Matt Carle

Main Ascent Business Brokers & Advisors

Business Broker & Advisor

Matt Carle, Business Coach

Business Coach

Eastside Timbers

Program Director

Valentis Athletica

Non-Profit company founded to operate value-based youth soccer club in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Board Member

Portland Timbers

Ticket Services

United Soccer Leagues

Youth League Operations Intern

Colorado Rapids

Rapids Academy Intern

Helping you grow your business, and still make it home for dinner. │ Business Coach │ Business Broker │ Former soccer coach turned business coach

I help business owners who are stuck and struggling to find the next right thing.

Most of my clients come to me because:

- Their growth has plateaued, revenue and profit are stagnant
- Nothing happens in the business without their input
- They lack systems, accountability, & predictability

I coach them to build a business that delivers:

- More revenue & more profit
- More freedom & flexibility for the Owner
- Repeatable systems that drive predictable results

We use a tailored approach to:

- Implement systems to empower your team to deliver results without you
- Equip you to lead with strategy and structure that supports you and your staff
- Build accountability systems to make sure the most important work gets done

Here’s just a few of the outcomes they’ve experienced:

- Packaging company that went from $1.5M per year to $1M per month
- Manufacturing Co. owners who went from overworked to never missing an appointment or a game
- Insurance agent who saw 20% YoY growth in his book of business & increased commissions

I’m passionate about helping business owners build a business that supports their life:

- I’ve spent more than half my life as a coach. First on the soccer field, now supporting business owners
- I’ve spent 9+ years as a business coach, and 3+ years as a business broker
- I live with my wife and two kids outside Denver, Colorado

If you’re ready to start earning more and working less…
Click the “Book an appointment” link at the top of my profile to apply to work with me.

At this point, I’m basically unemployable.

About 9 years ago I started on my journey to become a Business Coach.

That meant I was working independently, from home, and learning every single day.

And it ruined me.

The idea that someone else could fire me or put an end to the work that I’m doing - unthinkable.

The thought of having to go into an office daily makes me cringe.

Clocking in & out - no chance.

I rarely work past 4:30pm.

Fridays I'm done by 3:00 - so I can spend extra time with my kids.

I never miss a school event or conference.

I coach my kids teams and never worry about work interrupting a practice.

The reality is, I get to continue building my business, from my home office. 

I get to work with passionate small business owners every single day.

And take on amazing opportunities like becoming a Business Broker at Main Ascent.

I've built a business that supports the life I want to live.

I’m not going back. 

Like I said, unemployable.

I help Small Business Owners scale past plateaus while working less | Soccer Coach turned Business Coach & Broker

I've met tons of small business owners who delay their own growth.

Because they're stuck, grinding away in the same patterns.

Only to get the same results.

There is one thing that's probably missing.

I talk to small business owners daily.

And way too many suffer from the same problem.

Shiny Object Syndrome.

You chase new ideas & silver bullets.

Because you think that new thing is going to be THE ONE that solves all of your problems.

Bottom line:
You don't need another new idea.

You don't need to reinvent your business every few months.

You don't have to chase the latest trend from a new book or the podcast you listened to.

You need to focus on one idea.
(Probably an idea you've had for a while)

And implement it.

See it all the way through. 

For as long as it takes.

Then you can move on to the next step.

For your own sanity, and the health of your business.

Stop chasing new ideas.

And instead, focus on implementation.

Put systems and processes in place to deliver the results you want to see.

Be deliberate, intentional. 

Chasing shiny objects isn't going to fix your business.

But implementation can.

Again, I see people every day that fall into this trap.

It's easy to think that new concept is going to revolutionize things.

That it might be the answer that you've been looking for.

But if you're not sticking with it long enough to see it through.

Then it doesn't matter.

Implementation is the key.

That is how you build a business that supports your life.


Need some support as you're implementing?
Let's talk!

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As your revenue grows, 
your team grows too. 
Most owners want to leave the day-to-day grind of operating the business.

But not everyone.

I have one client who refuses to stop working as a technician in his business.

He’s loading and unloading materials.
Jumping on the forklift.
Hopping in the truck to do a delivery.

Every. Single. Day.

Normally, this is exactly what we’re trying to avoid.

The goal is to work ON the business, not IN the business.

But here’s the thing...

He’s actually doing both.

He is putting in time and effort to build systems, empower employees, and improve operations.

The systems they’re putting in place are giving him more time and more freedom to do the work that he wants to do.

And, he WANTS to be out there loading and unloading trucks.

