90 Minds Community

SERIOUS question - What Is My Client Base Worth?

For the diminishing # of small operators or for the mid-size independent operators, what are some ways to value your business so that you maximize the sale?  It may come as a surprise to a few people, but the average reseller is over 50 and nearing a point where they want to step back and smell the roses.  @Gary Feldman - you sold your business in recent years, what were the factors involved to value it?  Of course it helps if you have employees.  What are other factors?  If you were assimilated into a larger collective, was there a provision for any payout after you left?  Thinking you will live forever is NOT an option.  Do you wait until SS FRA (66 yrs, 6 months)?  Waiting until you cross over the Jordan does not give your heirs much leverage!!!!

Sage's long-term approach to Sage 100 does not bode well.  Time to start planning while there is value in the client base!

Great question. I believe there are many ways to value our businesses.  Are all customers in service agreements, by the hour, by the project, a combination?  What's the product mix ... Support, custom reports, outsourced services, commission, software license, hardware ( I hope not).  Do you have a lot of customer turnover? What's the average years a customer has been with you?  Terms you will accept?  Payout over 5 years based on an earn out ... For example a percent if gross profit of customers at the date of sale. 

SERIOUS question - What Is My Client Base Worth?

For the diminishing # of small operators or for the mid-size independent operators, what are some ways to value your business so that you maximize the sale?  It may come as a surprise to a few people, but the average reseller is over 50 and nearing a point where they want to step back and smell the roses.  @Gary Feldman - you sold your business in recent years, what were the factors involved to value it?  Of course it helps if you have employees.  What are other factors?  If you were assimilated into a larger collective, was there a provision for any payout after you left?  Thinking you will live forever is NOT an option.  Do you wait until SS FRA (66 yrs, 6 months)?  Waiting until you cross over the Jordan does not give your heirs much leverage!!!!

Sage's long-term approach to Sage 100 does not bode well.  Time to start planning while there is value in the client base!

Sounds like you would make a great moderator.,.........

Great question. I believe there are many ways to value our businesses.  Are all customers in service agreements, by the hour, by the project, a combination?  What's the product mix ... Support, custom reports, outsourced services, commission, software license, hardware ( I hope not).  Do you have a lot of customer turnover? What's the average years a customer has been with you?  Terms you will accept?  Payout over 5 years based on an earn out ... For example a percent if gross profit of customers at the date of sale. 

SERIOUS question - What Is My Client Base Worth?

For the diminishing # of small operators or for the mid-size independent operators, what are some ways to value your business so that you maximize the sale?  It may come as a surprise to a few people, but the average reseller is over 50 and nearing a point where they want to step back and smell the roses.  @Gary Feldman - you sold your business in recent years, what were the factors involved to value it?  Of course it helps if you have employees.  What are other factors?  If you were assimilated into a larger collective, was there a provision for any payout after you left?  Thinking you will live forever is NOT an option.  Do you wait until SS FRA (66 yrs, 6 months)?  Waiting until you cross over the Jordan does not give your heirs much leverage!!!!

Sage's long-term approach to Sage 100 does not bode well.  Time to start planning while there is value in the client base!

Do you bill in advance? Do you bill on a monthly subscription? Do you offer terms? If so, what's the average days to outstanding?  Any write-offs each year? What percent of receivables are over 30 days?

Sounds like you would make a great moderator.,.........

Great question. I believe there are many ways to value our businesses.  Are all customers in service agreements, by the hour, by the project, a combination?  What's the product mix ... Support, custom reports, outsourced services, commission, software license, hardware ( I hope not).  Do you have a lot of customer turnover? What's the average years a customer has been with you?  Terms you will accept?  Payout over 5 years based on an earn out ... For example a percent if gross profit of customers at the date of sale. 

SERIOUS question - What Is My Client Base Worth?

For the diminishing # of small operators or for the mid-size independent operators, what are some ways to value your business so that you maximize the sale?  It may come as a surprise to a few people, but the average reseller is over 50 and nearing a point where they want to step back and smell the roses.  @Gary Feldman - you sold your business in recent years, what were the factors involved to value it?  Of course it helps if you have employees.  What are other factors?  If you were assimilated into a larger collective, was there a provision for any payout after you left?  Thinking you will live forever is NOT an option.  Do you wait until SS FRA (66 yrs, 6 months)?  Waiting until you cross over the Jordan does not give your heirs much leverage!!!!

