Debra Robinson Law More Than Doubled in Value with the Help of a Certified Value Builder™

Debra Robinson

Owner, Debra Robinson Law

Debra Robinson owned and operated Debra Robinson Law for over twenty years. Her practice offered services for family law, estate planning, and wealth management.

Business Challenges

Having run a successful law firm for many years, Debra began entertaining the idea of retirement. She had put it off by a few years, but the birth of her grandchild unexpectedly accelerated her plans. Unsure where to turn, Debra did a Google search. It led her to a national advisor who looked promising and quickly engaged.

Debra worked with this advisor for six months but made no progress on selling. They even provided her with such a low valuation that she contemplated closing up shop and forgoing selling altogether. Frustrated, Debra needed a new advisor who could help her get the number she deserved. She examined her contact list and was surprised by what she found.

 

Working with a Certified Value Builder

Leafing through her network, Debra came across Victoria Collier, a previous acquittance. Victoria was a lawyer who owned her own firm and recently sold it. Her next venture was running an advisory practice called Victory Walk Coaching, where she helped law firm owners build valuable companies and get acquired.

Debra knew that Victoria was the right advisor to sell her business in their first meeting. Impressed with her process, Debra said, “In the first ten minutes, Victoria asked me the right probing questions about my business that let me know we were the perfect match.” Along with developing a personal synergy, Victoria’s recent experience with her firm gave Debra comfort. She was working with someone who had navigated similar waters.

They completed Debra’s Value Builder Score to understand the business’s value. This diagnostic questionnaire assesses the current business value based on eight metrics important to acquirers. When evaluated together, the 8 Key Drivers of Company Value provide owners with a score out of 100. Reflecting on this activity, Victoria said, “Debra was unique. She built her company the right way and was already very valuable.”

Looking at Debra’s score, Victoria pinpointed specific drivers that contributed to her company’s value. Debra developed a maintenance plan that clients could purchase at a monthly fee. Of all her annual revenue, roughly 30% came from recurring revenue—one of the 8 Key Drivers—generated through maintenance plans.

With reliable maintenance plans and processes in place to run smoothly, another key driver skyrocketed. Debra scored highly on Customer Score. Maintenance plans ensured her staff kept in touch with clients regularly. They were also trained to provide a consistent customer experience, regardless of who they interacted with. Impressed with what she saw, Victoria said, “Debra was a unicorn. She had the pieces in place that contributed to an incredibly valuable company. She had a turnkey business.”

In addition, Debra scored highly on her Hub & Spoke score, another of the 8 Key Drivers of Company Value. Hub & Spoke examines how reliant a business is on its owner. Debra Robinson Law was a self-sufficient firm. Debra began working four-day workweeks and training her employees to operate independently. She also developed detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for every critical process in the business.

Victoria had the arrows in her quiver to pitch the business: recurring revenue, no reliance on Debra, and extremely satisfied customers. With the Value Builder Report summarizing these key findings, Victoria had the confidence to list the company for almost three times more than the previous advisor suggested. Victoria found a willing buyer in a matter of months. Even better, they gave a full-cash offer.

Results

Rather than let a negative experience with a previous advisor deter her, Debra understood the importance of finding the right fit. With Victoria, she knew she had an advisor who deeply understood the industry and vouched to give Debra the exit she deserved. In the end, Debra Robinson Law sold for more than double what the previous advisor had predicted. Upon selling, Debra began transitioning the business to its new owner. In a few short months, she completely exited the company and began to spend her newfound time with her grandchild.

More Case Studies

M&A PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS COACH
Jennifer Ramos Expects Her Business to Double Next Year with The Value Builder System™

Jennifer Ramos is the CEO and founder of JR3 Consulting Group. JR3 helps business owners i…

BUSINESS COACH
Productizing Helped Paul Wirth Double his Close Rate and Increase Client Lifetime Value by 250%

Paul Wirth has over 35 years of experience in executive national leadership roles in finan…

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Susan Giddings improved close rate by 33% and increased profits by 27%

Susan Giddings is the founder and CEO of Susan Giddings Consulting. She has over 35 years …

BUSINESS BROKER
The Value Builder System™ Helps Indiana Business Advisors Sell 80% of Listings

Indiana Business Advisors (IBA) is Indiana’s largest business brokerage. They have sold ov…

ACCOUNTANT
Blue Sky Exit Planning Achieves a 60% Email Open Rate Without Lifting a Finger

Joseph Gitto is an accomplished senior finance, sales and operational executive, entrepren…

BUSINESS COACH
Denver Business Coach Increased Revenue per Client by 3X Leveraging One Tool

Steve Kohnke is the CEO of Denver Business Coach and has helped hundreds of owners build v…

BUSINESS COACH
The Value Builder System™ Helps Tom Jordan Save $650 a Month While Increasing Close Rate by 50%

Tom Jordan is the Chairman of Exodus Complink, based in San Antonio, Texas. He helps busin…

M&A PROFESSIONAL
Sunbelt Guatemala Is on Pace to Increase Lead Generation by 300% With The Value Builder System™

