Add-backs are personal, non-recurring, or one-time expenses the seller legitimately ran through the business — family on payroll, country-club dues, personal travel, boat fuel — that get added back to profit when calculating true owner benefit (SDE).

Solopreneurs who document every add-back with receipts and clear categorization sell for 20–50 % higher multiples; those who wing it or inflate numbers leave six figures on the table or get zero offers when buyers smell sloppy books.

Corporate escapees often treat the business like an unlimited expense account with zero tracking — this blows up spectacularly when buyers (or the IRS) demand proof and slash the valuation or walk entirely.

Do it right: keep a dedicated add-backs spreadsheet from day one, categorize every personal expense, attach receipts, and review quarterly — clean add-backs are the easiest free money you’ll ever make at exit.

Buyers acquiring businesses pay enormous premiums when add-backs are documented and part of repeatable financial systems — because true owner benefit is verifiable and sustainable long after the founder departs.

One year of disciplined tracking can add six or seven figures to your final sale price.

Ignore it and watch buyers shave 0.5–1.5× off your multiple because they simply can’t trust the numbers.

A good prompt to basic AI can scan your last 12 months of transactions, flag legitimate add-backs, and generate the exact buyer-ready documentation template in minutes — turning yesterday’s sloppy spending into tomorrow’s bigger exit check.

An asset sale is when you buy only the pieces of the business (equipment, customer list, goodwill, IP) and leave the old entity and its liabilities behind; a stock sale is when you buy the entire corporate entity, inheriting everything — good and bad.

High-performers who insist on asset sales get a clean slate, step-up in basis for depreciation, and zero surprise lawsuits; those who accept stock sales often inherit hidden debt, lawsuits, or tax traps that kill the deal or their profit.

Corporate escapees who don’t understand the difference get pressured into stock sales by sellers wanting tax advantages — this fails spectacularly when unknown liabilities surface post-close.

Do it right: almost always choose asset sale (Cody’s rule for first-time Main Street buyers), negotiate a clean purchase agreement, and allocate the price correctly across asset classes for maximum tax benefits.

Buyers acquiring businesses pay life-changing premiums when the deal is structured as a clean, documented asset sale — because the new owner starts free of legacy liabilities and with fresh depreciation schedules.

An asset sale instead of a stock sale can save you six figures in taxes and legal headaches while sleeping better at night.

Accept a stock sale without understanding the risks and watch a “great deal” turn into a nightmare of unknown obligations.

A good prompt to basic AI can compare any deal’s asset vs stock implications, generate the allocation schedule, and draft the exact clauses you need — giving you Main-Street-level deal structuring in minutes instead of thousands in legal fees.

Broker vs off-market describes the two ways businesses come up for sale: broker-listed deals are publicly marketed through business brokers, while off-market deals are quiet, direct-to-owner transactions never exposed to the open market.

Future acquirers who master off-market sourcing close deals 20–40 % cheaper with better terms; those who only shop broker listings fight dozens of competing bidders and pay retail every time.

Corporate escapees typically wait for brokers to send them listings (just like waiting for recruiters in the old job) and miss the best deals because the juiciest businesses never hit the open market.

Do it right: build relationships with local CPAs, attorneys, and industry players, send weekly “I buy businesses” letters or LinkedIn messages, and make direct outreach a non-negotiable weekly habit.

Buyers pay outsized premiums when the business has documented, repeatable off-market acquisition systems — because the pipeline of exclusive deals continues long after the founder departs.

One year of disciplined off-market outreach can save you hundreds of thousands on your first purchase (and millions on the next).

Rely only on brokers and watch the best cash-flow machines get snapped up by quieter, faster buyers while you overpay for what’s left.

Basic AI can scrape local business registries, draft personalized outreach scripts, and track every contact in a simple CRM — turning cold outreach into a predictable deal-flow machine in weeks instead of years.

Deal fatigue is the emotional and mental exhaustion a seller feels after their business has been on the market for 12–36 months, endless broker calls, tire-kickers, lowball offers, and repeated due-diligence packets finally make them desperate to “just be done.”

Future acquirers who spot deal fatigue close purchases 20–40% below asking price because the seller’s urgency becomes the buyer’s leverage; those who only chase fresh listings pay full price or more.

Corporate escapees selling their own business often create their own fatigue by waiting too long to prepare clean books and systems — the longer it drags, the weaker their negotiating position.