Sage's long-term approach to Sage 100 does not bode well.  Time to start planning while there is value in the client base!

SERIOUS question - What Is My Client Base Worth?

For the diminishing # of small operators or for the mid-size independent operators, what are some ways to value your business so that you maximize the sale?  It may come as a surprise to a few people, but the average reseller is over 50 and nearing a point where they want to step back and smell the roses.  @Gary Feldman - you sold your business in recent years, what were the factors involved to value it?  Of course it helps if you have employees.  What are other factors?  If you were assimilated into a larger collective, was there a provision for any payout after you left?  Thinking you will live forever is NOT an option.  Do you wait until SS FRA (66 yrs, 6 months)?  Waiting until you cross over the Jordan does not give your heirs much leverage!!!!

Sage's long-term approach to Sage 100 does not bode well.  Time to start planning while there is value in the client base!

SERIOUS question - What Is My Client Base Worth?

For the diminishing # of small operators or for the mid-size independent operators, what are some ways to value your business so that you maximize the sale?  It may come as a surprise to a few people, but the average reseller is over 50 and nearing a point where they want to step back and smell the roses.  @Gary Feldman - you sold your business in recent years, what were the factors involved to value it?  Of course it helps if you have employees.  What are other factors?  If you were assimilated into a larger collective, was there a provision for any payout after you left?  Thinking you will live forever is NOT an option.  Do you wait until SS FRA (66 yrs, 6 months)?  Waiting until you cross over the Jordan does not give your heirs much leverage!!!!

Sage's long-term approach to Sage 100 does not bode well.  Time to start planning while there is value in the client base!

This is a great question, and for the group's longer-term survival, there must be an emphasis on why someone would join 90 Minds instead of just remaining inside their own organization's Teams chats.

• Surveys - we would all benefit from knowing the relative satisfaction with ISVS/integrations and other processes.
• Is Sage 100 2023 "safe" to recommend? 
• Pros and Cons of WO to Production Management
• To piggyback on the "how can I get more value," perhaps we should also ask what would increase regular participation. Why do people join the group only to ring the fire alarm once and alert the bucket brigade that one of their implementations is "on fire"? 
• Nothing is more frustrating to me than to happen across a thread that starts with "I'm having a problem with XYZ integration/technology" and instantly see replies with members sharing similar experiences that go back weeks or months. How do we get those experiences posted ASAP, not weeks or months later? There's very little value to me in reading about something after-the-fact ( I can get that on the SageKB )

Agree with @Wayne Schulz , based on the active posters, I would guess there are about 23 people in MOTM.  Are we the unpaid support staff of the group?

------------------------------
Jeff Schwenk
Bottomline Software, Inc.
(540) 221-4444
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2023 10:53
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Lunch and learn ideas!

This is a great question, and for the group's longer-term survival, there must be an emphasis on why someone would join 90 Minds instead of just remaining inside their own organization's Teams chats.

• Surveys - we would all benefit from knowing the relative satisfaction with ISVS/integrations and other processes.
• Is Sage 100 2023 "safe" to recommend? 
• Pros and Cons of WO to Production Management
• To piggyback on the "how can I get more value," perhaps we should also ask what would increase regular participation. Why do people join the group only to ring the fire alarm once and alert the bucket brigade that one of their implementations is "on fire"? 
• Nothing is more frustrating to me than to happen across a thread that starts with "I'm having a problem with XYZ integration/technology" and instantly see replies with members sharing similar experiences that go back weeks or months. How do we get those experiences posted ASAP, not weeks or months later? There's very little value to me in reading about something after-the-fact ( I can get that on the SageKB )

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT

I have not looked at the numbers recently, but from my understanding participation is increasing.  With the changes in platform and the transitions of MAS90 to Sage 100 and Sage's focus on Intacct, the debacle with Socialcast and the learning curve on Higher Logic, we definitely lost some momentum within the group.  However, the MOTM has continued to be great and is clearly now the premier event for Sage 100 focused resellers. 