He loves the labor of the business, and doesn’t want to stop.

So we’re building a business where he doesn’t have to.

There is no one size fits all solution in small business.

Build a business that supports the life you want to live - whatever that might be.

I coach small business owners daily.
I love the work. 
But it messes with my head sometimes.

Why?
Because, I am actively trying to work myself out of a job.

That's part of being a successful coach:

Eventually your clients won’t need you.

Clients come and clients go, 
there’s always some attrition. 

But the most successful clients are the ones that make a conscious decision to move on after their problems have been solved.

And I had it happen again a little while ago.

Two partners that I’ve been working with since 2020 came to me and said, 

“We think we’re ready to move on.”

The problems that brought them to coaching in the first place have been addressed. 

We checked nearly every box:

Their team is more engaged, 
taking ownership of issues, 
and building better systems to improve the business.

Their sales system no longer relies solely on the owners,
leads are coming in, 
and new projects start without the owners having to touch them.

They delegated more work to their employees than ever before, 
and they focus on their most important and highest impact projects. 

They’re better managers to their teams,
empowering their people to deliver improved results through their systems.

And their finances are clean, organized, and more profitable, 
allowing them to make better decisions that consistently align with their long-term goals 
(including buying a building last year).


So when they told me they were ready to move on from coaching, it was bittersweet. 

I’m proud of the work we’ve done together.

And excited for these guys to continue building their business.

And I’m sad to lose a client, and not to get to work with them on a regular basis anymore.

And that’s the mindf*ck of it all...

I did my job, pretty well I’d say, and now I have a spot to fill in my practice.



But in the end, that’s coaching. 

It’s not about me, it’s about the clients. 

Setting them up for success, 
helping them grow personally, 
and grow their business, 
knowing that eventually 
(hopefully for the right reasons) 
they’ll move on. 

And like I said, I love the work.



PS - That spot in my practice is still available.
So if you've been thinking about getting some coaching for yourself and your business? Let's talk!

Lots of Owners with growing businesses
Are chasing the wrong goals.
Here are 3 examples:

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 t𝗵𝗲 $𝟬 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹
It's easy to get excited about a $0 tax bill.

It means you're keeping your money and not giving it to old Uncle Sam...right?

Maybe.

Sometimes, it's a sign that you've forgotten to look at the bottom line. 

It's not about being "wrong," it's about understanding the bigger picture.

Taxes are a part of doing business.

And a healthy profit means you're building something sustainable. 

It's about finding a balance, not avoiding taxes at all costs.

Instead, build a profitable business, that increases in value, with a real tax strategy.

Because if you can't show your profit on paper, then the business isn't worth much.

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀

We all want our business to grow. 

It's natural. 

But you can get so caught up chasing "more" that you forget to ask, 

"More of what?" 

More profit? 
More revenue? 
More of a life you love?

It's okay to slow down and define what growth means for you. 

What does success look like on your terms? 

It's about building a business that supports your life. Not just chasing a number.

Because if the business isn't supporting the life you want to live - why are you doing it?

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

We all rationalize sometimes. 

It's part of being human. 

When things get tough, we tell ourselves stories to make sense of it all. 

I'm reinvesting
It's a long-term strategy
The market is just difficult

Bullshit. You're rationalizing. 

You're avoiding the hard truth.

Now, it's not about beating yourself up. 

It's about recognizing when you're making excuses.

And being willing to take a step back and see things clearly. 

It's about learning from those moments and moving forward with more clarity.

Spend time thinking honestly reflecting on your business, with your Owner hat on.

Because if you're not honest with yourself, what can you hope to achieve?


Don't fall into these traps - focus instead on building a better version of your business.

-Where you understand your numbers.

-Where you understand your why.

-Where you can be honest with yourself.

Because that is a business that everyone wants to own.

Ready to get some help building that business for yourself?

Let's talk!

Every owner I talk to puts this stressor somewhere in their Top 5.

Tell me if this sounds familiar:

You wake up
Open your inbox
And get sucked into other people's priorities

You spend all day on that treadmill
Running fast and not going anywhere
Before you know it, it's 4:00pm

All the work you wanted to accomplish?
Punt it to next week.

Then tomorrow? 
You do it all again.


Instead of staying stuck on this treadmill,
Try these 4 steps:

1) 5 Minutes of Intentional Planning

Either the night before, or first thing in the morning.

Spend 5 minutes reviewing your work, and set out 1-3 non-negotiable priorities.

