The Multiple You Want Isn't Earned. It's Built.
I help precision manufacturing and machining owners build platform value before exit, combining structural repositioning with disciplined acquisition execution.
On $1.5M in earnings, the gap between operator pricing and platform pricing is often $4 million to $6 million at close.
Gerald Meunier, Founder of Exit Authority.
Not a broker. No commissions.
Your Outcome: A Different Valuation Category
Businesses that complete structured repositioning before going to market earn offer multiples 71% higher on average* than the unprepared, according to Value Builder System™ research. When disciplined acquisitions are added, the outcome changes category entirely.
Platform pricing runs 8x to 12x. Operator pricing runs 4x to 5x. On $1.5M in EBITDA, that gap is $6 million to $10 million at close.
Most owners discover what buyers will discount when it is too late to fix it. The work below is designed to prevent that.
*Value Builder System™ research, based on analysis of thousands of SME *transactions.
Most exits get discounted long before the deal.
Buyers don't just evaluate EBITDA. They underwrite structural risk.
If you're planning to exit in the next 1 to 4 years, the real question isn't: What's my business worth? It's: What will buyers discount, and what can we fix before they do?
​Common structural discounts in machining and industrial businesses:
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Heavy OEM concentration or single-program exposure
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Owner-led quoting, relationships, or operational oversight
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Reporting that won't withstand Quality of Earnings scrutiny
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Margin volatility tied to capacity swings or input pricing
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Limited management depth beyond the founder
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Single-facility dependency
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No integration track record if scale expansion is required
WHO THIS IS FOR
You’re a fit if:
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You want a premium outcome, not just a transaction.
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The business still runs through you more than a buyer would prefer.
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You're open to structural change, including disciplined bolt-ons when they meaningfully shift valuation category.
What this work actually delivers
You Gain:
Value Gap Clarity
Where you are today, and what must change to shift valuation tier.
Structural Discount Plan
The specific risks buyers underwrite, and how to remove or mitigate them.
Diligence-Ready Positioning
Clean financials, clear narrative, and defensible numbers.
Acquisition Discipline
Defined thesis, , no-go rules, financeability guardrails, and integration standards.
The Exit Multiplier™ Methodology
From owner-dependent to buyer-attractive platform.
Phase I: Diagnostic Clarity
Identify structural discounts. Quantify valuation category. Establish sequencing.
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Phase II: Structural Value Acceleration
Reduce owner dependency. Strengthen reporting. Improve predictability. Mitigate concentration and operational fragility.
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Phase III: Strategic Acquisition Execution
Bolt-ons evaluated through financeability, integration capacity, and category shift potential, not deal enthusiasm.
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Phase IV: Platform Exit Preparation
Enter market buyer-ready, diligence-proof, and positioned to negotiate from strength.
We sequence improvements the way buyers evaluate value. Bolt-ons are used as accelerators, not shortcuts.
What owners value most
“After exploring a sale and receiving disappointing offers, we realized the issue wasn't earnings. It was positioning. Gerald clarified our value gap, strengthened reporting, and helped us execute a disciplined acquisition that improved our customer mix. Buyers later evaluated us as a stronger platform, not a legacy operator.”
Manufacturing Owner​​
Why owners choose this approach
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A numbers-driven view of valuation reality
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Direct clarity on what buyers will discount
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Execution focus, not slide decks
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Discipline around acquisitions, not deal enthusiasm
How engagements typically begin
Most owners start with a structured Value Gap + Readiness discussion.
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If aligned, we begin with:
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Diagnostic Clarity (1 to 2 weeks)
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or the 10-Day Structural Positioning Sprint
From there, work progresses through sequenced value acceleration.
Structured. Direct. Buyer-focused.
FAQ
1) Are you a broker?
No. I don't take commissions. My role is to increase enterprise value before you sell.
2) Do I need to acquire another business?
No. Bolt-ons are evaluated through financeability, integration capacity, and category shift potential. They are used only when they strengthen valuation category.
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3) What happens on the Readiness Call?
A structured 30-minute conversation clarifying timeline, buyer discounts, valuation tier, and next logical step.