Do it right: if you’re the seller, get your books, SOPs, and add-backs bulletproof before listing; if you’re the buyer, patiently track long-listed deals and strike when the seller is worn out but the business is still healthy.

Buyers pay life-changing premiums when the business has documented, repeatable systems that prevent owner fatigue — because cash flow and culture stay strong long after the founder departs.

One well-timed deal-fatigue purchase can save you hundreds of thousands on a single transaction and accelerate your wealth timeline by years.

Ignore it (as seller) and watch your seven-figure exit shrink to a fire sale; ignore it (as buyer) and overpay for businesses everyone else is fighting over.

Basic AI can monitor listings, score fatigue signals (price drops, days on market, broker notes), and draft perfectly timed outreach — turning patience into your biggest competitive advantage.

Due diligence is the 30–90 day deep investigation after signing an LOI where you verify everything the seller claimed — financials, customer concentration, legal issues, equipment condition, and hidden liabilities.

Future acquirers who execute ruthless due diligence avoid buying someone else’s nightmare and close deals with confidence; those who rush or trust blindly lose their deposit or inherit disasters that wipe out years of profit.

Corporate escapees often treat due diligence like a corporate checkbox exercise — light financial review and a handshake — and miss the red flags that only show up in Main Street’s messy books.

Do it right: follow a documented checklist (tax returns, P&L by month, bank statements, customer contracts, insurance claims, liens) and bring in specialists (CPA, attorney) the moment something smells off.

Buyers pay life-changing premiums when the business has clean, organized records that make due diligence fast and painless — because trust and profitability are proven to continue long after the founder departs.

One thorough due-diligence process can save you six or seven figures by uncovering issues that drop the price or let you walk away.

Skip it and watch your dream deal turn into a money pit that destroys your wealth instead of building it.

Basic AI can take any seller’s data room (that's a term for their ideal business form), run a 100-point due-diligence checklist, flag red flags, and generate questions for the seller — giving you Cody-level diligence in hours instead of weeks.

An earn-out is a portion of the purchase price paid to the seller after closing, contingent on the business hitting specific performance targets (usually revenue or profit) over 1–3 years.

Future acquirers who structure earn-outs correctly bridge valuation gaps and only pay for growth they actually achieve; those who accept heavy earn-outs often stay chained to the business far longer than planned.

Corporate escapees selling their company sometimes push for big earn-outs to “get their price”; this fails when the buyer changes strategy or the market shifts and the earn-out never pays.

Do it right (as buyer): cap earn-outs at 20–30 % of total price, tie them to simple metrics you fully control, and document exactly how they’ll be calculated to avoid disputes.

Buyers pay substantial premiums when earn-out structures are documented and part of repeatable performance systems — because future payouts are fair, predictable, and tied to ongoing profitability long after the founder departs.

One smart earn-out can save you six figures upfront while aligning incentives and dramatically increasing your eventual exit value when you sell the bigger business later.

Accept a bad earn-out as seller and watch half your payout evaporate because the buyer changed the rules; structure one poorly as buyer and stay married to the old owner for years.

Basic AI can model any earn-out scenario, stress-test different targets, and draft bulletproof language in minutes — giving you deal protection without $10K in legal research fees. Of course, confirm with your attorney before concluding.

A HoldCo is a parent entity that owns multiple operating businesses (OpCos) — laundromats, storage units, HVAC companies — letting you share overhead, move cash tax-free, and build a diversified portfolio under one umbrella.

Entrepreneurs who structure with a HoldCo create mini-empires that compound wealth faster and sell for higher multiples; those who keep everything in separate LLCs pay unnecessary taxes and complicate future exits.

Corporate escapees often leave each business in its own silo because “that’s how the broker set it up” — this fails when you want to consolidate profits, reduce duplicate costs, or sell the portfolio as one attractive package.

Do it right: form the HoldCo early (usually an LLC taxed as S-Corp), drop new acquisitions underneath as subsidiaries or asset purchases, and document inter-company agreements for clean tax and liability separation.

Buyers pay life-changing premiums when the HoldCo structure is documented and part of repeatable acquisition systems — because diversified cash flow and centralized control continue long after the founder departs.

One properly built HoldCo can cut your effective tax rate 10–20 %, simplify management of 5–20 businesses, and dramatically increase your eventual portfolio exit value.

