Build and Exit

Have you considered becoming an investor?

The mindset you need differs significantly from being an operator of the business. One that my guest in this episode, Taha Afshar explores with us.

Taha started his journey working in a family-run tea business to then make the shifts needed to diversify their income. He shares his experiences moving to the world of investments. Where he has now successfully acquired and managed multiple businesses.

Taha delves into the importance of diversification in investment portfolios, the challenges of navigating the acquisition process, and the strategies for managing acquired businesses.

With this approach to investments as a form of diversification Taha has given his family a solid foundation for future growth.

“I had a 115% return in the first year.” – Taha Afshar

Timestamps

 01:10 - An introduction to Taha

02:16 - Why Taha decided to diversify

08:47 - How Taha found the first business he bought

12:05 - Taha's experience in the sector he bought

13:32 - Acquisition number 2

18:20 - Does Taha work full time in investments?

20:47 - Getting the systems and processes right

25:20 - Evolving and learning

29:22 - Has investing given Taha what he wanted?

Connect with Taha Afshar:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahaafshar/

X - https://twitter.com/tahaafshar?lang=en-GB

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/

Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions

Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/

Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

The journey to business owner is never straight forward.

In this episode that journey started due to my guest, David Longford, taking over the business from the owner just before he passed away.

This transition from employee to business owner required respect and a focus on the long-term growth of the business. David talks about the process involved in taking over from an owner in these difficult circumstances.

David shares how he successfully exited without an earn-out and avoided insolvency. He also highlights the need for clear communication and trust-building with potential buyers during the exit process.

This episode provides valuable insights into the acquisition and exit journey.

“You’ve just got to recognise your weaknesses” – David Longford

Timestamps

 01:13 - An introduction to David

02:34 - Transitioning from employee to buyer

05:54 - How David got the company shares

10:34 - The pressures you put on yourself as a new CEO

13:07 - Why no money down deals don't work

21:15 - The key thing in David's exit process

28:25 - What the sale structure looked like

Connect with David Longford:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/longford/

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/

Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions

Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/

Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

How can customer service affect your business sale?

Buyers looking at your business would have more confidence in their investment if they saw customer satisfaction was high. So, making sure you not only have satisfied customers but evidencing it is key.

In this episode I am joined by customer service expert Geoff Ramm. He is the creator and author of Celebrity Service & Celebrity Service Superstars. And has challenged and inspired audiences across 50 countries, to create award-winning ideas to outperform the competition.

Geoff shares ideas to take your customer service not only to the next level but to the heights you would go to if you were serving your celebrity idol. This not only impacts the success of your business but will give you an advantage when selling it.

This episode is full of great ideas to improve the lasting impression you have on your customers.

“What sort of service would you deliver if a celebrity would walk through your doors today?"  – Geoff Ramm

Timestamps

 01:09 - An introduction to Geoff

02:46 - How would you rate your service?

06:57 - Having the same excitement for all customers

11:00 - Staff and the customer service equation

20:39 - Using customer service in selling businesses

25:33 - Recognition from the customers

Connect with Geoff Ramm:

 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/customerservicespeaker/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/geoff.ramm.5

X - https://x.com/GeoffRamm

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@geofframm

Geoff’s website - https://www.geofframm.com/

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/

Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions

Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/

Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

Have you planned for the worst?

Imagine you’re at death’s door and know you have no plan for what will happen to your business if you die.

This is the exact experience one of my guest’s clients faced. And the worst did happen. Sadly, she passed with no plan for what would happen to the business once she was gone. Not a situation anyone wants to find themselves in.

In this episode I am joined by Paula Wingate, who is dedicated to helping 7 figure hardworking women unleash their explosive business potential without feeling overwhelmed or sacrificing their life in the process.

She shares stories that will make you think twice about your own business planning. She also turns the tables and interviews me about my own journey scaling Wilkinson Accounting Solutions, how to price right from the start and what every business owner should be doing to sell their business at maximum value.

There is a lot to learn from this one so get ready!