The new membership committee is working on a number of ideas to make 90Minds more valuable and active for all.  This needs to include those of us who dabble with Intacct, Acumatica and other products (like me with SAP).  The previous lunch and learns led by members about the products they picked up were invaluable to me in keeping up with the competition.   I remember at a Sage meeting a while back Bill Hammer compared SAP B1 to BWG.  He changed his tune when I showed it to him.  It is easy to lose focus on things outside our areas of expertise and this is another area where 90 Minds can increase value to its members without losing focus on what made us who we are.

------------------------------
Gary Feldman
I-Business Network
Marietta GA
16786270646
http://www-i-bn.net
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2023 13:59
From: Jeff Schwenk
Subject: Lunch and learn ideas!

Agree with @Wayne Schulz , based on the active posters, I would guess there are about 23 people in MOTM.  Are we the unpaid support staff of the group?

------------------------------
Jeff Schwenk
Bottomline Software, Inc.
(540) 221-4444


Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2023 10:53
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Lunch and learn ideas!

This is a great question, and for the group's longer-term survival, there must be an emphasis on why someone would join 90 Minds instead of just remaining inside their own organization's Teams chats.

• Surveys - we would all benefit from knowing the relative satisfaction with ISVS/integrations and other processes.
• Is Sage 100 2023 "safe" to recommend? 
• Pros and Cons of WO to Production Management
• To piggyback on the "how can I get more value," perhaps we should also ask what would increase regular participation. Why do people join the group only to ring the fire alarm once and alert the bucket brigade that one of their implementations is "on fire"? 
• Nothing is more frustrating to me than to happen across a thread that starts with "I'm having a problem with XYZ integration/technology" and instantly see replies with members sharing similar experiences that go back weeks or months. How do we get those experiences posted ASAP, not weeks or months later? There's very little value to me in reading about something after-the-fact ( I can get that on the SageKB )

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT

BTDTGTTS WRT Sage 300, Acumatica expansion. Any thinking that "if we open a forum, they will come" has been tried and IMO disproven. There's a lot more to building community.

I have not looked at the numbers recently, but from my understanding participation is increasing.  With the changes in platform and the transitions of MAS90 to Sage 100 and Sage's focus on Intacct, the debacle with Socialcast and the learning curve on Higher Logic, we definitely lost some momentum within the group.  However, the MOTM has continued to be great and is clearly now the premier event for Sage 100 focused resellers. 

The new membership committee is working on a number of ideas to make 90Minds more valuable and active for all.  This needs to include those of us who dabble with Intacct, Acumatica and other products (like me with SAP).  The previous lunch and learns led by members about the products they picked up were invaluable to me in keeping up with the competition.   I remember at a Sage meeting a while back Bill Hammer compared SAP B1 to BWG.  He changed his tune when I showed it to him.  It is easy to lose focus on things outside our areas of expertise and this is another area where 90 Minds can increase value to its members without losing focus on what made us who we are.

------------------------------
Gary Feldman
I-Business Network
Marietta GA
16786270646
http://www-i-bn.net


Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2023 13:59
From: Jeff Schwenk
Subject: Lunch and learn ideas!

Agree with @Wayne Schulz , based on the active posters, I would guess there are about 23 people in MOTM.  Are we the unpaid support staff of the group?

------------------------------
Jeff Schwenk
Bottomline Software, Inc.
(540) 221-4444


Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2023 10:53
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Lunch and learn ideas!

This is a great question, and for the group's longer-term survival, there must be an emphasis on why someone would join 90 Minds instead of just remaining inside their own organization's Teams chats.

