You’ve been delegating to increase your business value for two weeks. Some tasks are going well. Others aren’t. You’re starting to wonder: Is this a process problem, or a people problem? The answer matters enormously. Process problems you can fix with better documentation and training. People problems require different interventions—hiring, restructuring, sometimes difficult conversations about […]

You’ve tried delegating before. It didn’t work. But it is killing your business value and saleability. You handed off customer complaints to your manager. Three weeks later, you’re handling them all again. You delegated quote preparation to your sales team. Within a month, you’re back doing quotes because “they take too long” or “keep getting […]

When you started out you held the promise of freedom as the goal, building business value as the reward for your early days sacrifices. But now you have little or no freedom at all. What happened? You worked 64 hours last week. You’ll work 64 hours again this week. And the week after. And the […]

You know your exit value from February (see previous blogs for this if you aren’t reading this in March!) You’re legally protected from Week 1. You’ve defined success in Week 2. You’ve chosen your route in Week 3. Now: How do you position to achieve your Ideal Deal? Most business owners think exit value positioning […]

Last week, you defined your Ideal, Acceptable, and Avoid deal scenarios. This week: Which business exit route gets you there? According to Shawbrook Bank’s research with 506 UK SME decision-makers, 41% are considering exit in the next 5-10 years, with 27% preferring private sale and 27% considering acquisition. But most owners don’t understand how each […]

You’ve calculated your business value in February. You’re protecting it legally after last week. Now the critical question: What do you actually want from your exit? Most business owners answer vaguely. “Enough money to retire comfortably.” “Whatever the market will pay.” “A good deal.” Then an offer arrives. It’s the only offer they have. They […]

You spent time calculating your business exit value (see previous blogs for how). You know it’s worth £2-3 million. Now imagine this scenario: Your business partner dies suddenly. His widow inherits 50% of shares. She knows nothing about the business. There is a £800,000 immediately for Inheritance Tax. She wants regular dividends you can’t afford. […]

For three weeks, you’ve been building the pieces to improve your realistic business value: First week: Your normalised EBITDA (£850k) Second week: Your risk factors (-3.5x discount) Third week: Your sector positioning (5.9x base multiple) This week, we put it all together into your complete Exit Value Report—the “E” in F.A.C.E. Then we build your […]

Ever wondered why some businesses sell for much more money than other? Or why some businesses never sell at all? Take this example: Two businesses in the same sector. Both £850k EBITDA. Similar size and market position. One sells for £2.55 million (3x EBITDA). The other sells for £4.25 million (5x EBITDA). Difference: £1.7 million. […]

Business valuation is made up of a number of issues. Last week, you calculated your normalised EBITDA. Let’s say you landed at £850,000. You research sector multiples and see 4-5x for businesses like yours. You think: “My business is worth £3.4-4.25 million.” Then a buyer values it at £2.8 million. What happened? Risk adjustments. Buyers […]

When I ask business owners about their exit plans, 90% say: “I’ll sell to someone in my industry or to private equity.” That’s one option. But research shows it’s not what most UK business owners actually want—or what works best for most businesses. What UK Business Owners Actually Want In April 2024, Shawbrook Bank surveyed […]

Most business owners have a number in their head when they think about their business valuation. A number based on: None of which has anything to do with what a buyer will actually pay. The Business Valuation Reality According to Lansley Commercial’s 2025 comprehensive analysis of UK business sales: This gap—between what owners hope for […]

Every January, business owners tell me their big plans for the year ahead. “We’re targeting 25% revenue growth.” “We’re launching three new products.” “We’re expanding into two new regions.” Growth. Growth. Growth. And I ask them the same question every time: “That’s great. But will your business be more sellable at the end of 2026 […]

When successful business owners reach that pivotal moment of contemplating their exit plans, the traditional paths often feel limiting. Sell to a competitor and watch your culture dissolve?   Navigate the brutal due diligence of private equity? What if there was a third way—one that preserves your legacy whilst delivering genuine financial rewards?  What if there […]

Last week, I had a conversation that stopped me in my tracks. A successful professional services firm owner, let’s call him David, contacted me about his exit plans. What started as a routine consultation turned into a masterclass on why exit planning can’t be left to chance.  The Shocking Reality Check  David’s business was valued at £3 million. On […]

Here’s something that shocked me early in my career: technically perfect businesses with impeccable financials, streamlined operations, and eager buyers often fail to sell for one simple reason—the owner isn’t emotionally ready to let go.  This is a guarantee that the business sale will fail. After 25 years and over 100 business transactions, I’ve learned that a successful business sale requires two […]