2) Block off your time

You have to put uninterrupted time blocks on your calendar, and treat it like a meeting that you cannot miss.

The biggest challenge is sticking to it, and not allowing interruptions to distract you.

1-2 hours per day will do wonders, and the business will not burn down in that time.

3) Take Breaks

Break up your calendar with high value and low value tasks. Give yourself buffers between meetings, and batch similar tasks together.

Getting up from your desk to reset your focus makes you more impactful.

4) Daily check-ins

Take 5 minutes at the end of your day to take stock.

Reflect on what went well, make note of changes you want to try.

Bonus - this is the perfect time to plan tomorrow's priorities too!


If you're not going to be deliberate with what you spend your time on.

It's far too easy for other people to dictate what your priorities will be that day.

And constantly responding to other people's priorities, is not going to help you build your business.

You need to take control.

And these 4 steps can help.

Need some additional support?

Let's talk!

Book a call using the link in my profile.

80% of businesses NEVER sell. 
What's YOUR business worth? 
And how do you get it?

You've poured years into building your company. 

But have you built it to SELL? 

Most owners haven't. 

And that's why 8 out of 10 businesses never make it to a successful exit.

No matter when you plan to leave your business, you need to plan.

Don't miss your opportunity to be in the 20% of owners who sell. 

Learn more about the exit process on Wednesday, March 26th, 2:00 PM MT

When Scott Perry and I present: "Exit Like a Pro: Unlocking Maximum Value."

We'll cover:
- Value drivers
- Buyer/bank insights
- Real exit stories
- Actionable steps you can take today

Don't miss your chance to learn about a successful exit for your business.

Register today:
https://lnkd.in/gsgsUW4N

You don't have to guess whether or not your business will be ready. 
Start planning. Secure your future.

As a business owner working 60, 70, 80 hours per week.
When you hear "long weekend"...
 
What comes to mind? 
 
Resting and recharging surrounded by family & friends? 
 
Or grinding away in your business because you know it will be quiet? 
 
I know where I want to be, spending time with my family and friends. 
 
But I also see a lot of business owners who are stuck. 
 
Stuck working all weekend to get caught up. 
 
Stuck solving everyone else's problems. 
 
Stuck playing catch up with bills. 
 
Just plain stuck. 
 
And I'm here to argue - even if you're stuck, you should take time off. 
 
Grinding yourself to dust isn't going to save the business. 
 
Burning out is going to make you less effective. 
 
And taking a day or two off to recharge, might be just what you need. 
 
You might not have the business that you want, yet. 
 
But you can make your business today more like the business you want. 
 
And it can be as simple as taking an extra day off this weekend. 
 
Your business should support your life. 
 
Not the other way around. 
 
So take a day (or two or three), find some time to recharge. 
 
And get back after it next week. 
 
Your business (and your family) will thank you.

I've looked "under the hood" on hundreds of businesses over the last 9+ years.
10,000+ hours, easily.

I'll give you my 3 of my biggest lessons in 3 minutes...

1) Business is a reflection of the Owner

Your business is going to reflect back to you all the decisions you make.

How you think about your business matters.

Stay stuck in the small stuff day-to-day, and your business is going to be a grind.

Delegate, empower, and lead your people, and your business will be a machine.

Whatever you put into the business will be reflected back to you.


2) Knowing your numbers is a superpower

Knowing your numbers unlocks so many opportunities inside your business.

You can't grow your business just by guessing.

Having a relationship with your financial reports, and knowing your most important measures puts you in control.

You'll feel calmer, understand inputs and outputs, and can make better decisions.

It's a non-negotiable if you want your business to reach that next level.


3) Systems + people = success

You need predictable, repeatable systems to grow your business.

You can't be overly reliant on any one person (especially yourself) if you want to grow in the long-term.

It's a balance - you want good people, you want to keep them around - but you can't count on them staying forever.

So you  build great systems for everyone to use, and make sure they get the training they need.

That's how you get predictable, repeatable results - and that's how the business succeeds.

So there you have it, the 3 of my biggest lessons from my work with 100+ clients...

I've spent nearly a decade studying businesses and systems, and I'm lucky to have worked with so many great owners over the years.

Owners who are doing their best (but maybe feeling stuck), 

Motivated to succeed (but not wanting to just chase shiny objects), 

And trying to find the best path forward (but maybe unclear on where to start).

This is the work I love to do, and I love working with Owners who want to get better.

If this sounds like you, let's talk!

This post will serve as my petition to get LinkedIn to include physical stats on our profiles.

Like the ones they have on the back of a baseball card.

