Cashman Comments
Innovation – With or Without Us
By Maurie Cashman | Guest Column Innovation happens every day in companies and classrooms, on farms and athletic fields throughout the Corridor. An innovation is different from an invention and is defined as a new method, idea or product. (This article appeared in the May 30,2019 edition of the Corridor Business Journal) Breakthrough innovation builds […]
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What keeps Iowa farmland values steady?
By Ben Isaacson and Maurie Cashman / Guest Column Corridor Business Journal The demand for food due to population growth and rising standards of living in developing countries is …
Read More »Trade war, tariffs affect business valuation
Reprinted from the January 22nd, 2019 Corridor Business Journal. By Maurie Cashman / Guest Column Tariffs and trade have an impact on your busiÂness, whether you feel it directly or …
Read More »Anatomy of Our Merger
Every business transaction has an anatomy. The anatomy of each party needs to fit and work well together to achieve the goals of the new organism. Aspen Grove Investments merged …
Read More »Aspen Grove Investments and Agri-Management Services Merge
MARION, Iowa—Aspen Grove Investments, Inc., of Cedar Rapids, has merged with Agri-Management Services, of Marion, and the merged company has purchased Growthland Ag Realty, of Humboldt. The resulting company will …
Read More »Lengthen Your Runway
You may believe you have a long runway. But business owners face challenges when they plan to stay in their business forever. Even if that is your plan, creating an …
Read More »Fathers and Sons
Business transfers between fathers and sons are known to be among the most difficult to navigate. We do not typically see the same issues in “Mother-daughterâ€, “Mother-Son†or “Father-Daughter†businesses. …
Read More »2018 Professional Farm Manager of the Year
One of my prized clients was recognized last week in Phoenix as the Professional Farm Manager of the Year. I have been working with Dick Isaacson and his son, Ben, …
Read More »Valuation Trends
I am often asked about valuation trends by business owners seeking to have their business valued for a variety of reasons from planning for ownership transition to contemplating selling their …
Read More »Processes Drive Value
Processes drive business value and business value is a key element in a successful ownership transition. Jen and Dylan Campbell, owners of a construction company with $6million in annual revenue, …
Read More »Performance Standards In Family Business Transfers
Performance standards can be utilized in a way that keeps both a family and its values intact. Maintaining family harmony begins with setting your objectives and then creating and communicating …
Read More »Recessions Impact Ownership Transition
Recessions can have a major impact on your ownership transition plan if you haven’t properly assessed the effect of an economic downturn on your business. You can take steps to …
Read More »Detecting Business Fraud
By Maurie Cashman Business fraud isn’t as rare as you might think. Two companies that have experienced fraud losses have approached me this month alone. It’s important that you know …
Read More »Retention Compensation Plans—Please Stay!
A successful retention pay strategy isn’t merely a giveaway for tenure By Rob Rogers What is Retention Compensation? One component of executive and senior leadership compensation that has seen significant …
Read More »Four Elements to Retention Plans for Key Employees
Key employees remaining with the company can be the key to getting the best deal when selling your business. Without such management your ownership transition may be more difficult. One …
Read More »Selling Your Company Is A Process
By Maurie Cashman Selling your business is a process. It is not like selling real estate. Confidentiality is maintained so that employees, customers and suppliers don’t know that the business …
Read More »Six Crucial Factors to Sell Your Business
By Maurie Cashman There are crucial parts of your business that should be addressed before you try to sell. Last week we discussed the fact that your business value may …
Read More »Your Business Value May Be Increasing
By Maurie Cashman Your business value may be increasing and it may have little to do with anything you are specifically doing. The new tax law, combined with some specific …
Read More »Cost of Capital
By Maurie Cashman The cost of capital for a business is a critical measurement that every business owner should know how to evaluate. It is one of the leading causes …
Read More »Pepperdine Annual Cost of Capital Survey
By Maurie Cashman The Pepperdine Annual Cost of Capital is a survey that I have participated in for several years. It contains interesting information about the expectations and and experience …
Read More »Key Employee Tax Considerations With Stock Bonus Plans
Minimizing owner taxes is always an important component of Ownership Transition Planning, but when using stock bonuses, we also consider the key employee’s taxes. In “Stock Bonus Plans Have Many …
Read More »Stock Bonus Plans Have Many Advantages
By Maurie Cashman Stock bonus plans have many advantages over traditional employee incentive plans, which are designed to motivate employees to work smarter and harder. Last week we discussed how …
Read More »Retaining Ownership of Your Business After You Leave It
By Maurie Cashman Retaining ownership of a business while backing away from the daily management is a question we often get from owners. They wonder if, rather than exiting, they …
Read More »The Problem with Sales Comparables
By Maurie Cashman Sales comparables present several problems when used to calculate value multiples and business valuation. The Direct Market Data Method (DMDM) is one of the methods business valuators …
Read More »Are Your Advisors Advising?
By Maurie Cashman Advisors are hired to do one thing – advise. Blindly relying on your advisors, no matter who they are, is not always in your best interest. A …
Read More »Accounts Receivable Management: 11Thoughts to Add Value to Your Business
By Maurie Cashman Accounts receivable management relates to business value. Collection of accounts receivable requires diligence on the part of management, and accountability by the right people in your organizations. …
Read More »Blindspot- It’s Not All About You
By Maurie Cashman A client asked me what blindspots he had about his business. The first one I gave him I give to most owners – It is not all …
Read More »Lakeside Has Acquired NorthStar
Lakeside Products, LLC has acquired the assets of NorthStar Plastics and Manufacturing, LLC Lakeside Products is an Iowa-based family run company offering breeder and …
Read More »Jumping On a Flying Plane
By Maurie Cashman Planning and executing an ownership transition can be like jumping on a flying plane. I remembered that today as I worked with a couple of long-term clients. …
Read More »To Sell or Not to Sell?
By Maurie Cashman Deciding whether to sell your business and if so, when, is one of the toughest decisions a business owner will ever make. It’s a similar crossroads to …
Read More »Tax Reform – Issues for Your Business
By Maurie Cashman The Republican Caucus will release its tax reform proposal tomorrow. Below is a synopsis of the tax issues you should be aware of that can affect your …
Read More »Importance of Value Drivers
What are Value Drivers and why are they so important to your business? Value Drivers are the various characteristics of a business that buy-out experts believe drive increasing business value. …
Read More »Private Business Valuation Trends – Why?
By Maurie Cashman Private business valuation trends continue to provide information that should be of interest and concern to small and mid-sized business owners. It is generally accepted in the …
Read More »What Is My Business Worth?
By Maurie Cashman “How much is my business worth?” For many owners, the answer to this one question determines their ability and eagerness to leave their companies. Once we have …
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