Joseph Steigman

Joe Steigman is the Founder of Legacy Entrepreneurs, a boutique business brokerage and exit advisory firm focused on helping business owners maximize value and transition their companies with confidence. With a background that combines operational leadership, corporate consulting, finance, and entrepreneurship, Joe brings a practical, owner-focused perspective to business sales and acquisitions. Joe is a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI), a designation awarded by the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) to professionals who demonstrate advanced expertise in business brokerage, valuation, and transaction management. He is also a member of the IBBA and holds the Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) certification from the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI), reflecting his strong analytical and financial modeling capabilities. Prior to founding Legacy Entrepreneurs, Joe served as a logistics officer in the U.S. Army and later worked in consulting roles supporting Fortune 100 organizations. He also owned and operated a delivery business, giving him firsthand experience with the challenges and opportunities business owners face every day. Joe earned his MBA from the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and holds a bachelor’s degree from The George Washington University. Through Legacy Entrepreneurs, Joe works closely with founders and privately held businesses on valuations, exit planning, acquisitions, and successful ownership transitions, with a focus on preserving legacy while maximizing enterprise value.

Due Diligence Checklist for Sellers

11 min read

Due Diligence Checklist for Sellers: How to Prepare Your Business for Buyers

A due diligence checklist for sellers identifies the financial, legal, tax, and operational records a buyer will examine before purchasing a...

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How Buyers Calculate Small Business Value Using SDE

6 min read

What Is SDE? The Number Buyers Actually Use to Price Your Small Business

SDE stands for Seller's Discretionary Earnings. It is the total financial benefit a single owner-operator receives from a business in a year. It...

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Family-Owned Business Succession Tennessee

10 min read

Building a Succession Plan to Protect Your Family Business in Tennessee

Building a succession plan gives Tennessee family business owners a structured way to transfer leadership and ownership without putting the company...

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How to Sell a Small Business in Nashville

10 min read

Selling a Small Business in Nashville: A 6-Step Guide for Business Owners

Selling a small business in Nashville begins well before you put it on the market. A successful sale depends on understanding what your business is...

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Asset Sale vs Stock Sale Tennessee

15 min read

Asset Sale vs. Stock Sale: Why the Structure Matters as Much as the Price

An asset sale and a stock sale can lead to very different outcomes for a business owner. In most Tennessee business transactions, buyers prefer asset...

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Sell Manufacturing Business Tennessee

12 min read

How to Sell a Manufacturing Business in Tennessee: A Business Broker's Guide

If you're thinking about selling a manufacturing business in Tennessee, valuation and buyer interest are largely driven by cash flow, customer...

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Restaurant Exit Strategy Tennessee

14 min read

Restaurant Exit Strategies in Tennessee for Owners and Franchise Businesses

A successful restaurant exit starts long before you put the business on the market. Whether you own an independent restaurant, a restaurant...

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Buyer Financing Business Acquisition TN

13 min read

How to Finance a Small Business Purchase in Tennessee

Most buyers do not pay cash to buy a business in Tennessee. They usually combine personal equity with an SBA (Small Business Administration) loan,...

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How Trucking Companies Are Valued in Tennessee

11 min read

The Insider Guide to How Trucking Companies Are Valued in Tennessee

Tennessee trucking companies are valued based on adjusted cash flow, fleet quality, contract stability, safety records, and how much the business...

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