That way when I meet new people we can skip the:

 “Wow, Matt, you’re TALL!” 

part of the conversation.

Because I’m running out of funny replies, and it’s exhausting.


If you’re now wondering, I’m 6’5’’

Just tall enough to stand out because of my height.

Not tall enough to excel at basketball because of it.

Jokes aside, I’ve been meeting some awesome people in real life lately.

So if anyone in the Denver/greater Front Range area wants to grab a coffee, reach out!


What other features should LinkedIn add?

Something every business owner wants? 
 
Profit and Freedom. 
 
That's what any owner is after.

And, not coincidentally, what a business buyer wants to see as well. 
 
Profit and Freedom. 
 
 
Check out the chart below - it shows a scale of your profit and your freedom as a business owner.

Where do you think you fall on this chart?
  
 
The upper right box is "Ready to Sell" 
 
A business that is Ready to Sell is highly profitable, and doesn’t require your daily hands-on involvement. 
 
When your business fits that description there is always someone interested in buying it from you. 
 
 
The upper left box is the "Renovation Project"  
 
That is a business that runs without the your daily involvement, but is not as profitable as you'd like. 
 
It’s a bit of a fixer-upper, and it’s going to require someone to get their hands dirty to improve performance. 
 
 
The "New Job" quadrant is in the lower right. 
 
This is a business that requires a hands-on owner to operate, but it produces high levels of profit for that owner. 
 
For the right buyer, this is a great opportunity, they don’t mind getting involved on a daily basis. But it comes with some tradeoffs. 
 
That leaves the bottom left box - "Tough Sell" 
 
If your business falls into the Tough Sell category, there is some work to do. 
 
Building better systems can help reduce the reliance on the owner, and improved systems with tighter financial controls can help move profitability. 
 
My hope is that if you’re in this category, you can recognize the need to change, and to start making changes in your business before it’s too late. 
 
 
 
No matter where you fall on this chart, or what your next project is in your business, I’d love to talk about how I can help you. 
 
My name is Matt Carle, I’m a business coach and broker. 
 
I help owners build more valuable businesses with systems, structure, and accountability. 
 
And when you’re ready to sell, I can help you navigate that process, too!
 
Reach out if you’re ready to get started!

What's your business REALLY worth? 
And how do you ensure you get it?

These questions keep owners up. 

You've built it, but can you maximize your value when you exit?

Selling now? Later? Just want to know? 
Strategic planning is key.

A well-planned exit can mean the difference between a comfortable retirement and leaving money on the table.

Join me and Scott Perry from Main Ascent Business Brokers,

Wednesday, March 26th at 2:00 PM Mountain Time for:

"Exit Like a Pro: Unlocking Maximum Value for Your Business."

We'll cover:
- Key factors that drive business value.
- What buyers and banks are looking for.
- Real-life stories of successful exits.
- Actionable steps to prepare your business for sale.

Don't leave a piece of your legacy on the table.

Register here: 
https://lnkd.in/gsgsUW4N

Want to implement new ideas with your team in your small business?
Here is the framework:

Plan 
Execute 
Review 
 
This is the implementation cycle. 
 
This is how you move things forward in your business. 
 
I talk a lot about the importance of implementing new ideas. 
 
And this is how you do it. 
 
Plan: 
▪️ Select the one idea you're going to implement 
▪️ Set a time period 
▪️ Determine clear targets and objectives 
▪️ Set expectations and assign accountability 
▪️ Lay out milestones, checkpoints, and incremental targets 
 
And then... 
 
Execute: 
▪️ Kick off the timeline you set 
▪️ Schedule regular meetings as needed with team members 
▪️ Keep team on track and hold people accountable 
▪️ Check progress against milestones, checkpoint, and targets 
▪️ Trust the process, execute through the entire time period 
 
Finally... 
 
Review: 
▪️ Project debrief meeting with all team members 
▪️ Measure progress toward targets & objectives 
▪️ Share results, celebrate wins, examine losses 
▪️ Get feedback from impacted team members 
▪️ Make recommendations to re-test, start over, or continue status quo 
 
If things ran well, you keep them going! 
If it's a mixed bag of results, adjust and try again. 
If it went poorly, you go back to the drawing board... 
 
Then you follow the implementation cycle again, and again, and again. 
 
Because the structure works. 
 
Regardless of your industry, the project, or the results you're after. 
 
It just works.

A client of mine grew his staff from 4 to 10.

And he came to me and asked: 
 
"How do I hold people accountable, when they know I won't fire them?" 
 