“Sometimes you've got to get that slap in the face to say, is this worth it?"  – Paula Wingate

Timestamps

01:23 – Introduction to Paula                                                                       

02:08 - 7 figure tragedies in exits                                          

06:56 - Going from 100 to 40 hours work a week                                        

12:20 - Julie's journey employing others

16:50 - What would Julie do differently?

22:52 - Paying for the right people

26:58 - Pricing wrong from the start

36:12 - How Julie makes 3.5 return from expenses

42:41 - How to sell your business at max value

Connect with Paula Wingate:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/7figurebusinesscoach/

Influential Minds - https://www.influentialminds.co.uk/

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/

Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions

Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/

Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

What would you do to make your business a success?

Would it include jumping from a broken-down train to hitch hike to a product pitch?

Well, that’s what my guest in this episode did for an idea that didn’t even work out. Todd Sullivan grew up in an entrepreneurial household and has lived this way ever since. He is the CEO and Managing Partner of Exitwise, a company that helps businesses sell.

Todd shares some of the incredible ups and downs he has faced including a failed exit that resulted in losing all his staff and suppliers. After rebuilding he was able to go on to sell multiple other businesses. He also shares his entrepreneurial story including the incredible mission he and his brother went on to pitch to Toys ‘R’ Us.

Todd shares his advice to aspiring entrepreneurs as well as the challenges of the M&A process and the importance of surrounding oneself with the right advice

“The entrepreneurial journey is a complete emotional and financial roller coaster” – Todd Sullivan

Timestamps

01:55 - An introduction to Todd

03:48 - Todd on an exit falling through

06:45 - How Todd got through the difficult times

12:18 - Jumping from a train to meet Toys 'R' Us

19:22 - Todd's journey to entrepreneurship

22:15 - Todd's advice for entrepreneurs

25:02 - How Julie got into entrepreneurship

Connect with Todd Sullivan:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddfsullivan/

Exitwise on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/exitwise/

Exitwise - https://exitwise.com/

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/

Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions

Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/

Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

Selling a business comes with risks, but the buyer tyring to swindle you right at the end would challenge anyone’s nerve.

My guest in this episode, Sam Oliver, shares his experience of successfully selling his business and going through an earn-out clause. He discusses the challenges he faced when the buyer suddenly changed the processes at the last moment.

He shares what happened with disputes over the deferred consideration and the lengthy and costly process of resolving them. He also provides insights into what he would have done differently to protect himself and offers advice for other entrepreneurs going through similar situations.

“I thought they wouldn’t want to fire me, piss me off, and give me a shit offer” – Sam Oliver

Timestamps

02:08 - An introduction to Sam

02:53 - Did Sam plan to have an exit?

06:34 - Growing a company to 37% market share

11:57 - Why did the earn out go wrong?

14:25 - How did Sam challenge low payments?

21:14 - Could Sam have done anything differently?

24:49 - Why did the buyer have this strategy?

27:09 - Sam's new venture Openfi

Connect with Sam Oliver:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam0liver/

OpenFi - https://www.openfi.tech/

Lead Pro - https://www.lead.pro/

Advance To Go - https://www.advancetogo.com/

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/

Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions

Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/

Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

Gender bias exists when applying for funding in the venture capital industry.

It’s a fact, women are less likely than men to not only succeed in getting funding but for applying for it in the first place.

This disadvantage is something that has driven my guest in this episode, David B Horne, to help rectify. David is the Founder of Funding Focus, a social enterprise whose mission is to level the uneven playing field that female and underrepresented entrepreneurs face when raising capital.

He shares the shocking statistics behind this disadvantage and why women get less funding and don’t want to go for it in the first place. He also gives his advice on how to level the playing field when pitching to investors.

This is not to be missed if you are a woman looking to apply for funding.

“The level of funding to female founders is currently 1.9%” – David B Horne

Timestamps

02:07 - Why do women get less funding?

04:50 - An introduction to David

07:52 - Why don't women go for funding?