Ignore it and watch duplicate overhead, trapped cash, and complicated sales kill millions in wealth when it’s time to cash out.

Basic AI can map your current entities, model the optimal HoldCo structure for your state and goals, and generate the exact operating agreements and tax flow charts — giving you a seven-figure-ready setup in hours instead of months of attorney fees.

A Letter of Intent is the short, non-binding document you send after verbally agreeing on price and basic terms — locking exclusivity, outlining the deal structure, and starting the due-diligence clock before lawyers get expensive.

Entrepreneurs who move fast with a clear LOI close deals weeks or months ahead of the competition; those who “keep talking” lose the business to another buyer who locked it up first.

Corporate escapees often treat the LOI like a corporate MOU — long, lawyer-heavy, and slow — and watch motivated sellers sign with the first decisive buyer who shows up with a simple, clean one-pager.

Do it right: send a 1–2 page LOI within 48 hours of agreeing on price — include purchase price, structure (asset vs stock), exclusivity period (30–90 days), and earnest-money deposit — then get it signed before anyone else can swoop in.

Buyers pay life-changing premiums when the business has documented, repeatable LOI templates and deal-sourcing systems — because fast, decisive deal flow continues long after the founder departs.

One sharp LOI can secure a seven-figure cash-flowing business before the broker even lists it.

Hesitate or over-lawyer the LOI and watch the best deals disappear to faster, hungrier buyers while you’re still “thinking about it.”

Basic AI can take your verbal deal terms, instantly generate a professional, Cody-style LOI with all required clauses, and customize it for any state — giving you closing speed in minutes instead of days of attorney back-and-forth.

A Main Street business is a traditional, cash-flowing, “boring” local company — laundromats, car washes, storage units, HVAC, pest control, landscaping — usually $300K–$5M revenue, one or few locations, and owner-operated.

Experienced entrepreneurs who target Main Street businesses buy proven cash flow with bank financing instead of gambling on startups; those who chase sexy tech or e-commerce fight for funding and burn out on zero-profit growth.

Corporate escapees often dismiss Main Street as “not ambitious enough” and chase venture-scale ideas; this fails because they miss the greatest wealth-building vehicle most normal humans will ever access.

Do it right: focus on businesses with $200K+ SDE (Seller's Discretionary Earnings), recurring revenue, and simple operations you can understand in a weekend, then acquire, optimize, and repeat.

Buyers pay life-changing premiums when the business has documented, repeatable Main Street systems — because stable cash flow and local relationships continue long after the founder departs.

One Main Street acquisition can replace your corporate salary in 12–24 months and fund the next ten deals with its own profits.

Ignore Main Street and watch the greatest quiet wealth transfer of our lifetime — trillions from retiring boomers — pass you by while you chase unicorns that rarely exist.

Basic AI can scan local business listings, score them on Cody-style criteria (SDE, years in business, recurring revenue), and generate your personalized target list in minutes — putting you months ahead of everyone still “thinking about it.”

A multiple is the number of times a buyer multiplies your SDE (or EBITDA) to determine what they’ll pay — Main Street deals typically range from 2.5× to 5× SDE, with exceptional ones hitting 6–8×.

Solopreneurs and SMB (Small and Medium-Sized Business) owners who understand multiples obsess over the drivers (recurring revenue, clean books, low owner involvement) and sell for 50–100 % more; those who don’t leave millions on the table because buyers see risk everywhere.

Corporate escapees often think “more revenue = higher price” and ignore the multiple drivers; this fails because a $1M-revenue lifestyle business with high owner dependence sells for 2× while a $600K-revenue boring business with systems sells for 5×.

Do it right: from day one build recurring revenue, document every process, reduce owner hours, and keep financials buyer-ready — every improvement pushes your multiple higher.

Buyers pay life-changing premiums when the multiple drivers are embedded in documented, repeatable systems — because predictable cash flow and low risk continue long after the founder departs.

One extra turn on your multiple (3x to 4x on $300K SDE) puts an extra $300K in your pocket at exit.

Ignore multiples and watch your seven-figure exit shrink to a fire sale because buyers only see risk and founder dependence.

Intelligent AI prompts can run your current numbers through a multiple calculator, show exactly which levers (recurring revenue, owner hours, documentation) move the needle most, and give you a 90-day plan to add 1–2 turns — turning guesswork into a precise exit roadmap.

