Z. Christopher Mercer

I am a businessman and a valuation guy. I have been writing and speaking about business valuation and related topics for more than thirty years. My latest book, Unlocking Private Company Wealth, addresses the critical issue for business owners of managing their private company wealth with focus, and creating liquidity outside their business ownership.

Mercer Capital, which I founded in 1982, is a 45-person, national business valuation and financial advisory firm. We have worked with thousands of private businesses, ranging in size from a few million dollars in sales to the multi-billions. I have worked with many hundreds of business owners and business advisers, and have served as a director of one public and several private businesses.

My relationships with owners and advisers led me to speaking and writing about the valuation of closely held and family businesses over 30 years ago. I now speak about speak about "unlocking private company wealth" in private companies to groups of business owners, business advisers, accountants, attorneys, and financial planners.

My background as a business valuation guy allows me to bring a lifetime of experience working with closely held and family businesses, both larger and smaller, to the table. The owners of all businesses need to understand the value of their businesses and how to use corporate finance tools available to private businesses to promote succession planning and intergenerational wealth transfers.

It is my passion is helping baby boomer business owners understand their options for transitioning their businesses so they can achieve successful ownership and management transitions. If you are younger, that is okay, too! My further goal is to encourage business owners to work with the appropriate professionals through the transition process so they realize their dreams for the next phase of their lives.