Thank you Eric. Your warm and candid stories obviously come from your genuine desire to connect with your clients and your years of taking the time to care for their businesses and their families. You discussed complex issues with ease by making them relatable from the point of view of someone who may be unsure of how to go about transitioning their business either to family or to a third party. Thank you for taking the time to educate us in a warm and humorous way. You made a potentially anxiety-ridden experience an actual pleasure.
Regards, Anthony (Financial Planner Co-Host)

This is just a note to follow-up on yesterday’s lunch and dinner events. You engaged the audience so well with personal allegories that resonated with each of them. And thank you for showing such nice solidarity with Maricel, Anthony and me. Much appreciated. I thought the “Safe Room” setting for our guests was particularly effective: we’ll set up another one soon.
Regards, Jody (Financial Planners Co-Hosts)

Have An Audience Of Seasoned Business Owners?


​Here's what I can do for them.

I will answer the 10 most important questions about selling or transitioning their company. And motivate them to move forward with the transition process.

Quick Facts: 65% of all businesses in Canada and the United States are owned by baby boomers. Anyone born between 1946 and 1964. So this is a pretty big audience. 80% do not have a plan in place or know how to transition. Most are counting on the sale of their company to fund their retirement.

The need is there. Can we work together?
As a speaker I will:
Show up ahead of time and ask how I can help.
Speak to attendees pre and post conference.
Share conference feedback with organizers.
Be flexible with schedule changes and time allotments.
Be ready to fill in for another scheduled speaker.

Sample Presentation - Custom Available

1. For Business Owners 'Meet the Author' Host Overview

It's Not Easy Transitioning An SMB/Family Business
Help Owners Sell Their Business for 3 x More, 3 x Faster

INTRODUCTION
Congratulations,  you have taken the first step in assisting your business Owner Clients, Prospects or Members in addressing the single most important sale they will ever make. And the one they are least prepared for.

​WHY BRING THIS EVENT TO YOUR AUDIENCE?
Transitioning a business is a marathon not a sprint. There are many things an Owner can/should do to get the business ready for transition and as desirable as possible for a Buyer.
 
Equally important is for the Owner to prepare themselves for what will be a rollercoaster ride for them both personally and professionally.

As the Owner of a business, Family or otherwise, they may find themselves being asked the big question by one or more of the following; partner, advisors, spouse, children, staff, competitors, suppliers etc. Or all of the above. When are they planning to sell or transition? It's a good question, not easy to answer though.

Like many Owners, they will quickly realize this is not a simple thing to deal with. There is so much going on in their head that the answer is way more complicated than others might think. So where should they start?  The goal is to transition smoothly, as quickly as the Owner wants, and to sell for as much as they can under the best terms that satisfy their requirements. Including but not limited to financial. There is so much more to the deal than money. Reaching the goal of a successful transition is never easy.
 
This event is ideal for your Clients, Prospects or Members to start the process of getting themselves and the business ready for transition? How about helping them dip their toes in the water with my presentation live at your next Conference, Regular Meeting or Lunch & Learn?
 
Owners need to see some light at the end of the tunnel. There will be a sale or transition one way or another. They are best advised to be prepared.
 
FORMAT
  • Presentation is 45 minutes, could go longer with Q&A if you like.
  • You supply 3 hot buttons to promote your business and Eric will seamlessly integrate them into his presentation.
  • All guests receive a copy of 'Moving Forward'.
 
WHO SHOULD YOU INVITE?
  • This talk is designed for Owners thinking about selling their company, 'Family Business' or otherwise. And it's especially for those Owners who are not considering selling, but should be.
  • Additionally an Owner may wish to bring their spouse, partner or family members.

​PAIN POINTS OWNERS ARE TYPICALLY FEELING
  • Confused, Overwhelmed, Sad, Pressured, At a Disadvantage, Unsure, Nervously Excited

​KEY QUESTIONS OWNERS WILL GET ANSWERED
  1. How do I know when it's time to consider selling or transitioning my or our company?
  2. How do I know if I'm personally ready to transition?
  3. Is passing the business down to the next generation a good idea?
  4. Should I increase the value of my company before selling?
  5. What are Buyers looking for in a business?
  6. How will I know if my company is really ready to sell?
  7. How can I sell for more?
  8. How much competition is there from other Sellers?
  9. How do I get my management team in place and ready?
  10. What will I do with myself after the transition?
 
NEXT STEPS
  • Visit www.ericgilboord.com and download a free pdf of Eric's book 'Moving Forward'.
  • Review some videos and watch Eric in front of an audience or being interviewed about SMB/Family Business and transition.
  • Pick a date to host a Meet the Author event at your office or a location of your choice.
  • Contact us to clear the date.
  • Order copies of 'Moving Forward' to give your guests. Minimum 100 books ($15 + HST each) to be ordered by host. Customized to you. Use for the event and after.
  • Promote the event to your business Owner Customers, Prospects and Members.
 