A non-compete / non-solicit is a legal agreement where the seller promises not to reopen a competing business nearby or poach customers and employees for a defined period (usually 3–10 years) after the sale.

Business buyers who negotiate iron-clad non-competes protect the goodwill they’re paying for; those who accept weak or missing ones watch the seller open “Version 2.0” down the street and destroy the value overnight.

Owners who are selling their business often resist strong non-competes (“I might want to consult later”) — this fails because buyers walk or slash the price when they see the seller keeping one foot in the game.

Do it right: as buyer, insist on 5–10 years radius-based non-compete plus non-solicit of customers/employees; as seller, give it freely if you’re truly done — it’s the price of your seven-figure check.

Buyers pay premiums when non-compete / non-solicit clauses are documented and part of repeatable deal systems — because customer relationships and revenue stay protected long after the founder departs.

One bulletproof non-compete can be worth hundreds of thousands (or millions) in preserved business value.

Ignore it and watch the seller (or their spouse/kid) reopen nearby and take half your customers the day after closing — your “dream business” becomes a nightmare.

Proper AI prompts can quickly draft state-specific non-compete language, map enforceable radius, and flag red flags in seller drafts in minutes. You can give that to your attorney and save on their bills.

An off-market deal is a business for sale that never hits public listings — found through direct owner outreach, relationships, or proprietary sourcing instead of waiting for a broker to post it.

Savvy buyers who master off-market sourcing close deals 20–40 % cheaper with better terms because they face zero competing bidders; those who only shop broker listings pay retail every time.

Others often wait passively for brokers to email them deals (just like waiting for recruiters in the old job) and miss the best cash-flowing businesses that never go public.

Do it right: send weekly “I buy businesses” letters or LinkedIn messages to owners in your target niches, build relationships with local CPAs and attorneys, and make direct outreach a non-negotiable weekly habit.

Build your off-market sourcing muscle today and your business will always have a private pipeline of deals — the exact kind of proprietary advantage buyers pay huge premiums for when you sell.

One year of disciplined off-market outreach can save you hundreds of thousands on your first purchase and millions on the next.Rely only on brokers and watch the juiciest cash cows get snapped up by quieter, faster buyers while you overpay for what’s left.Basic AI can scrape local business registries, draft personalized outreach scripts, and track every contact in a simple CRM — turning cold outreach into a predictable deal machine in weeks instead of years.

A Quality of Earnings report is an independent, third-party analysis that verifies your stated SDE or EBITDA is real, recurring, and sustainable — stripping out one-time windfalls, personal expenses, or accounting tricks.

Future acquirers who require a QoE close deals faster and pay higher multiples because they trust the numbers; those who skip it or fight it get hammered on price or lose the buyer entirely.

Corporate escapees selling their business often view QoE as an annoying expense and resist cleanup — this fails spectacularly when the report reveals $150K of “add-backs” were really owner lifestyle and the valuation drops six figures overnight.

Do it right: keep revenue recognition clean, document every add-back with receipts, and run your own mini-QoE quarterly so nothing surprises a real one later.

Paying attention to Quality of Earnings today dramatically increases your exit value because buyers see verified, recurring profit instead of hopeful accounting — often adding 0.5–1.5× to the final multiple.

One clean QoE can turn a $1M offer into a $1.5M offer without growing revenue a single dollar. Ignore it and watch buyers slash your price or walk away when the report proves half your profit was personal expenses or one-time luck.

Basic AI can run a preliminary QoE on your last 24 months of financials, flag questionable add-backs, and generate the exact documentation template a real accountant needs — giving you buyer-ready numbers months ahead of listing.

A roll-up strategy is the deliberate plan to buy one solid “platform” Main Street business, then acquire and consolidate smaller competitors in the same niche — think “Planet Fitness of laundromats” or “the dominant HVAC brand in the region.”

Experienced investors who execute roll-ups correctly 5–10x their revenue and EBITDA in 3–7 years by cutting duplicate overhead, cross-selling, and dominating local markets; those who buy randomly stay a collection of disconnected companies with no synergy.

Corporate escapees often buy one business and stop, thinking “that’s enough” — this fails to create the scale and efficiency that buyers pay life-changing multiples for.