The Sunbelt Business Brokers Network is an international leader in mediation for the purch…

BUSINESS COACH
Gina Catalano Converts 40% of Workshop Attendees into Paying Clients with The Value Builder System™

Gina Catalano has been helping business owners grow their companies for over 20 years. She…

ACCOUNTANT
CPA Adds Consulting Services, Doubles Revenue with The Value Builder System™

As the COO of CPA firm Gheen & Co., Mark Tuggle helped provide a wide array of busines…

BUSINESS COACH
Peak Value CEO Saves Time and Earns Recurring Revenue Through Mastermind Groups

Chris Ayers is a Certified Value Builder™ with over 30 years of experience in sales…

FINANCIAL ADVISOR
MassMutual Now Has an Accurate Method for Determining Business Value

The MassMutual Financial Group is a Fortune 500 life insurance company providing life insu…

BUSINESS COACH
Execuity Increased Revenue by 300% After Implementing The Value Builder System™

Linda Ruffenach is the founder and chief strategist for Execuity, a consulting firm servin…

BUSINESS COACH
Peter Boolkah Accelerated his Sales & Marketing Funnel With The Value Builder System™

For the last 15 years, Peter Boolkah has served as the Global Trainer & MasterCOACH Di…

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Prosperity Plus Doubled their Revenue with The Value Builder System™

Jim Kahrs is the founder and president of Prosperity Plus, a management consultancy specia…


Copywriting Agency Owner Productized Her Service and Increased Recurring Revenue

In 2009, Anna Woolliscroft founded Market Avenue Limited, a marketing consultancy based in…


Air Free Duct Cleaning Increased Revenue by 50% in Its First Year Working with a Certified Value Builder™

In 2018, John Brummett and BJ Windhorst partnered to purchase Air Free Duct Cleaning. Toge…

BUSINESS COACH
Martin Williamson Converts 30% of Paid Assessments into Recurring Revenue

Martin Williamson is a Business Doctors advisor who helps SME business owners with strateg…


Danny Sleswick went from working 65 hours a week to 5 hours while increasing his company’s value by 83%

In 2008, Danny Sleswick decided to join his brother-in-law’s company, Image Cabinets, a ca…


The Owners of All About Bakery Equipment Increased Company Value by 28% While Improving Work–Life Balance

In 1996, David and Noela Tscheinig started All About Bakery Equipment, selling refurbished…

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Final Ascent Qualifies Leads 8x Faster with The Value Builder System™

Steve Conwell is the owner and CEO of Final Ascent, a business consulting firm that specia…

FINANCIAL ADVISOR
The Value Builder System™ Helped Mobius Financial Advisors Improve Their Bottom Line

Ray Croff is the CEO and president of Mobius Financial Advisors. Croff also serves as an a…

BUSINESS BROKER
BizNavigators Achieves a 70% Conversion Rate with The Value Builder System™

As co-owner and CEO of BizNavigators, Marla DiCarlo helps business owners prepare for a su…

M&A PROFESSIONAL
In 30 Months, Marigold Resources Helped 22 Business Owners Exit Using Value Builder System™

Founded in 2011, Marigold Resources is an Iowa-based M&A firm that provides business o…

BUSINESS COACH
The Selfassembled Network Uses The Value Builder System™ Content for the Entire Business Owner Journey

Glenn Grant is the co-founder and chief visionary of Selfassembled Ventures, a business ad…

M&A PROFESSIONAL
Dumas Capital Partners Finds Untapped Market with The Value Builder System™

Dumas Capital Partners is a boutique corporate finance firm that provides advisory service…


Tech Owner Doubled Revenue After Working with a Certified Value Builder™

In 2001 MRM Global launched as a digital printing company in Scotland. Ten years later, it…

BUSINESS COACH
Exit Strategy Group Reduced Qualifying Time From Months to Days

Kerry Boulton is the owner of Exit Strategy Group based out of Australia. Boulton’s main f…

BUSINESS COACH
GRG Momentum Leverages The Value Builder System™ For Over 1/3 of its Clients

As the founder and managing director of GRG Momentum, Geoff Green helps entrepreneurs buil…

BUSINESS COACH
The Value Builder System™ Helps Business Owners See The Big Picture

Bob Green is the owner of TAB (The Alternative Board) North Shore. TAB is modeled after a …

FINANCIAL ADVISOR
The Value Builder System™ Was Almost Too Impactful Too Quickly

Founded by Allen Harris in 2001, Berkshire Money Management (BMM) is a full-service money …

ACCOUNTANT
Beickman Advisory Group Earns Over 120% More Per Client as a Certified Value Builder™

Beickman Advisory Group provides personalized finance consulting to individuals and b…

M&A PROFESSIONAL
DBG Advisors Earns an Additional $5,000 a Month Using The Value Builder System™

Dr. L. Nolan Duck established DBG Advisors in 2006 and currently serves as the CEO. In the…

A value assessment toolset that helps advisors start more strategic conversations with business owners.