We will promote your event to our database of 9000+ business Owners and our extensive social media connections.
​

For (Family) Business Owners
21 Tips in 21 Minutes

Topics Covered in this interview.
  • Much older owners are now looking to get out.
  • Next generation may have screwed up.
  • Niche vs foreign commodity competition.
  • Automation and leading edge technology.
  • Innovation comes from established small niche businesses.
  • Realizing opportunity currently under your roof.
  • Sales and Marketing to go to the next level.
  • Sell 70% of your businesses, work with the new owners and enjoy a huge windfall on your remaining 30%.
  • Buyers are looking for unsexy below the radar companies.​
  • Buying platform companies.
  • Protecting intergenerational wealth.
  • Family businesses, ups and downs.
  • Runaway bride.
  • Fathers and daughters.
  • Selling to your children.
  • Families act the same in your business as in your home.
  • Entitlement issues.
  • Lots of options for Owners to exit.
  • Work back from what's in the best interest of the Owner.
  • You don't know what you don't know.
  • Surround yourself with an experienced team.
There will be some interesting
​surprises along the way.
When you 'Get The Triple Effect' you'll
​enjoy life changing money.
Owners need to know the many
​options for Selling or Transitioning.
Eric is informative, stimulating and entertaining.
I liked Eric’s style of presentation.
Our group got it quickly and easily.
Eric is right inside my head.
Eric’s session was rated number one in all categories.
Eric has an excellent understanding of his subject.
Eric shares his substantial knowledge and wisdom openly in a friendly, informative, and comfortable manner. ​

Eric Gilboord
Will Absolutely, 
​Light A Fire Within
​Family Business Owners
Or
Show Trusted Advisors Why They Need To Earn A Seat At The Table
La Connexion October 26, 2017 - 15 Minutes
​Eric speaks to a group of Family Business Owners on transition and the many options they have to sell.
Eric speaks with experiential authority and excels in family business transition planning. He is also a passionate advocate for corporate responsibility and employer ethics. 

Eric shares his substantial knowledge and wisdom openly in a friendly, informative, and comfortable manner. 

​His presentation at the La Connexion plenary session was widely appreciated by the audience comprising entrepreneurs, professional practitioners, and executives.

Asif, Karin, David – Chairs, La Connexion

Trusted Financial Advisors

2. For Trusted Advisors

When It Comes to Helping with Their Transition, You Need to Earn a Seat at the Table

Who should attend?
1. You are a trusted advisor and currently service Small and Medium-sized Business Owner clients or you work directly for an SMB Owner.
2. You are family or a friend of an SMB Owner.
3. You work for or advise medium or large companies trying to acquire SMB businesses.

What topics will be covered?
1. Understanding the mindset of Owner Operators. How they think and feel about transition.
2. Helping Owners get the transition conversation started.
3. How Owners could and should increase the value of a business by 300% before selling. What is standing in the way and what to do about it.

What will participants learn?
You'll get inside the head of 'Family Business' Owners.

Advisors, Family or Friends are challenged to understand and help 'Family Business' Owners, stuck on how to start transitioning their company and themselves. You can't help someone, in this kind of situation, until you really understand what is going on at their core. There are good reasons for their delaying the inevitable. Advisors need to understand them and know what to do to overcome the many obstacles to a successful transition.

Help make yourself even more valuable to your clients, boss, family or friends and make sure you have a seat at the table during and ideally after the transition process. Transitions are rarely easy and usually a time consuming, frustrating experience for both sides. Help smooth out the process for both the Seller and the acquisition team.

Longer Samples

Past Events

TheGAAP.NET / TFN
La Connexion
TD Canada Trust internal event.
Canada Post internal event.
Orchard, Hiltz and McCliment Inc. paid internal event.
Fifth Third Bank guest speaker.
Casa Loma Networking Group public event.
Learning Annex paid multiple speaker.
Centennial College paid speaker.
Town of Richmond Hill multiple paid keynote speaker.
East Coast Marketing Conference paid keynote speaker.
Seneca College paid speaker.
Women Entrepreneurs of Canada guest speaker.
North York Chamber of Commerce guest speaker.
National Spa and Pool Institute paid keynote speaker.
ConsultNet paid speaker.
NYCO Minerals paid keynote speaker and brainstorming leader.
Association of Independent Consultants guest keynote speaker.

MOJORADIO AM640 with host Scruff Connors guest speaker.
Entrepreneurs Association guest speaker.
Canadian Franchise Association guest speaker.
Ministry of Economic Development paid speaker.
Enterprise Toronto multiple paid keynote speaker.
Learning Channel On Air guest speaker.
Direct Marketing Association guest keynote speaker.
Professional Photographers of Ontario paid speaker.
Canadian Tamil Chamber of Commerce guest keynote speaker.
Canadian Information Processing Society guest keynote speaker.
Canadian Association of Mining Equipment/Services for Export paid speaker.
Various Client Sales Forces, Sales Agents,  Franchisees, Distributors paid speaker.

Testimonials

Eric is informative, stimulating and entertaining.
​John Baird, Managing Director CAMESE
I don't know how he does it, but Eric is right inside my head. Many Business Owners
I liked Eric’s style of presentation, his examples and his attentiveness to the needs of each of the participants.  
​Mary Knoll, Toronto
Our group got it quickly and easily. Eric speaks in plain English, not a lot of fancy buzzwords.
Tony Parsons, Richmond Hill
It was a pleasure meeting you yesterday. To say I learned a lot would be an understatement. I'm still deciding as to which direction I want to go in but you opened my eyes and  forced me to re-visit options that I had previously discarded. Scott Newlands, NMI Technical Services Inc.
According to our attendee questionnaires Eric’s session was rated number one in all categories including best presentation and most useful session.
East Coast Marketing Conference, Marketeast - Jon Denman, Denex Group
We went home after Eric's event and immediately started using his techniques. We realized improvements in our customer acquisition and relationships right away. 
Pat and Jack Buckler, Toronto
Eric has an excellent understanding of his subject. He has a lot of knowledge to share. He’s very easy to listen to and has great examples to use of his experiences.
Dave Stell, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade