The Endgame Entrepreneurship™ Masterclass, launched by business transition expert Laurie Barkman, addresses a critical challenge facing small business owners: successfully exiting their companies. This online course targets entrepreneurs in the lower middle market, aiming to help them increase enterprise value and sell their businesses on their own terms. The timing is significant, as the Exit Planning Institute reports approximately 4.5 million small businesses, valued at $14 trillion, will face owner retirement over the next decade. However, only 20 percent of small businesses that attempt to sell actually succeed.
Barkman, known as The Business Transition Sherpa®, brings substantial experience to the program. As former CEO of a $100 million annual revenue company sold to a Fortune 50 firm, she understands business transitions firsthand. Her credentials include being a certified mergers and acquisition advisor, Amazon best-selling author, and host of the award-winning podcast Succession Stories. The masterclass curriculum consists of more than 70 lessons, 45 exercises, and 10 tools and assessments across three main sections: Personal and Financial Readiness, Measuring and Maximizing Value, and Scale, Succession, and Exit. These modules provide foundations in financial planning, mergers and acquisitions processes, and growth strategies.
The course addresses a significant gap in business education. While many entrepreneurs excel at starting and running businesses, exit planning often remains overlooked. With 45 percent of companies failing to reach their 5th anniversary according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, comprehensive exit planning becomes increasingly important. The masterclass incorporates real-world experiences through case studies and insights from other companies, giving participants practical understanding of exit challenges and opportunities. Additional resources include access to a peer-to-peer online forum, live mentor training, and monthly group coaching sessions led by business transition experts, available for 12 months at no extra cost for a limited time.
For HR vendors serving the small business market, this development signals growing demand for transition-related services and education. As millions of business owners approach retirement, effective exit planning becomes crucial for protecting enterprise value. The masterclass represents accessible, comprehensive training that could help more entrepreneurs successfully navigate business sales. Entrepreneurs can find more information about the Endgame Entrepreneurship Masterclass at https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com/course. The course offers flexibility with no content expiration, allowing busy business owners to learn at their own pace.