Do it right: pick a fragmented niche with many $200K–$1M SDE operators, buy the strongest one first as your platform, then target add-ons with overlapping geography and services — document the integration playbook from day one.

Paying attention to roll-up strategy today dramatically increases your future exit value because a consolidated, market-dominating business with shared systems sells for far higher multiples than standalone operators.

One successful roll-up can turn a $300K SDE business into a $3M+ SDE empire while you work less.

Ignore it and watch your single location stay small, local, and capped at 2–3× SDE forever.

Basic AI prompts can scan any metro area for roll-up targets, score them on revenue, SDE, and geographic overlap, and generate your first integration checklist — giving you a Cody-level roll-up plan in hours instead of months of manual research.

An SBA 7(a) loan is the government-guaranteed loan that finances up to 90% of a Main Street business acquisition with only 10–15% down, long terms (10 years), and rates usually 2–3 % above prime.

Business buyers who master the SBA 7(a) process buy $1M–$5M cash-flowing businesses with $50K–$150K of their own cash; those who think “I need all the money upfront” never close their first deal.”).

Corporate escapees often assume they need millions saved or perfect credit; this fails because the SBA was literally created for normal people buying boring, profitable businesses.

Do it right: find an SBA-preferred lender, get pre-qualified early, line up 10% cash plus seller financing for another 10%, and use the business’s own cash flow to repay — Cody’s favorite “no-money-down” blueprint.

Paying attention to SBA 7(a) eligibility today dramatically increases your future exit value because a business originally purchased with SBA debt is already proven bank-financeable, making it far more attractive to the next buyer.

One SBA 7(a) loan can turn $100K cash into a $1M+ revenue business that throws off $200K–$400K profit yearly.

Ignore it and watch the greatest wealth-transfer opportunity of our lifetime — millions of retiring boomer businesses — pass you by while you wait to “save up.”

The right AI prompts can run your personal finances through SBA 7(a) eligibility criteria, find preferred lenders in your state, and generate the exact pre-qualification checklist, giving you bank-ready confidence in hours instead of weeks of confusion.

SDE (Seller’s Discretionary Earnings) is the true cash flow an owner-operator can take home — calculated as net profit plus owner salary, personal expenses run through the business (add-backs), interest, and depreciation/amortization.

It’s the Main Street version of EBITDA: EBITDA is used for larger businesses with management teams; SDE is used for owner-operated businesses under ~$2M revenue where the owner still wears most hats.

High-performers who obsess over clean, documented SDE sell for 3–5× (or higher) multiples; those who don’t leave hundreds of thousands on the table because buyers can’t trust the real cash flow.

Corporate escapees often think “profit is profit” and mix personal and business expenses with no tracking — this fails spectacularly when buyers (or the IRS) demand proof and slash valuation.

Do it right: track every add-back from day one with receipts and clear categorization, pay yourself a reasonable salary, and review SDE quarterly so nothing is a surprise at sale.

Paying attention to SDE today dramatically increases your future exit value because a clean, growing SDE with documented add-backs is the single biggest driver of Main Street multiples.

One year of disciplined SDE tracking can turn a $1M offer into a $1.5M+ offer without adding a single new client.

Ignore it and watch buyers shave 1–2× off your multiple (or walk entirely) because they can’t verify true owner benefit.

Basic AI can audit your last 24 months of transactions, flag legitimate add-backs, and calculate your real SDE with a buyer-ready report — giving you Cody-level clarity in minutes instead of weeks of accountant spreadsheets.

A search fund is a vehicle where a young, driven entrepreneur raises money from investors to search full-time for one high-quality business to acquire, then steps in as CEO to run and grow it — the “entrepreneurship through acquisition” path.

Professionals who execute search funds buy $1M–$5M SDE businesses with other people’s capital and build equity from day one; those who try to “figure it out alone” stay stuck hunting deals with no funding and no credibility.

Corporate escapees often think “I’ll just buy a business when I’m ready” and never raise the search capital — this fails because the best deals require speed and certainty that only funded searchers can offer.

Do it right: write a compelling PPM (private placement memorandum), raise $400K–$600K from 10–20 investors for your 2-year search salary and expenses, then acquire with SBA debt and seller note — Cody’s Contrarian Thinking community has dozens doing exactly this.

Paying attention to the search-fund model today dramatically increases your future exit value because you learn to buy and scale businesses with OPM (other people’s money) — making your eventual portfolio far larger and more attractive to the next buyer.

