Episode 289: From Failed Deal to Freedom: The Exit That Finally Worked - What It Really Takes to Sell Your Business

In this powerful follow-up episode, Christa Gurka shares part two of her journey to selling her Pilates studio, Pilates in the Grove. After a near miss at the closing table in 2024, Christa regrouped, healed, and ultimately closed a successful deal in March 2025. 

This episode is both a personal story and a practical guide for boutique fitness and wellness business owners considering a future sale.

Christa walks listeners through what went wrong with the first deal, what changed the second time around, and how she approached due diligence, valuation, and choosing the right buyer. She shares honest reflections on the emotional rollercoaster of selling something she spent 15 years building, and the mindset shifts required to transition from founder to former majority owner.

Whether you're years away from selling or just starting to wonder what your exit might look like, this episode offers a roadmap, real numbers, and reassurance that it is possible, even for small, service-based businesses, to build and sell a valuable asset.

Key Takeaways:

• How Christa turned a failed sale into a successful one within a year
• The importance of preparing your business two years in advance for a potential exit
• Why removing yourself from day-to-day operations is essential for building a sellable business
• What multiples buyers typically pay for boutique fitness businesses
• How to emotionally and strategically navigate due diligence
• Tips for choosing between multiple offers—and why cash upfront isn’t always the only factor
• The role of systems, team structure, and profit margins in business valuation
• How Christa stayed involved post-sale as a strategic partner

Thinking about your own business exit strategy? Download Christa’s free Exit Strategy Matrix to help determine whether it’s time to keep and collect - or prepare to sell and cash in: www.christagurka.com/exit

Want guidance on building systems and preparing for growth or eventual sale? Join the FitBiz Foundations monthly membership: www.christagurka.com/fitbiz-foundations

Have questions about selling your business or interested in having Christa speak at your next event?

• Connect on Instagram: @christagurka
•  Email: christa@christagurka.com

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