Build and Exit

Knowing how to maximise your wealth through acquisition and exit planning is something you need to consider. A financial planner can help you to see things you would otherwise miss that will increase your wealth potential. Kam Kaur Singh is here to show you how a financial planner can benefit your exit planning as well as prepare for the worst-case scenarios. She also gives her advice on investments and what the consequences of not planning your finances are.

Kam has an extensive banking career as well exploring the entrepreneur world for 10 years, successfully planning and implementing financial planning solutions for over 50 business owners and entrepreneurs.

“The exit is also its own fantastic space” – Kam Kaur Singh

Timestamps

03:20 - Why financial planning is important when exiting a business

05:40 - Conversations to have at the start of your business

08:35 - Consequences of not financially planning on exit

09:53 - Planning for worst case scenarios

11:50 - What happens after exit?

13:41- Why to consult a financial planner before acquisition

16:43 - Day to day financial planning

21:18 - Kam's investment advice

22:16 - How employers can help with financial planning?

Connect with Kam Kaur Singh

St James’s Place - https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/partner/kamkaursingh

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

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

Twitter - https://twitter.com/KKSWealth

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

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

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

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

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!

Knowing how to turn around a quick acquisition and exit can be very lucrative for a business buyer. Being able to do that with 6 at the same time is what this week’s guest was able to do. In this episode Jamie Simpson reveals how he bought and sold 6 businesses in a matter of months and what he learned in the process. This episode is a must for anyone looking to start on their acquisition journey.

Jamie has been starting, growing, fixing, buying and selling businesses since his early 20's.

He has been involved in 15 transactions to date and expects that to reach 20 by the end of 2023. He spends most of his time sourcing deals and helping to grow his portfolio companies. Jamie is open to JV and consulting for equity opportunities with UK based businesses with £1m+ turnover.

“I quickly realised I didn’t like the industry so I need an exit strategy” – Jamie Simpson

Timestamps

02:38 - How did Jamie acquire 6 Hair Salons?

05:53 - What was good about the acquisitions?

07:38 - Compete vs non-compete deals

08:28 – Acquisitions with poorly run businesses

12:39 - Jamie's acquisitions after the hairdressers

14:17 - How Jamie went from taxi driver to business buyer

17:03 - Did Jamie have a Managing Director?

18:01 - Are independently run business acquisitions preferable?

Connect with Jamie Simpson

Website - https://jamiesimpson.co/

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

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

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

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

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

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!

Understanding the culture of a business is critical to the success of an acquisition. Many buyers don’t perform their due diligence to ensure the structure of the team is going to make the acquisition succeed. Stephen Brogan has experienced both sides of the coin in successful and unsuccessful acquisitions for this very reason. In this episode he gives insight in how to make sure yours goes well.

Stephen Brogan is the Founder and Managing Director of Ascot Capital. With a distinguished career spanning 25-years in the drinks industry, Stephen left his role as senior director in Heineken UK and took the plunge setting up his own drinks export business in 2008 in the midst of the financial crisis.

Under Stephen's management, the start-up grew rapidly to £70m in just 8 years and won multiple awards along the way. This was not without the ups and downs that came with owning and running a high growth, demanding SME and his experience through this time, along with the other businesses that he created alongside, stands him in good stead to assess the health and requirements of SMEs that he can support.

“Understanding the culture and personnel is critical” – Stephen Brogan

Timestamps

02:51 - What makes a good team structure for acquisitions?                                              

05:34 - Did the business run well from day 1 of acquisition?                                   

06:43 - How often should you review finances?                                           

07:42 - The impacts of poor acquisition team structures                                         

11:53 - Questions to ask during due diligence                                              

14:06 - Is HR part of Stephen's due diligence?                                              

16:44 - How team structure impacts strategy implementation                                            

Connect with Stephen Brogan

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

Ascot Capital - https://www.ascotcapital.co.uk/

Drinks21 - https://www.drinks21.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/@wilkinsonaccountingsolutions

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!

When buying a business through acquisition knowing the people involved is crucial to its success. That’s where HR comes in. Knowing what you are inheriting from a legal and cultural perspective is something anyone buying a business needs to understand.

