that balance risk and opportunity.
- Draft
& Negotiate Offers with terms that protect their interests.
- Conduct
Due Diligence effectively with checklists and professional guidance.
- Close
& Transition into ownership smoothly with systems in place.
- Operate
& Integrate the business for growth, independence, and eventual
exit.
Outcome: Students graduate with the knowledge and tools
to confidently purchase and run a profitable small business without costly
mistakes.
Who Should Enroll?
This program is designed for:
- Aspiring
Entrepreneurs: Professionals who want to leave employment and buy
their first business.
- Existing
Business Owners: Owners looking to grow through acquisition.
- Investors:
Individuals seeking to diversify portfolios with small business assets.
- Retiring
Professionals: Those transitioning careers and seeking wealth-building
opportunities.
- Advisors-in-Training:
CPAs, bankers, consultants, and others who want to understand the buyer’s
perspective.
Not suited for:
- People
looking for “get rich quick” tactics.
- Buyers
unwilling to do the work of analysis and negotiation.
Why Choose Business Buyer Advantage?
- Built
on real-world experience from 35+ transactions brokered and
hundreds financed.
- Taught
by David C Barnett, author of multiple best-selling business books,
YouTuber, and small business consultant.
- Proven
with superior reviews since 2009 and updated routinely every year
since.
- Always
updated with current tools, market conditions, and financing rules.
- Lifetime
access with new bonus content and AI tools added regularly.
Learn More & Enroll:
www.BusinessBuyerAdvantage.com
DCB Cash Flow Forecasting and
Business Plan Writing Program
Learn to Build Realistic Financial Models and Business
Plans for Main Street Businesses
Program Overview
This program teaches entrepreneurs how to create cash
flow forecasts and business plans that work in the real world.
- Originally
built as a 13-week interactive program with participant feedback.
- Now
available as a complete online course with lifetime access.
- Includes
step-by-step Excel models, video lessons, audio downloads, and sample
business plans.
- Designed
to help you:
- Determine
if a new business idea is viable.
- Plan
and negotiate a small business purchase.
- Approach
lenders and investors with professional forecasts and plans .
Who is This Program For?
- Small
Business Buyers and Starters
- Main
Street businesses with gross profit under $2M
- Entrepreneurs
seeking financing or planning growth
Not for:
- Public
market investors
- Wall
Street analysts
What You’ll Learn (Course Plan)
The program builds your knowledge step-by-step while giving
you practical tools:
Week 1 – Introduction & Sales Forecasts
- Startups
vs. buying a business
- SWOT
& Canvas modeling
- Forecasting
for cash businesses, sales cycle models, leads & conversions, customer
terms, deposits
Week 2 – Direct Expenses
- Cost
of Goods Sold, cost of sales, markup & margins
- When
labor belongs in COGS
Week 3 – Labor & Overhead Expenses
- Scheduling,
timeliness of expenses, capital equipment, overhead trends
Week 4 – Financing Activities
- Loans,
leases, credit cards in forecasting
Week 5 – Income Statement & Bank Balance
- Reconciling
profit vs. cash
- Forecasting
line of credit needs
- Sales
tax reconciliation
Week 6 – Expanding to 3 Years
- Depreciation,
income taxes, opening & forecast balance sheets
Week 7 – Adjusting Models
- Dividing
into years, fixing weak businesses, ratios & commentary
Week 8 – Funding Programs
- Financing
operating losses
- Presenting
equity sources
Week 9 – Business Plan Template
- Structure
and sections
- Epoxy
Flooring Company sample plan
Week 10 – Formatting Spreadsheets
Week 11 – New Business Plan Writing
Week 12 – Business Acquisition Plan Writing
- Including
normalized historical financials 【40†source# Tools & Materials
- 59
videos across 12 modules
- Five
sample companies (startups & acquisitions) with spreadsheets you
can edit
- Excel
skills training integrated into lessons
- Audio
versions for learning on the go
- Templates
for forecasts, ratios, and business plans
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will:
- Build
cash flow forecasts that reveal strengths, weaknesses, and funding
needs.
- Differentiate
income statements vs. cash flow, and reconcile them properly.
- Create
balance sheets and ratios that bankers actually care about.
- Spot
risks in business models before spending money on bad deals.
- Write
concise business plans that lenders and investors will appreciate.
- Gain
confidence to evaluate new ventures or acquisitions with clarity 【40†source##
What Students Are Saying
"One of the best training programs I’ve ever seen for this subject. Clean, well broken out, with the bonus of learning Excel. I was surprised how much I learned that I had never known before." — Cody, OK
"This course has been the single largest contributor
affecting my level of confidence and ability to achieve my goals." —
Chris K., PA
Why Choose This Program?
- Based
on real-world business brokerage and financing experience
- Practical,
not academic—designed for small business deals under $2M gross profit
- Provides
bank-ready forecasts and business plans
- Lifetime
access, including all updates
Learn More & Enroll:
www.BizPlanSchool.com
Business Buyer Advantage: Group
Coaching Program
Accountability, Expert Guidance, and Community for
Business Buyers
Program Overview
This is the follow-up group coaching and community
program for graduates of the Business Buyer Advantage Online Training.
It’s designed to keep you on track, provide deal review support, and connect
you with a community of serious business buyers.
- Started
in 2018, formerly called Business Buyer Adventure.
- “Hop
On, Hop Off” model—join anytime, stay as long as you need.
- Average
group size: 20–25 active members.
- As
of August 2025: 25 current members
who, along with past members, have bought 70 businesses (many avoided
costly mistakes).
- Countless
bad deals avoided! An equally successful outcome.