14:20 - Advice to women starting the process

18:21 - David's advice for pitching to investors

21:01 - David's thoughts on pitching competitions

22:34 - Funding for the M&A journey

25:33 - How David helps female founders

Connect with David B Horne:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-b-horne/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidbhorne/

Linktree - https://linktr.ee/DavidBHorne

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/

Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions

Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/

Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

What’s the worst thing that could happen during an acquisition?

Up there at the top must be finding fraud from the seller.

Kemi Egan is my guest in this episode, and she found just this during one of her acquisitions. A seller was using a fraudulent pension scheme discovered by HMRC. Even then during the legal process the seller, and their defence have denied any wrongdoing despite evidence to the contrary.

Kemi shares the stress this caused her and what has been happening since. She also shares her wealth of experience, having completed 30 acquisitions in the last 5 years with 10 exits. As well as what she learned from this experience.

“Every step it was just so irrational” – Kemi Egan

Timestamps

01:39 - An introduction to Kemi

03:26 - How Kemi got into M&A

11:04 - Kemi on discovering fraudulent activities

19:51 - Was the business owner aware of fraud?

21:19 - What Kemi learnt from the experience

23:52 - Is there anything that could have been done differently?

25:16 - Julie on how to track changes

28:29 - Kemi's current acquisitions                                       

Connect with Kemi Egan:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kemiegan/

Linktree - https://linktr.ee/kemiegan

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/

Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions

Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/

Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

Many sellers have no idea how resilient their business is going into the sale.

This can massively impact the final valuation of the business, but you can avoid this if you have things set up the right way to sell.

In this episode I am joined by Al Zucker a Lawyer that helps entrepreneurs and firms raise, acquire and exit successfully. He has seen a lot of bad deals, and he gives insights into why this happens. From experiences with deteriorated assets to why no money down deals aren’t what they are cracked up to be.

Al gives you the reasons why balance sheets, due diligence and heads of terms are so important for a deal going through and he shares his doomsday scenarios.

“Your balance sheet tells you how resilient you are” – Al Zucker

Timestamps

01:45 - An introduction to Al

03:26 - The difference between equity and debt

06:20 - Levels of equity

12:06 - Al's view on no money down deals

17:52 - The doomsday scenario

22:11 - Al experience with deteriorated assets

26:51 - Diligence and terms sheets

31:52 - Julie on linked companies

Connect with Al Zucker:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajzucker/

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/

Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions

Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/

Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!

You can cash out of your business tax free, so you get the amount you need to retire and support your family’s future.

The problem is many don’t know how to get there.

In this episode I am joined by Marc Adams, a visionary entrepreneur, acclaimed author, who explains how to do just that. Marc is an expert in business transformation, and as the CEO of Acquisitions 4 U, Marc specializes in helping businesses unlock their full potential, multiply their value, and achieve tax-free exits.

Listen as Marc emphasizes the importance of saving money by outsourcing tasks and optimizing marketing efforts. He highlights the potential of acquisitions to quickly grow a business and increase its value. He also advises business owners to consider structuring their business sales to minimize tax liabilities and protect their assets.

And as a special bonus Marc offers his book for FREE to our podcast listeners, check out the offer at the end of the episode.

“You don't need to write big checks on day one to do an acquisition” – Marc Adams

Timestamps

01:20 - An introduction to Marc

08:56 - Saving Money and Increasing Profitability

15:32 - Effective Marketing Strategies for Business Growth

27:46 - Maximizing Value through Personal Tax Planning

32:05 - Protecting Assets for Future Generations

35:49 - Offer: Free Copy of Marc's Book

Connect with Marc

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/1marcadams/

Acquisitions4you - https://acquisitions4you.com/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@1marcadams

Read Marc’s book - Secrets To 10Xing Your Business: And Cashing Out Tax-Free

https://rb.gy/4vzcee

Get your FREE copy by emailing Marc at [email protected]

*This offer is only available within 2 weeks of the episode going live*

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/

Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvq6gfNoP_4dfIJulL6C6A

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions

Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/

Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!