Rachel Collar is the Founder of Haus of HR, an HR consulting and executive coaching business. After a life-changing event during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rachel decided to use her extensive corporate experience to help SMEs and Start-up businesses grow and thrive through their people. In this episode you’ll hear Rachel cover the most important HR considerations for acquisitions, the importance of understanding your people’s skills and comparing experiences with corporates and SMEs.

“There are some real challenges that businesses face at the moment, which is why HR is so key” – Rachel Collar

Timestamps

3:51 - Why is HR so important in business?

6:28 - Common HR misconceptions

12:59 - 3 key HR questions to ask when buying a business

15:26 - Julie's experience in her acquisition

20:53 - The importance of understanding your people's skills sets

23:14 - Rachel's experience with female led businesses

28:58 - Differences in discrimination: corporate and business

Connect with Rachel Collar

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

Haus of HR - https://hausofhr.com/

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

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

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

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

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

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

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 ever thought about acquisition through joint ventures? Having the right infrastructure and information is key to make this work. In this episode Adam Lawrence talks about his successes and failures in joint ventures as well as why people should consider the joint venture option.

Adam has acquired more than a dozen limited companies including trading businesses, asset-backed businesses and has companies that support the property sourcing and management process. The investment group has been built around a joint-venture model. The group balance sheet is approaching £50m in assets, with a loan-to-value under 60%. The trading businesses have an EBITDA that runs into 7 figures. The central tenets are risk management and sustainable growth in a sector which is crying out for reform, efficiency, and ethical business people.

“Don’t put your own needs before the business” – Adam Lawrence

Timestamps

1:54 - An introduction to Adam

4:33 - Adam's successful acquisition story

10:31 - Adam's unsuccessful acquisition story

14:48 - What makes a successful infrastructure?

17:00 - Is the Joint Venture route easier?

21:57 - What price should you buy at?

25:41 - The importance of having the correct information

27:58 - What is Adam's end game?

Connect with Adam Lawrence

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

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

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

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

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

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!

Cyber security attacks can cost your business millions. £1.4 million to be exact. In this episode you’ll find out why cyber security is not only important for your business but also to ensure it is safe to buy a business. Francis West is here to share his experiences when the worst can happen as well as how to make your business cyber safe.

Francis is on a mission to inform and advise a million business owners on how to stay cyber safe, so they can maximise the advantages of technology whilst minimising the risks. He sits on 5 Cyber Security Panels and is the Cyber Security National Lead for the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses). As a mentor for CompTIA, he is also involved in educating the technology gurus of the future.

“Data is the new gold” – Francis West

Timestamps

2.10 – The need for cyber security

4.36 – The £1.4 million pound security breach

9.40 – How to know if you are at risk of cyber crime

14.24 – How to reduce your risk by 99%

16.16 – Why you need to look after date more than money

20.47 – The importance of email security

26.54 – Why you need a cyber security specialist

28.01 – 3 cyber security questions to ask when buying a business

Connect with Francis West

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/franciswest/?originalSubdomain=uk

Twitter - https://twitter.com/francis_west

Westtek - https://www.westtek.co.uk/

Westtek YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdeWRaGNA7e7ywC8NTuJsXQ

Security Everywhere Cyber Security Health Quiz - https://www.security-everywhere.com/

Contact Details:

+44 203 195 0555

[email protected]

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

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

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

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

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!

Asking the right questions is essential for anyone thinking of selling their business. It is the only way to find out if your brand is truly ready for sale. In this episode Perry Newton discusses his experiences within the acquisition space to help you make sure your brand is well positioned to sell.

Perry Newton is a Marketing and Sales expert with over 25 years of experience who creates results, greater monetary and people efficiencies and a sustainable consistent and growing bottom line. He created a luxury Sunseeker Motoryacht fractional and charter company and headed a large, branded hotel group sales and marketing interest whilst holding the MD role. All of this means his insights into acquisition strategy are second to none. 

