A playbook for business owners getting ready to value, optimize, and sell. Custom-crafted by high-tier professionals, with the full set of plays to execute the sale. This is one of the most important decisions of your life. Have the right playbook to do it well.
The Real Cost of “Safe” Careers: A Tax Advisor’s Path from Big Four to Entrepreneur
In this episode of SME Playbook, host Spencer Wright talks with Dan Walowitz of Wallwitz Wealth (and returning guest Jake of Hudson Oaks) about moving from Brazil to the U.S. on a University of Utah scholarship and discovering why taxes are often a business owner’s largest overlooked expense. Dan shares how his father’s experiences with a system that didn’t reward entrepreneurship, combined with the limitations of pure compliance work at a Big Four firm, led him to start a practice focused on proactive, client-first planning using tax strategies and real estate. The conversation covers why speed and proactivity matter more than year-end scrambling, the value of playing creatively inside the rules, and how trusted advisors help owners navigate both the numbers and the personal side of building wealth.
Thank you for listening to The SMB Playbook. We hope you picked up a few sharper plays as you start prepping for your exit—because selling a business is not a pickup game, and the scoreboard is unforgiving if you wing it. This is a serious decision, and our job is to give you the information to run the right plays and execute on your goals. When you are ready to get your business valued and start drawing up the right plays for your exit, reach out at Exit-Engine.com
25 Sept 2026
Dad's Cooking, Time to go out to Dinner with BJ Thompson
SMB Playbook welcomes Exit Engine’s financer extraordinaire, BJ Thompson — the affable CFO with a Loki-adjacent sense of humor and a warehouse-airsoft origin story — to walk the books, the deals, and the people behind them. From a Salt Lake City childhood and a first job at a rifle manufacturer that turned inventory curiosity into a career, BJ traces the route through Westminster, a tax-class friendship with Ryan Reese, and the Spitz lunch that put the core Exit Engine roster on the field. The play he wants owners to run is simple and rare: don’t ramrod a sale, get the owner and the business ready first, cut the sandpaper-pants friction, and remember that numbers tell a story — but buyers also buy the person who built it.
Thank you for listening to The SMB Playbook. We hope you picked up a few sharper plays as you start prepping for your exit—because selling a business is not a pickup game, and the scoreboard is unforgiving if you wing it. This is a serious decision, and our job is to give you the information to run the right plays and execute on your goals. When you are ready to get your business valued and start drawing up the right plays for your exit, reach out at Exit-Engine.com
4 Sept 2026
The Central Spoke: Josh Freeman’s Playbook for an Exit-Optimized Business
Josh Freeman—first lawyer in the family, former wood-chip slinger, and the guy Spencer still keeps on estate docs—walks through the hero’s journey from a post-crash family-law grind to founding the remote-first Freeman Level firm and assembling Exit Engine. He breaks down why “sellable” is not the same as “exit-optimized,” how selling tired hands buyers the playbook, and why stacking M&A-savvy legal, tax, and ops talent turns a one-way liquidity event into a planned harvest instead of a fire sale. Get informed, get ready, get optimized—and start with a valuation snapshot at Exit-Engine.com before the next unsolicited offer lands.
Thank you for listening to The SMB Playbook. We hope you picked up a few sharper plays as you start prepping for your exit—because selling a business is not a pickup game, and the scoreboard is unforgiving if you wing it. This is a serious decision, and our job is to give you the information to run the right plays and execute on your goals. When you are ready to get your business valued and start drawing up the right plays for your exit, reach out at Exit-Engine.com
29 Aug 2026
Truth, Justice and America’s Part with Jake Rust
When Jake Rust left a larger firm to strike out on his own and build Hudson Oaks, he finally had the room to put clients first—an ethic he learned watching family members conduct business the right way and the wrong way. The Provo-born CFP carries that upbringing from a clean, contracted buyout of his father’s coin shop into exit planning that treats a sale as psychology, not a one-day fire sale. With one tidy Captain America part and a planner’s restraint, he makes the case that independence, documentation, and getting it right for the client are how the best outcomes get drawn up.
I’ll look up the podcast and ExitEngine so the footer matches the show’s voice and stays accurate.Confirming the show voice and the exact ExitEngine site so the footer matches.Recording the podcast and CTA details so later episode work stays consistent.Thank you for listening to The SMB Playbook. We hope you picked up a few sharper plays as you start prepping for your exit—because selling a business is not a pickup game, and the scoreboard is unforgiving if you wing it. This is a serious decision, and our job is to give you the information to run the right plays and execute on your goals. When you are ready to get your business valued and start drawing up the right plays for your exit, reach out at ExitEngine.com.
25 Aug 2026
Quietly Undeterred with Ryan Freeman
In this episode of the SMB Playbook, Spencer sits down with Ryan Freeman—one of the quiet architects behind Exit Engine—to unpack how a former BYU offensive lineman with a knack for turning propane tanks into gym equipment became a steady hand in the high-stakes world of business exits. From surviving two Achilles tears, a shredded shoulder, and a hundred-mile slog across the Salt Flats (complete with hailstorms and post-race body purges), Ryan reveals why preparing a company for sale feels a lot like training for an ultra: the real work happens long before the starting gun. Listeners walk away with practical wisdom on cleaning up data rooms, dodging the “skeletons” that kill deals, and why the smartest sellers treat their exit like a guided rim-to-rim-to-rim rather than a hopeful solo scramble.
