Business Growth and Exit Strategy for $10M-$250M Companies
Business Growth and Exit Strategy for $10M–$250M Companies
Most business owners optimize for revenue. Buyers price companies based on transferability, risk reduction, and operational independence. The gap between what you think your business is worth and what a buyer will actually pay is where enterprise value gets destroyed — or built.
I’m Scott Sylvan Bell. I help owners of mid-market companies close that gap using The Foundry 360™ — a 360-point business evaluation system I created that scores every dimension a buyer examines before making an acquisition offer. Nine frameworks. Thirty-six dimensions. One number that tells you exactly where your business stands and what needs to change.
The Foundry 360™: A 360-Point Business Evaluation System
The Foundry 360 is a proprietary system that evaluates mid-market businesses across the same dimensions buyers, private equity firms, and acquisition teams assess during due diligence. Seven scored frameworks total 360 points. Two standalone tools provide additional evaluation for deal quality and crisis readiness. Together, they give business owners a complete picture of where their company stands — and a specific roadmap for increasing its value.
Scored Frameworks — 360 Total Points:
LAUNCH Framework — 30 Points. Measures the owner’s personal readiness to act. Leverage, Action Capacity, Urgency, Now Cost, Competitive Window, and Hesitation Pattern. Learn more →
SCORE Framework — 100 Points. The flagship exit readiness assessment. Systems Maturity, Concentration Risk, Owner-Independence, Revenue Quality, and Exit Timing. Five dimensions, 20 points each. Learn more →
SELL Framework — 40 Points. Evaluates the revenue engine. Sales Process Documentation, Effectiveness Metrics, Lead Generation Diversity, and Loyalty. Learn more →
SCALE Framework — 50 Points. Measures operational capacity. Structure, Capacity, Automation Maturity, Liquidity, and Economics. Can the business handle 2–5x its current volume without breaking? Learn more →
DRIVER Test — 60 Points. The execution capability assessment. Direction, Rhythm, Integration, Velocity, Evidence, and Resilience. The second-largest framework in the system — because execution determines whether strategy produces results. Learn more →
EXIT Framework — 40 Points. Evaluates timing and market readiness. Economic Climate, eXit Multiples, Industry Momentum, Transition Readiness, and Buyer Demand. The business can be ready. The market might not be. Learn more →
BENCH Framework — 40 Points. Scores leadership depth and talent readiness. Bench Depth, Employment Security, Next-in-Line Readiness, Concentration Risk, and Human Capital Systems. Learn more →
Standalone Tools:
LEAD Model — 40 Points. Scores any proposed deal before engaging attorneys. Leverage, Economics, Alignment, and Deal Structure. Learn more →
THREATS Framework — 7 Categories. Maps crisis vulnerabilities across Turnover, Hacks, Reputation, Economic Disruption, Actions, Trouble, and Surprises. Four-tier response protocol from the first two hours through seven days. Learn more →
See the full Foundry 360 system →
Every Engagement Starts with READY
Not every business owner who calls is a fit. Not every business belongs in a 360-point assessment process. READY is a five-question qualifying conversation that determines whether the conditions are right before the work begins.
R — Revenue Scale. Is the business generating $10M–$250M in annual revenue?
E — Equity Control. Does the owner have the authority to act on what the assessment reveals?
A — Appetite for Truth. Is the owner willing to hear the real score — even if it’s uncomfortable?
D — Driver. Is there a specific reason to act — not just curiosity?
Y — Year Horizon. Does the owner have a timeline, even a rough one?
If all five answers are yes, the conversation moves forward. If they aren’t, I’ll tell you exactly what needs to change and when to come back. The most valuable thing I can tell some business owners is “not yet.”
How I Help $10M–$250M Companies
Scaling Revenue Without Creating Fragility
Growth that depends on the founder, concentrates around a few customers, or sacrifices margin is growth that buyers discount. I help owners build revenue engines that are documented, diversified, and transferable — measured by the SELL Framework and SCALE Framework. The result is revenue that increases enterprise value, not just top-line numbers.
Building Enterprise Value Buyers Actually Pay For
A buyer does not care how hard you worked. A buyer cares whether the revenue is recurring, the customer base is diversified, the systems are documented, and the team can operate without the founder. The SCORE Framework measures the five dimensions that determine what buyers will pay. Every recommendation I make is filtered through that lens.
Preparing for Exits That Maximize Price and Terms
Exit timing is not luck — it is a scoreable dimension. The EXIT Framework evaluates whether market conditions, valuation multiples, industry momentum, and owner readiness are aligned. The LEAD Model scores the deal itself before you sign anything. Together, they prevent the most expensive mistake in mid-market transactions: the right business at the wrong time with the wrong terms.
Assessing Execution Capability Before You Invest
Most consulting fails because the organization is not ready to execute. The DRIVER Test measures six dimensions of execution capability — Direction, Rhythm, Integration, Velocity, Evidence, and Resilience — across 60 points. I assess readiness first. If your team cannot execute, I will tell you before you spend money, not after.
About Scott Sylvan Bell
Scott Sylvan Bell is a business growth and exit strategy consultant who works with owners of companies generating $10M to $250M in annual revenue. He created The Foundry 360™, a 360-point business evaluation system spanning nine frameworks and thirty-six dimensions — every dimension a buyer evaluates before making an acquisition offer.
Author of 9 books on business growth, exit readiness, revenue strategy, execution capability, leadership depth, deal evaluation, and crisis protection — each built around a Foundry 360 framework.
Host of 2 podcasts with over 200 combined episodes covering sales training, business growth, and exit strategy.
Creator of 4,000+ educational videos across multiple channels on business growth, sales, and mid-market exit planning.
MBA holder with a decade of corporate sales training experience.
His approach to business growth and exit strategy has been shaped by studying under Jay Abraham (business growth strategy), Roland Frasier (M&A deal structure), and Dr. Kevin Hogan (decision psychology).
Scott grew up in a family of entrepreneurs and discovered the M&A advisory space during the 2020 lockdowns. He splits his time between Sacramento and Oahu.
Comprehensive Resources
Business Growth Q&A Guide
50 questions answered on scaling revenue, building systems, entering markets, and creating predictable growth for mid-market companies.
Explore All Questions →
Business Exit Q&A Guide
50 questions answered on maximizing valuation, preparing for due diligence, and executing successful exits.
Explore All Questions →
Business Growth and Exit Strategy Podcast
200+ episodes on sales, business growth, exit strategy, valuation optimization, and operational excellence.
Listen Now → | [Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify] | [YouTube] | [Amazon Music]
YouTube
4,000+ educational videos on business growth, sales training, and exit strategy — plus dedicated framework breakdowns for each Foundry 360 assessment.
Watch Now →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Foundry 360?
The Foundry 360 is a 360-point business evaluation system created by Scott Sylvan Bell that scores mid-market companies across nine frameworks and thirty-six dimensions. Seven scored frameworks total 360 points: LAUNCH (30), SCORE (100), SELL (40), SCALE (50), DRIVER (60), EXIT (40), and BENCH (40). Two standalone tools — the LEAD Model and THREATS Framework — provide additional evaluation for deal quality and crisis readiness.
Who does Scott Sylvan Bell work with?
Scott Sylvan Bell works with owners of mid-market companies generating $10M to $250M in annual revenue. These are established businesses with 5+ years of operations, leadership teams in place, and owners who are either scaling for growth or preparing for an exit within 2–5 years. Every engagement begins with a READY qualifying conversation to confirm fit.
What is the READY qualifying conversation?
READY is a five-question conversation that determines whether a business owner is the right fit for The Foundry 360 process before the work begins. It evaluates Revenue Scale, Equity Control, Appetite for Truth, Driver, and Year Horizon. READY is not a scored framework — it is a gateway that ensures both the owner’s time and the assessment process are used where they will produce the most value.
What does the SCORE Framework measure?
The SCORE Framework is a 100-point exit readiness assessment that measures the five dimensions buyers evaluate during due diligence: Systems Maturity (20 points), Concentration Risk (20 points), Owner-Independence (20 points), Revenue Quality (20 points), and Exit Timing (20 points). It is the largest single framework in The Foundry 360 and the starting point for understanding what a business is worth to an acquirer.
What is the DRIVER Test?
The DRIVER Test is a 60-point execution capability assessment that measures six dimensions of leadership performance: Direction, Rhythm, Integration, Velocity, Evidence, and Resilience. At 60 points, it is the second-largest framework in The Foundry 360, reflecting the outsized importance that execution capability plays in determining business value. A team that scores below 35 should focus on building execution infrastructure before investing in consulting or major growth initiatives.
How is Scott Sylvan Bell different from other business consultants?
Scott Sylvan Bell is the creator of The Foundry 360™, a proprietary 360-point evaluation system that no other consultant offers. He is the author of 9 books, each built around a specific Foundry 360 framework. He assesses organizational readiness before recommending strategy — and will tell business owners when not to hire him. His approach to business growth and exit strategy has been shaped by studying under Jay Abraham (business growth strategy), Roland Frasier (M&A deal structure), and Dr. Kevin Hogan (decision psychology).
What is the difference between revenue growth and enterprise value?
Revenue growth measures how much money the business brings in. Enterprise value measures what a buyer would pay to acquire the business. A company can grow revenue while destroying enterprise value if that growth depends on the founder, concentrates around a few large customers, or creates operational fragility. The Foundry 360 measures the dimensions that drive enterprise value — not just revenue — because buyers price risk and transferability, not top-line numbers.
How do I know if my business is ready to sell?
The SCORE Framework answers this question across 100 points. A score of 85–100 indicates the business is exit-ready with 6–12 months of preparation. A score of 70–84 means the business is near-ready with specific gaps to close over 12–24 months. A score of 50–69 indicates a developing position requiring 2–4 years of focused work. Below 50, significant structural changes are needed before going to market. The assessment tells you exactly where you stand and what needs to improve.
Start Here
Explore The Foundry 360 — See the full 360-point system and how each framework connects.
The Foundry 360 →
Start the READY Conversation — Five questions that determine whether this process is the right fit.
READY →
Business Growth Q&A Guide — 50 questions answered on scaling revenue for mid-market companies.
Growth Questions →
Business Exit Q&A Guide — 50 questions answered on maximizing valuation and preparing for exit.
Exit Questions →
Quick Links
Resources: Business Growth Q&A | Business Exit Q&A | The Foundry 360 | READY | DRIVER Test | Podcast | Articles
About: About Scott | Speaking | Media Kit | Contact
Podcast
Scott Sylvan Bell Business Growth and Exit Strategy Podcast
Listen Now → | [Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify] | [YouTube] | [Amazon Music]
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The Foundry 360™ is a trademark of Aries711 LLC.