The Real Reason You Started: Freedom Money
Most business owners start with the same dream: freedom. Yet, a few years in, they’re more overwhelmed than ever—owned by their business instead of owning it.
In Episode 38 of the Built to Exit Podcast, Jason Sisneros cuts through the noise with a blunt truth: the real target of entrepreneurship isn’t just profit, recognition, or growth. It’s Freedom Money—the amount that allows you to live life on your terms.
Jason reminds us:
“Everybody exits. How matters.”
Your business should fuel freedom, not become a cage.
What Is Freedom Money?
Freedom Money, sometimes called “F You Money,” isn’t about private jets or yachts. It’s the number that gives you peace of mind and leverage:
- The freedom to say no to bad deals.
- The freedom to walk away from toxic clients.
- The freedom to pivot or retire without fear.
Jason uses John Goodman’s classic monologue in The Gambler to illustrate this mindset. Freedom Money isn’t luxury—it’s control.
Step 1: Define Your Freedom Number
Jason challenges every business owner to calculate their personal Freedom Number—the exact cost of their ideal lifestyle, plus a buffer for security and legacy.
This isn’t guesswork. Write it down:
- Paid-off house.
- Kids’ education.
- Healthcare.
- Travel, hobbies, charitable giving.
Once you have your Freedom Number, your business has a true purpose: funding that freedom.
Step 2: Build Your Business to Serve Freedom Money
Too many entrepreneurs chase appearances instead of assets. Jason “double dog dares” owners to spend a year investing in their Freedom Fund instead of status symbols.
Every extra dollar of profit should flow toward the exit runway.
Every system, hire, or process should reduce dependency on you.
Every decision should move you closer to Freedom Money, not farther away.
This is how you turn a job into a sellable asset.
The Freedom Money Mindset Shift
Modern entrepreneurship glorifies clout: followers, flashy offices, and constant hustle. But Jason warns this obsession keeps owners trapped.
Instead, flip the script:
- Stop trying to impress strangers.
- Start building value buyers actually want.
- Care deeply about your customers, employees, and family.
Freedom Money isn’t earned by chasing attention—it’s earned by focusing relentlessly on outcomes that matter.
The Mechanics of Freedom Money: Price, Timing, Terms
Jason distills exit strategy into three levers:
- Price – Build predictable cash flow and recurring revenue to maximize valuation.
- Timing – Exits staged years in advance always outperform fire sales.
- Terms – With a well-run business, you control negotiations instead of being dictated to.
Freedom Money comes when you can dictate all three.
Common Myths That Block Freedom Money
Myth #1: You Need Billions.
False. Jason’s first freedom number was $2.1M. Yours may be more—or far less.
Myth #2: Bigger Means Better.
A massive payroll doesn’t equal freedom. A lean, well-run team often produces more margin and flexibility.
Myth #3: More Sales Fix Everything.
Sales matter early. But after survival mode, value comes from systems, intellectual property, and transferability.
Practical Steps to Build Toward Freedom Money
- Write Down Your Freedom Number. Be specific. Don’t leave it vague.
- Audit Your Business. Can it run without you? Where are the gaps?
- Reallocate Excess Profits. Direct every non-essential dollar into your Freedom Fund.
- Systemize and Document. Buyers pay a premium for businesses that don’t collapse when the founder leaves.
- Seek Real Expertise. Work with proven advisors who’ve built and sold companies—not fake gurus.
What Happens When You Achieve Freedom Money?
The transformation is profound:
- Buyers compete for your company.
- You set the price, timing, and terms.
- Your business funds your life, instead of consuming it.
Jason sums it up:
“The only measurement in my mind for success: the price, the timing, and the terms of your exit.”
Call to Action: Start Your Freedom Money Journey Today
Your exit story is already being written. Don’t let it be accidental or filled with regret. Define your Freedom Number, build backward with intention, and create a business that sets you free.
👉 Visit BuiltToExit.biz for free resources, strategy calls, and the B2X system designed to help you control the price, timing, and terms of your exit.
👉 Subscribe to The Built to Exit Podcast with Jason Sisneros for raw, actionable insights from someone who has bought, built, and exited over two dozen companies.
👉 Explore JasonSisneros.com to learn more about Jason’s mission to help business owners achieve wealth, impact, and true freedom.
Because at the end of the day, you didn’t start your business to just own a job. You started it to own your future.
Everybody exits. How you exit—that’s the game.