- New
for 2025: AI-powered GPT tools let you search and learn from past
group meetings.
How It Works
The program is built around five components:
- Onboarding
– “The Next Step”
- Self-preparation
workbook and 12-module foundation program.
- One-on-one
call with David to create your acquisition search plan.
- Learning
from Others
- Weekly
Adventure calls (3 per month, live on Zoom).
- Archives
of 200+ recorded calls since 2018.
- Learn
from real-world examples, successes, and failures.
- Exclusive
Content
- Monthly
expert guest speakers (80+ recorded sessions).
- Deal
review videos.
- Member
spotlight calls.
- Weekly
“Friday Gram” with news, insights, and tips.
- Community
Support
- Private
Facebook group with ongoing peer and expert feedback.
- Member
interaction and shared experiences.
- Tools
& Resources
- Dealmaker
Dashboard & Business Roadmap tools.
- Industry
reports, private transaction data, and prospect lists.
- Searchable
notes on all past calls (binder or PDF version).
- AI-powered
GPTs to find insights from years of group conversations.
Membership Levels
- Explorer
- Access
to all group calls, spotlights, expert sessions, archives, and Facebook
group.
- DealMaker
- Everything
in Explorer + a private 30-minute monthly call with David.
- Email
feedback and 25% discount on additional private calls.
- Tycoon
- Unlimited
one-on-one calls with David.
- Includes
Business Buyer Analysis project support.
- Designed
for buyers actively working on live deals.
Who Should Join?
- Graduates
of the BBA Online Training (prerequisite).
- Serious
business buyers ready to take action.
- Business
owners looking to grow by acquisition (about half the group).
- People
with financial resources or assets to leverage responsibly.
Not suited for:
- Those
in personal financial crisis hoping for a “Hail Mary” fix.
- People
unwilling to put in steady effort over time.
Student Outcomes & Success
- 70+
businesses acquired by members since launch.
- Hundreds
of bad deals avoided, saving members time and money.
- Many
members credit the group for building their confidence and sharpening
their deal-making skills.
- Average
member tenure: 2+ years, with some participants active since 2018.
What Members Say
"The group gave me the courage to buy. Now K. and I
have freedom and responsibility that we are loving—and our business is growing
40%." — Pieter, Saskatchewan
"Being in the group already helped me avoid buying
something I shouldn’t have bought. I now better define what is a good fit for
me." — Marcelo, Toronto
"This is the single largest contributor affecting my
confidence and ability to achieve my goals." — Chris K., PA
"It’s not lonely anymore—I feel like there’s a whole
team supporting me as a buyer." — N.A., Australia (bought an
industrial business)
Why Choose This Program?
- Ongoing
accountability and guidance.
- Learn
from real deal stories, not theory.
- Expert
access + community of peers.
- Proven
track record: members buying businesses every year.
- Flexible
membership—join quarterly or annually, cancel anytime.
Learn More & Apply at www.BusinessBuyerAdventure.com
Book a free 22-minute call with David to see if you’re suited for this program:
https://calendly.com/dbarnett/adventure22
Build a Business That People Will
Want to Buy
Turn Your Business Into a Profitable, Transferable, and
Scalable Asset
Program Overview
This program is designed to help small business owners
create systems and structures that make their companies easier to run
today—and more valuable and sellable tomorrow.
First delivered as a live seminar and online since 2017,
this program has become David Barnett’s most popular workshop, taught to
entrepreneur-development organizations across North America. The 2024 update
includes new tools, templates, and recordings of live sessions.
Students receive:
- Lifetime
access to training
- Video
tutorials + downloadable audio versions
- Editable
support documents and worksheets
- Sample
organizational charts
- Excel
task-list tools for implementation
What’s Inside: The 13-Step Systemization Method
- Turn
your vision of the future into a plan for growth
- Translate
that plan into a practical operations system for today
- Build
accountability with org charts and job descriptions
- Create
onboarding systems to train staff faster
- Develop
performance review methods to improve productivity
- Introduce
process checklists and SOPs
- Use
metrics and dashboards to monitor progress
- Streamline
communications and reporting lines
- Identify
recurring problems and solve them permanently
- Build
backup systems to reduce owner dependence
- Optimize
for scalability and efficiency
- Make
your business attractive to buyers (transferable systems)
- Position
your company for your eventual exit—or for more free time now
Student Learning Outcomes
By completing this program, students will:
- Systematize
their business to run efficiently without constant owner involvement
- Improve
team performance through structured onboarding and accountability
- Identify
risks and opportunities more easily with clear reporting and
dashboards
- Increase
profitability and enjoyment of daily operations
- Make
their business transferable—easier to sell, finance, or pass on
- Gain
personal freedom by reducing reliance on themselves in day-to-day
operations
Who Should Enroll?
This program is designed for:
- Small
Business Owners who want to reduce chaos and owner-dependence
- Entrepreneurs
Planning to Exit who want to maximize value at sale
- Growth-Minded
Owners who want a more scalable, transferable business
- Franchisees
& Multi-location Operators who need systems to grow
- Newer
Entrepreneurs who want to “build it right” from the beginning
Not suited for:
- Owners
unwilling to document processes or empower staff
- Hobby
businesses that are not intended to grow or transfer
Why Choose This Program?
- Built
from real-world business brokerage and consulting experience
- Refined
through hundreds of live workshops since 2016
- Proven
to save time, reduce stress, and boost profitability
- Provides
the foundation for scaling or exiting successfully
- Always
includes lifetime access with updates
Learn More & Enroll:
www.EasySmallBizSystems.com