12 Aug 2026
An Accountant's Accountant with Ryan Reese
In this episode of the SMB Playbook, Ryan Reese, managing partner of Milestone Advisors, shares how a modest tax practice grew into a 40-plus-person firm delivering full-spectrum accounting, controllership, and fractional CFO services. He discusses the partnership with BJ Thompson that followed an unsustainable workload, the firm’s flexible culture that lets team members shape their own schedules and compensation, and the competitive edge of near-instant client responsiveness. The conversation turns to Exit Engine, his collaboration with Josh Freeman that equips business owners to prepare for a premium sale—or simply build a stronger company—without waiting for a crisis to force the decision.
12 Aug 2026
Back In the Saddle with Dave Hinckley
We are dusting off the playbook for a new team. SMB Playbook is partnering with Exit Engine in order to provide the most comprehensive broker experience a business owner, buyer or seller could ask for. Right out of the gate, our first interview is with Dave Hinckley. Dave is a seasoned entrepreneur who comes from a family of business owners. He's seen things done the right way and now helps others follow the path. Get to know Dave as the first member of the team in this new series of episodes.
4 Nov 2025
The IDEAL Buyside Clients with Mike and Dan
Summary
In this episode of the SMB Playbook, hosts Spencer Wright and Tyler Harris engage with guests Mike and Dan, two corporate executives transitioning into entrepreneurship through business acquisition. The conversation explores their motivations, challenges, and the importance of networking and technology in the acquisition process. They discuss the complexities of working with brokers, the significance of understanding seller motivations, and the need for continuous learning and adaptation in the entrepreneurial journey. The episode emphasizes the value of corporate experience in running a business and the creative financing options available for aspiring business owners. This is going to be an ongoing topic on the show as we follow these two on the journey toward business ownership.
16 Oct 2025
Building Success: Hard Work and Family Values with Van Oakes
In this episode, Van Oakes shares his journey from a hardworking upbringing in rural Utah to becoming a successful entrepreneur and digital marketer. He discusses the importance of family, the lessons learned from his early work experiences, and how he transitioned into online marketing. Van reflects on his time with the Diesel Brothers, the creation of his silicone ring company, Tuff Ring, and his current venture, Goat Media. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the value of hard work, resilience, and the importance of setting a positive example for his children. He also gives some of the best father/parenting advice you can hear. Time to learn from a master
11 Sept 2025
We Want to do Cool Sh!t With Cool People with Ken Bretschneider and Jamey Anthony
In this episode of the SMB Playbook, hosts Spencer and Tyler welcome Ken Bretschneider and Jamey Anthony, founders of The Grid, an innovative racing experience center in Utah. The conversation explores their unique backgrounds, the transition from previous ventures to The Grid, and their vision for creating immersive entertainment experiences. They discuss the importance of technology, audience engagement, and the future of their business, including investment opportunities for interested parties. The episode highlights the creative synergy between the founders and their commitment to pushing the boundaries of entertainment.
18 Jul 2025
The Best Career Transition a Person Can Have With William Bubba Paris
In this conversation, Spencer interviews Bubba Paris, a former NFL player and current executive director of Donor Network West. They discuss Bubba's journey from being a professional athlete to his current role in organ donation, reflecting on the lessons learned through sports, the importance of teamwork, and the impact of giving back to the community. Bubba shares personal anecdotes about his life, the challenges he faced, and how he found purpose in helping others through organ donation.
To learn more about the Donor Network West Foundation and the work we do visit here:https://www.donornetworkwest.org/foundation/ (https://www.donornetworkwest.org/foundation/)
To make a financial contribution to the Donor Network West Foundation visit here:https://www.donornetworkwest.org/virtuous-page/ (https://www.donornetworkwest.org/virtuous-page/)
To Join us at our upcoming events visit here:https://www.donornetworkwest.org/get-involved/events/ (https://www.donornetworkwest.org/get-involved/events/)
To Stay Connected:
https://www.facebook.com/mydnwest/ (https://www.facebook.com/mydnwest/) (https://www.linkedin.com/company/donornetworkwest/)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/donornetworkwest/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/donornetworkwest/)
https://www.instagram.com/mydnwest/ (https://www.instagram.com/mydnwest/) (https://www.youtube.com/c/DonorNetworkWest)
https://www.youtube.com/c/DonorNetworkWest (https://www.youtube.com/c/DonorNetworkWest)
8 Jul 2025
To the Moon with Larry Ellis
Spencer sits down with Larry Ellis, Chief Strategy Officer of Swiss Rockets, discusses the innovative vaccine and cancer therapy technologies developed by the company. He shares insights into his background in finance and how he connected with the founder, Vladimir Samanovich. The discussion highlights the importance of effective communication, understanding clients, and the art of persuasion in business. Larry emphasizes the human connection in communication and the potential impact of their work on global health. If you are looking to get a yes in your business come listen to a master of the craft.
26 May 2025
Business Valuations...Are You Running It Right?
Business valuations can make or break your exit. Some things to consider on which play to use and how to get there. From our own experience with mistakes learned along the way to expert evaluations that will completely change your exit.
26 May 2025
Who Are We and What Are We Doing Here
Time to dust off the playbook and get a game plan. We are SMB Playbook your manual for business buying, selling and operation. We have hand crafted this playbook over 2 careers and a lifetime's worth of experince.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
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11 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 7 / 100
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