Here is what I told him: 
 
"If fear of getting fired, is the only kind of accountability you have in your business - you're already in trouble. 
 
And if an employee has to be threated with termination to do things your way, then they're probably not right for the job to begin with." 
 
 
Here's why I said that: 
 
 
For way too many people "Accountability" means "Fear and compliance" 
 
But accountability actually means keeping your word, following through. 
 
Most people want to keep their word, and they want to do things that help themselves. 
 
If you're struggling to get employees to follow through, it might be because they don't understand why their work is important. 
 
Or they don't understand their priorities well enough to do the most important work first. 
 
Maybe they don't see the connection between their work and the goals they have for themselves in the company. 
 
If you have to resort to threats of firing people to get your team on board, things are already broken. 
 
Either you haven't set the right expectations inside the business. 
 
Or the hiring and employee training systems are not working. 
 
(Likely both) 
 
Regardless, you have to work on those foundational pieces first. 
 
Clear expectations, priorities, and accountability are critical to getting results through your team. 
 
Now, if you have those things, and you're still having trouble with certain people... 
 
At the end of the day, losing poor employees isn't really a loss. 
 
It may sting in the short-term, but it's an opportunity to find new people, and another chance to lay the right foundation. 
 
You get to define what accountability means in your business. 
 
And I hope it means more than "do what I say or get fired!"

Trying to implement new ideas is hard when you're on your own running a business. 

Alone at the top,
Trying your best to keep things growing,
Making decisions with imperfect information.

Being a small business owner is not for the faint of heart.

Because the reality is, you are on your own, a lot of the time.

And this is one of the best arguments for hiring a coach. 

A good business coach is:

-Someone to be by your side as you're implementing plans and building systems.

-Someone to remind you why you started on this path to begin with.

-Someone to hold you accountable for following through.

-Someone who can see things objectively when you're too close to issues.

-Someone with tools and frameworks to help you make better decisions.

-Someone to  point you in the right direction and support you as you build.

If you could use that kind of support as you grow your business, let's talk!

Use the link in my profile to book a call, and we'll see if we're a good fit to work together!

I think every small business owner has this person on their staff.

And it's a serious problem.

If you're an owner who works long hours.
Solving every single problem.
For not enough profit or pay.

I have a harsh truth to share.

No one is going to come rescue you.

There is no magical buyer who is going to save you. 

In my coaching practice, I talk to a lot of people who are tired, worn out, and ground down by their business.

They think they need to sell it and get out.

They started their business because it was something they were passionate about, they wanted to work for themselves, they wanted to control their own destiny.

But the reality of small business owners is that it’s HARD.

There are all kinds of challenges, and over time, some people really do grow to resent, even hate their business.

Do you think a buyer wants to buy into that nightmare?

No way.

So working to build (or rebuild) your business to support the kind of life you want to live is a good starting point.

If your business is fun to own, easy to run, and gives you desirable results, I can almost guarantee there is someone out there who wants to buy it from you.

If you build a business that you enjoy owning, the buyers will come to you.

And the cool thing about improving your business is that you might rediscover your passion for it along the way.

Plenty of people work to prepare their business to sell, then decide they’re going to keep it.

Because their stress went down and their profit went up.

You started your business for good reason, don’t let the grind turn it from something you love into something you hate. 

Build a better business, and see the benefits forever.

This goes out to the business owners that are also parents.

Trying to get a little better every day.

Out here doing our best.

OK Business Owners, did you plan 2025?

Which camp are you in?

✦ Thought about making an annual plan but never get around to it?

✦ Started making your annual plan but never finished? 

✦ Built a plan and abandon it almost immediately?

✦ Finished it and executing daily?

Q1 ends this month, so no matter where you're at, you have a chance to reset.

Here's the format I've been helping my clients with:

✦ 4-year vision for the business: 
Where are you and the business going to be 4 years from now?

✦ 1-year annual plan: 
What are you going to accomplish this year to move closer to your vision?

✦ Quarterly Action Plans: 
Break your annual plan down - no more than 3 priorities per quarter!

With solid quarterly action plans, your job is simple enough:

Make sure the business is making progress toward those targets on a regular basis.

The smaller goals build momentum toward quarterly targets.

Hitting quarterly targets leads to a good year.

And hitting your annual targets means the business can thrive.

Take the end of Q1 as a reminder to make sure you're on track.

And if you need the template for quarterly planning - leave a comment or send a DM, I've got one to share with you!

Taplio

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