• Surveys - we would all benefit from knowing the relative satisfaction with ISVS/integrations and other processes.
• Is Sage 100 2023 "safe" to recommend? 
• Pros and Cons of WO to Production Management
• To piggyback on the "how can I get more value," perhaps we should also ask what would increase regular participation. Why do people join the group only to ring the fire alarm once and alert the bucket brigade that one of their implementations is "on fire"? 
• Nothing is more frustrating to me than to happen across a thread that starts with "I'm having a problem with XYZ integration/technology" and instantly see replies with members sharing similar experiences that go back weeks or months. How do we get those experiences posted ASAP, not weeks or months later? There's very little value to me in reading about something after-the-fact ( I can get that on the SageKB )

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT

What is the anticipated time frame for the L&L series?

Asking for a friend.

BTDTGTTS WRT Sage 300, Acumatica expansion. Any thinking that "if we open a forum, they will come" has been tried and IMO disproven. There's a lot more to building community.

I have not looked at the numbers recently, but from my understanding participation is increasing.  With the changes in platform and the transitions of MAS90 to Sage 100 and Sage's focus on Intacct, the debacle with Socialcast and the learning curve on Higher Logic, we definitely lost some momentum within the group.  However, the MOTM has continued to be great and is clearly now the premier event for Sage 100 focused resellers. 

The new membership committee is working on a number of ideas to make 90Minds more valuable and active for all.  This needs to include those of us who dabble with Intacct, Acumatica and other products (like me with SAP).  The previous lunch and learns led by members about the products they picked up were invaluable to me in keeping up with the competition.   I remember at a Sage meeting a while back Bill Hammer compared SAP B1 to BWG.  He changed his tune when I showed it to him.  It is easy to lose focus on things outside our areas of expertise and this is another area where 90 Minds can increase value to its members without losing focus on what made us who we are.

------------------------------
Gary Feldman
I-Business Network
Marietta GA
16786270646
http://www-i-bn.net


Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2023 13:59
From: Jeff Schwenk
Subject: Lunch and learn ideas!

Agree with @Wayne Schulz , based on the active posters, I would guess there are about 23 people in MOTM.  Are we the unpaid support staff of the group?

------------------------------
Jeff Schwenk
Bottomline Software, Inc.
(540) 221-4444


Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2023 10:53
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Lunch and learn ideas!

This is a great question, and for the group's longer-term survival, there must be an emphasis on why someone would join 90 Minds instead of just remaining inside their own organization's Teams chats.

• Surveys - we would all benefit from knowing the relative satisfaction with ISVS/integrations and other processes.
• Is Sage 100 2023 "safe" to recommend? 
• Pros and Cons of WO to Production Management
• To piggyback on the "how can I get more value," perhaps we should also ask what would increase regular participation. Why do people join the group only to ring the fire alarm once and alert the bucket brigade that one of their implementations is "on fire"? 
• Nothing is more frustrating to me than to happen across a thread that starts with "I'm having a problem with XYZ integration/technology" and instantly see replies with members sharing similar experiences that go back weeks or months. How do we get those experiences posted ASAP, not weeks or months later? There's very little value to me in reading about something after-the-fact ( I can get that on the SageKB )

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT

Trying to line up topics starting end of August time frame with goal of monthly lunch Eastern, breakfast/brunch Pacific times.  

What is the anticipated time frame for the L&L series?

Asking for a friend.

BTDTGTTS WRT Sage 300, Acumatica expansion. Any thinking that "if we open a forum, they will come" has been tried and IMO disproven. There's a lot more to building community.

I have not looked at the numbers recently, but from my understanding participation is increasing.  With the changes in platform and the transitions of MAS90 to Sage 100 and Sage's focus on Intacct, the debacle with Socialcast and the learning curve on Higher Logic, we definitely lost some momentum within the group.  However, the MOTM has continued to be great and is clearly now the premier event for Sage 100 focused resellers. 

The new membership committee is working on a number of ideas to make 90Minds more valuable and active for all.  This needs to include those of us who dabble with Intacct, Acumatica and other products (like me with SAP).  The previous lunch and learns led by members about the products they picked up were invaluable to me in keeping up with the competition.   I remember at a Sage meeting a while back Bill Hammer compared SAP B1 to BWG.  He changed his tune when I showed it to him.  It is easy to lose focus on things outside our areas of expertise and this is another area where 90 Minds can increase value to its members without losing focus on what made us who we are.