“As we've grown, we've acquired other businesses that have added value to the individual parts of what we've done.” – Perry Newton

Timestamps

4:20 – Understanding strategy is important from the start

9:50 – Where to spend money on marketing

12:20 – The importance of brand impressions

17:19 – Acquisition strategy without costing the world

21:07 – Perry on selling to a bigger corporation

26:58 – What information should you have in due diligence?

Connect with Perry Newton

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrywnewton/?originalSubdomain=mt

twentysixsix - https://www.twentysixsix.com/#1

Twitter - https://twitter.com/KevPezGoDakar

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

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

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

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

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!

Management Buy Outs (MBOs) can be full of challenges when buying a business. You need to be able to convince the owners it’s the right move for them, as well as ensure you have the right skills to make it work. In this episode Jason gives insights into how to manage the risks of Management Buy Outs and make it successful.

Jason Quaife went from working in a company to leading a management buy-out (MBO) of the business with a multi-million-pound equity investment along with an asset-based lending facility. Overcoming poor historic financial information and unrealistic owner expectations meant Jason eventually got the MBO agreement & after 3 years.

“Make sure you've got the right people around you that can, can steer you and guide you.” – Jason Quaife

Timestamps

2.01 – How Jason got involved in a company purchase

4.02 – How did the idea of a Management Buy Out start?

7.03 – Did Jason have the right skills to run a business?

9.41 – Convincing the owners a Management Buy Out was the right move

19.01 – Key things for a Management Buy Out

20.58 – How long from buying the business to selling it?

23.53 – Managing the risk of Management Buy Outs.

Connect with Jason Quaife

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

Orion Power - https://www.oriontools.uk/

Quaife Innosight Ltd LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/quaife-innosight/

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

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

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

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

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!

Acquisitions can be life changing for people on all sides of the deal. Alicia Barlow shares her story moving from the corporate world to supporting the essentials of society through acquisitions. Also how doing this has allowed her to become the mum that she always wanted to be.

Alicia Barlow has worked in high-profile Finance and Commercial roles, sitting at Board level from the age of 25 years old. After her son was born, she realised she couldn’t be the mum she wanted to be in an employed corporate setting. This led to property investment, consultancy work and purchasing asset back businesses with an aim to grow in industries that are the staples of human society - food, care, and housing.

“A lot of people think about retirement, as you've gone, put your feet up on a beach, and you just cut yourself off from the world. And for me, that's not what I'm looking to achieve.” – Alicia Barlow

Timestamps

1.26 – How Alicia got started in finance

7.13 – Alicia’s acquisition journey

11.28 – The challenge of making changes after acquisition

16.41 – Alicia’s long term exit strategy

19.58 – Retaining ownership of the business

Connect with Alicia Barlow

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-barlow-505165135/

Rose Alexander Property Limited - https://rosealexanderproperty.com/

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

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRd8hUZ3aSoVqoMXtM6RBKw

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

Connect With Julie Wilkinson

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

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

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

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 do you become prolific in acquisitions? Leanne Dawson can explain just that, as well as what is required for your first acquisition and everything you need to know when structuring deals. This is a must listen for anyone just starting out in acquisitions as well as those looking to expand their portfolio.

Leanne Dawson has an entrepreneurial spirit having founded her First business in 2009 which was sold in 2012. Leanne is the owner of multiple businesses including a commercial finance brokerage assisting clients in raising finance for various reasons including acquisitions. This can be for an MBO and a One-off transaction or working alongside clients in assisting with ambitious buy and build strategies with exit expected within 3-5 years. 

“I have a look at them to understand them and understand their goals about what they want.” – Leanne Dawson

Timestamps

4:59 – Leanne’s journey from selling a business to asset based lending

7:42 – The acquisition essentials a client needs

12:00 – Leanne’s advice on deal structures

13:52 – What you need to have in place before getting funding

15:47 – Leanne’s view on no-money-down deals

22:17 – What does the future hold for Leanne

Connect with Leanne Dawson

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanne-dawson/

Mills Commercial Finance - https://www.millscommercialfinance.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/@wilkinsonaccountingsolutions

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!