One successful search fund can turn a 30-year-old into a millionaire CEO in 5–7 years instead of 20.

Ignore it and watch the greatest wealth-transfer opportunity (millions of retiring boomer businesses) pass to the funded, decisive searchers while you’re still “saving up.”

Basic AI can draft your PPM, model investor returns, and generate outreach scripts to high-net-worth individuals — giving you a funded search vehicle in weeks instead of years of networking.

Seller financing is when the seller acts as the bank and agrees to receive part of the purchase price over time (usually 10–50 % paid over 5–10 years at 5–8 % interest) instead of getting all cash at closing.

Future acquirers who negotiate seller financing close deals with far less cash out of pocket and often get lower total prices; those who insist on “all cash only” miss the best businesses because motivated sellers want the tax spread and monthly income.

Corporate escapees selling their business often reject seller financing out of “I want my money now” thinking; this fails because it eliminates 60–80 % of qualified buyers and forces a lower all-cash offer.

Do it right: as buyer, ask for 20–40 % seller carry at reasonable interest with payments from business cash flow; as seller, offer it willingly to attract more buyers and spread capital-gains tax.

Paying attention to seller financing today dramatically increases your future exit value because a business proven to support debt payments is far more attractive to the next time you sell.

One well-structured seller note can cut your cash needed by $200K–$500K and turn “I can’t afford it” into “I just bought my first cash-flow machine.”

Ignore it and watch great deals die from lack of capital (as buyer) or sell for 20–40 % less (as seller) because you eliminated most of the market.

Basic AI can model any seller-financing scenario, calculate monthly payments and interest, and draft bulletproof promissory-note language — giving you bank-level terms in minutes instead of thousands in legal fees.

A succession crisis is the coming wave of millions of baby-boomer-owned Main Street businesses that will simply shut down in the next 10–15 years because no buyer or successor exists — trillions in GDP and millions of jobs quietly vanishing.

High-performers who position themselves as the solution to the succession crisis buy cash-flowing businesses at fair prices and keep communities alive; those who ignore it miss the greatest wealth-transfer opportunity of our lifetime.

Corporate escapees often believe “I’ll just sell when I’m ready” — never realizing that 60–80 % of small businesses never find a buyer and simply close forever, leaving the founder with almost nothing after a lifetime of work.

Do it right: start preparing your own business today with documented systems, clean books, and recurring revenue so you’re the attractive exception buyers fight over — or become the buyer who rescues these companies.

Paying attention to the succession crisis today dramatically increases your future exit value because a business built to survive the founder is exactly what the next wave of buyers will pay top dollar for.

One prepared business can sell for 5–7x SDE instead of closing its doors and leaving nothing behind.

Ignore it and watch your life’s work die with you — or the opportunity to build real wealth by acquiring someone else’s life’s work pass you by.

Basic AI can scan your metro area for retiring boomer owners, draft outreach letters, and model which businesses fit your acquisition criteria — turning the succession crisis into your personal fortune in weeks instead of years of random searching.

A transition period is the agreed-upon time (usually 30–180 days) after closing where the seller stays on payroll to train the buyer, introduce key customers and employees, and ensure knowledge and relationships transfer smoothly.

Future acquirers who negotiate a paid, structured transition period protect revenue and goodwill during the handoff; those who skip it or accept a weak one watch 20–50 % of cash flow disappear the day the seller walks out the door.

Corporate escapees selling their business often resist long transitions (“I’m done”) and wonder why buyers lowball or walk — this fails because goodwill is the most valuable asset and it dies without proper handover.

Do it right: as buyer insist on 60–90 days paid transition with clear milestones; as seller offer it generously and document every introduction and process — it’s the difference between a smooth exit and a fire sale.

Paying attention to the transition period today dramatically increases your future exit value because a business with a proven, documented handoff process is far more attractive and less risky to the next buyer.

One well-executed transition can preserve 100 % of recurring revenue and turn clients into raving fans of the new owner.

Ignore it and watch customers and employees leave with the seller, revenue crater, and your seven-figure exit shrink to pennies.

A solid AI promopt can help map every key relationship and process, then generate a day-by-day 90-day transition playbook with scripts and checklists — giving you a Cody-level handover in hours instead of weeks of scrambling.