Community Program… Wealth Building Through Business Ownership

Join us for an afternoon that expands the conversation around business ownership.

Presented in collaboration with Chicago Booth: Milwaukee Alumni, this community program is designed to make business acquisition a real possibility for people who are ready to pursue it.

Business ownership stands as a direct route to lasting wealth, yet the knowledge needed to pursue it is often perceived as out of reach. The program, How to Buy a Business, changes that perception, giving participants a clear, practical introduction to what it takes to buy, run, grow and sell a business.

Attendees grow their knowledge, gain confidence, and expand their networks. Presentations and panel discussion focus on understanding how business acquisition works, insight into what lenders and sellers look for, and concrete first steps toward pursuing ownership. The program is built to create momentum, turning “I’ve thought about it” into “I know what I need to do next.”

This afternoon is for…

• People curious about how business ownership can be a path to building wealth.
• Those actively searching for a business to buy/acquire.
• Current owners thinking about growth and the exit/sale.
• Advisors, lenders, and community leaders who are committed to helping women become owners and successful operators.

Registration required; see below. Net proceeds will benefit the Women’s Fund.

AGENDA

12:30 p.m., Arrival with info tables and networking

1 – 5 p.m., Program

1 P.M.
Opening remarks and welcome
Finding a Business — search strategies, working with brokers, assessing opportunities, and recognizing a business worth pursuing.
Running a Business — building value over time.

2:30 PM
Break

2:45 PM
Financing: Buying and Selling a Business — valuation, due diligence, financing including the importance of SBA lending, and structuring the deal. Then, preparing for an exit, what buyers look for, and timing.
Keynote & Fireside Chat — a candid conversation who has searched, bought, run, and sold, plus Q&A.
Closing — key takeaways, resources, and an invitation to stay connected.

5 – 6:30 p.m., Reception (optional) — beverages and appetizers, conversations for lasting connections.

PRESENTERS AND PANELISTS