The Entrepreneur’s Exit Playbook: Real-World Strategies for Scaling, Preparing, and Selling a Business

You built the company. Now it’s time to build your legacy. The Entrepreneur’s Exit Playbook is the definitive, founder-first guide to preparing for and executing a successful business sale—from the first valuation conversation to the final wire hitting your account. Written by serial entrepreneur and M&A advisor Kristopher B. Jones, this book combines decades of hard-earned insight, tactical frameworks, and real-world case studies to help you exit on your terms—and win beyond the deal. Whether you’re bootstrapped, VC-backed, or somewhere in between, this playbook will give you the tools, language, and mindset to navigate the M&A process like a pro—even if it’s your first time. You’ll learn: ✅ What makes a business truly “sellable”—and what buyers really want
✅ How to optimize your financials, team, and systems before going to market
✅ What valuation drivers and deal structures mean for your real payout
✅ How to navigate negotiations, term sheets, earn-outs, and equity rollovers
✅ The 10 most common deal killers—and how to avoid them
✅ How to manage your mindset, identity, and money after the exit
✅ And how to avoid the painful, expensive mistakes most founders make But this isn’t theory—it’s play-by-play.
You’ll find deep dives on cap table modeling, assembling your deal team, building your data room, and surviving due diligence without losing momentum. You’ll also hear authentic stories from Kristopher’s own journey—like selling Pepperjam to eBay, negotiating equity at French Girls App, and advising dozens of founders through 8-figure exits via his firm, Legacy Advisors. This book is for founders who want more than just a liquidity event.
It’s for those who want to build something lasting—financially, professionally, and personally. You only sell your company once.
Make sure you do it right. Read more