------------------------------
Gary Feldman
I-Business Network
Marietta GA
16786270646
http://www-i-bn.net


Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2023 13:59
From: Jeff Schwenk
Subject: Lunch and learn ideas!

Agree with @Wayne Schulz , based on the active posters, I would guess there are about 23 people in MOTM.  Are we the unpaid support staff of the group?

------------------------------
Jeff Schwenk
Bottomline Software, Inc.
(540) 221-4444


Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2023 10:53
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Lunch and learn ideas!

This is a great question, and for the group's longer-term survival, there must be an emphasis on why someone would join 90 Minds instead of just remaining inside their own organization's Teams chats.

• Surveys - we would all benefit from knowing the relative satisfaction with ISVS/integrations and other processes.
• Is Sage 100 2023 "safe" to recommend? 
• Pros and Cons of WO to Production Management
• To piggyback on the "how can I get more value," perhaps we should also ask what would increase regular participation. Why do people join the group only to ring the fire alarm once and alert the bucket brigade that one of their implementations is "on fire"? 
• Nothing is more frustrating to me than to happen across a thread that starts with "I'm having a problem with XYZ integration/technology" and instantly see replies with members sharing similar experiences that go back weeks or months. How do we get those experiences posted ASAP, not weeks or months later? There's very little value to me in reading about something after-the-fact ( I can get that on the SageKB )

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT

@Gary Feldman I wonder if it makes sense to fashion these more like an all-hands type meeting where various updates are discussed around the group, product, Sage, etc. It might make sense to leverage recording these as well.

Trying to line up topics starting end of August time frame with goal of monthly lunch Eastern, breakfast/brunch Pacific times.  

What is the anticipated time frame for the L&L series?

Asking for a friend.

BTDTGTTS WRT Sage 300, Acumatica expansion. Any thinking that "if we open a forum, they will come" has been tried and IMO disproven. There's a lot more to building community.

I have not looked at the numbers recently, but from my understanding participation is increasing.  With the changes in platform and the transitions of MAS90 to Sage 100 and Sage's focus on Intacct, the debacle with Socialcast and the learning curve on Higher Logic, we definitely lost some momentum within the group.  However, the MOTM has continued to be great and is clearly now the premier event for Sage 100 focused resellers. 

The new membership committee is working on a number of ideas to make 90Minds more valuable and active for all.  This needs to include those of us who dabble with Intacct, Acumatica and other products (like me with SAP).  The previous lunch and learns led by members about the products they picked up were invaluable to me in keeping up with the competition.   I remember at a Sage meeting a while back Bill Hammer compared SAP B1 to BWG.  He changed his tune when I showed it to him.  It is easy to lose focus on things outside our areas of expertise and this is another area where 90 Minds can increase value to its members without losing focus on what made us who we are.

------------------------------
Gary Feldman
I-Business Network
Marietta GA
16786270646
http://www-i-bn.net


Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2023 13:59
From: Jeff Schwenk
Subject: Lunch and learn ideas!

Agree with @Wayne Schulz , based on the active posters, I would guess there are about 23 people in MOTM.  Are we the unpaid support staff of the group?

------------------------------
Jeff Schwenk
Bottomline Software, Inc.
(540) 221-4444


Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2023 10:53
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Lunch and learn ideas!

This is a great question, and for the group's longer-term survival, there must be an emphasis on why someone would join 90 Minds instead of just remaining inside their own organization's Teams chats.

• Surveys - we would all benefit from knowing the relative satisfaction with ISVS/integrations and other processes.
• Is Sage 100 2023 "safe" to recommend? 
• Pros and Cons of WO to Production Management
• To piggyback on the "how can I get more value," perhaps we should also ask what would increase regular participation. Why do people join the group only to ring the fire alarm once and alert the bucket brigade that one of their implementations is "on fire"? 
• Nothing is more frustrating to me than to happen across a thread that starts with "I'm having a problem with XYZ integration/technology" and instantly see replies with members sharing similar experiences that go back weeks or months. How do we get those experiences posted ASAP, not weeks or months later? There's very little value to me in reading about something after-the-fact ( I can get that on the SageKB )

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT