Shows
Build and ExitThe hidden truth behind business valuation with Julie WilkinsonAre you having a negative impact on the value of your business?
So many business owners aren’t aware of the effect they are having on the value of their business before sale. They take on too many roles across the business, aren’t tracking what they pay themselves over the year, and all this impacts what they could be taking home from selling it further down the line.
In this episode I go into the fundamentals of financial concepts all business owners should know to be able to sell their business for as much as p...2025-05-1229 minBuild and ExitTriple Business Value by Changing Operational Structures with Julie WilkinsonWill the business you are building last beyond you?
Many business owners are building a lifestyle business rather than one for generational wealth. If you want to create a legacy rather than a job it all starts with you.
In this, my first solo podcast episode, I explore what it means to build a legacy with your business and what you need to do to prepare for the future if you aim to sell your business.
From understanding what generational wealth means, to implementing effective governance structures. I highlight the challenges of scaling...2025-04-2824 minBuild and ExitThe untold truth - the emotional toll of selling a business with Luke WinterSelling your business can feel lonely and emotional.
You are parting with the thing you have devoted a significant portion of your life to, and that can feel hard. But beyond that is an opportunity to re-invent yourself.
In this episode I speak with Luke Winter, a creative director who recently sold his shares in the video agency Wallbreaker. Luke shares with great honesty the emotional toll the sale has had on him. From the moment of knowing it was time to try something new to a final week full of doubt, Luke experienced it...2025-04-1433 minBuild and Exit1bn of acquisitions to grow the UK economy with Clive Margetts and Oli LukeOver 612,000 Baby Boomer business owners will need to sell or exit their companies in the coming years. The question is—will they get the deal they deserve?
In this episode I am joined by Clive Margetts and Oli Luke, founders of Acquisition Masters, to explore how business owners can maximise their exit strategy and secure a profitable sale.
The UK economy is facing a serious threat if these businesses fail to sell or get swallowed up by the market leaders. Jobs will be on the line.
We explore the nuances of consulting for eq...2025-03-3148 minBuild and Exit15 acquisitions, lessons learned from one life changing deal with Charlie NortonImagine buying a business for £1 and it all goes wrong.
The previous owners have been paying themselves with the staff’s wages but not paying the staff. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
This was the experience of my guest Charlie Norton. Charlie shares the whole story of how he went from a £1 business purchase to sinking £40k of his own money into the business just to pay off immediate debts, but that still wasn’t enough…
He discusses why due diligence could have saved him fr...2025-03-1739 minBuild and ExitCovid crash to 8 figure success with Céline AloéWhat would you do if you faced losing everything?
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Céline Aloé, CEO of UKLC, saw her business revenue drop to zero overnight. But instead of giving up, she made bold moves to survive and thrive.
In this episode we dive into Céline’s journey of resilience, personal growth, and strategic reinvention.
Discover how investing in coaching, embracing acquisitions, and leading with empathy transformed her business.
If you're an entrepreneur facing uncertainty, Céline’s story will show you tha...2025-03-0328 minBuild and ExitJulie Discloses All: The Asset Sale ExposedThe tables are turned in this episode.
I am in the hot seat revealing all about my own acquisition story.
I am joined by Astan Morarji, a Multi-Exited Founder and Leader, who interviews me on the importance of acquisitions in business growth and the challenges faced during my recent acquisition.
We discuss the significance of understanding client relationships, the learning process in acquisitions, and the drive to help business owners maximise wealth and create generational wealth through strategic business decisions.
Financial literacy is so i...2025-02-1742 minBuild and ExitWhen the Numbers Don’t Add Up: A Failed Acquisition with Erin O’LearyFinancial literacy is the biggest barrier to successful M&A.
Both sellers and buyers need to know how the numbers work to ensure they get the best deal.
In this episode I am joined by Erin O'Leary, an M&A and exit advisor. We explore the intricacies of business acquisitions and exits. Erin shares insights from her extensive experience, including a case study of a legacy bus company and the factors influencing business valuation.
We also share our experiences as women in the M&A space, from rep...2025-02-0332 minBuild and ExitTurning Setbacks Into Exits: A 75% Loss to 9-Figure WinImagine selling your business for 9 figures.
Would you start imagining what you could do with it all before the deal is done?
My guest in this episode not only imagined he started spending it. Only to find that half of it fell through between the letter of intent to the final deal.
Alexis Sikorsky shares his journey of building and exiting a software company for a nine-figures. He discusses the challenges he faced during the financial crisis, and the role of private equity in his business growth.
We also highlight the...2024-12-0938 minBuild and ExitThe £18M Leap: From Corporate Grind to Business Mastery with Jamil AnakkarThere are simple things you can do to get your acquisitions completed faster.
So many people aren’t prepared in the way they should be, which dramatically slows down the process of buying or selling a business.
In this episode I am joined by Jamil Anakkar, the CEO of Tandy Ventures, who shares where he sees the massive opportunities in M&A right now.
Jamil outlines the challenges he faced during his first acquisition, and the importance of effective communication and financial health in the acquisition process. To be...2024-11-2539 minBuild and ExitFrom Family Priorities to Profitable Exit: Building a Business That Pays Off - Michèle HeckenIs your business too dependent on you?
Far too many companies are lifestyle businesses that would fall apart without the owner.
This can jeopardise your exit, so detaching yourself from working in the business is essential.
In this episode I am joined by Michèle Hecken, who built, operated, scaled, and exited a successful business in the translation industry. After completing a high-7-figure exit she now serves as an Advisor to high performers wanting to run businesses that serve them and live lives they dream of.
She shares how she scale...2024-11-1143 minBuild and ExitLife After the Exit: The Silence Following My Sale to Pizza Express with Edin BasicHow does it feel to sell your business to a multinational chain?
Edin Basic did just that. Building his chain of restaurants up to 17 sites before selling it to Pizza Express.
But when the deal was done, he didn’t go out celebrating, he was left with the feeling of “was that it?”
For him the journey of building the business had been the real enjoyment of the whole process. He talks candidly about how he felt at every step of the way and afterwards. He shares the complexities of exiting as well as the...2024-10-2842 minBuild and ExitMastering the Exit: Insights from an 8x Business Seller with Rachel MurphyAre you intentional about scaling your business for exit?
So many organic business owners don’t have a plan and don’t know what the end goal is. If they did their loved ones would thank them so much more for doing things right when things passed onto them.
In this episode I speak with Rachel Murphy, a two-time exit founder, about her entrepreneurial journey and 8x multiplier exit.
Rachel gives insight into the importance of intentional business scaling, and the challenges and opportunities faced during the COVID-1...2024-10-1434 minBuild and ExitHands On vs. Hands Off: Decoding Owner-Operator and Silent Investor Roles with Taha AfsharHave 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...2024-09-3032 minBuild and ExitDavid Longford - From insolvency to exit with no earn outThe 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...2024-09-1635 minBuild and ExitGeoff Ramm - How excellent customer service increases valuationsHow 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...2024-09-0236 minBuild and ExitPaula Wingate - Tragic exits: 7 figure business owner in intensive care with no exit plan in placeHave 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 hardworki...2024-08-1947 minBuild and ExitTodd Sullivan - Broken Deal: Losing staff and suppliers after a failed business saleWhat 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 faile...2024-08-0530 minBuild and ExitSam Oliver – £100k professional fees incurred from a disputed earn out clauseSelling 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 prot...2024-07-2230 minBuild and ExitDavid B Horne - Why only 1.9% of females successfully secure fundingGender 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 shock...2024-07-0832 minBuild and ExitKemi Egan - £677,000 unknown tax liabilities due to fraudulent pension scheme uncoveredWhat’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 share...2024-06-2434 min
Scale-up ConfessionsHow to identify and strengthen weakness in a Finance FunctionJulie Wilkinson is an accountant on a mission to save the world from failed acquisitions. Her firm, Wilkinson Accounting Solutions, works on business acquisitions between £1m and £20m turnover and also actively acquires other accounting firms to scale its own operations.In this episode of the First-time Founders Podcast, Julie gives Rob an ‘idiots guide’ to what a good small business finance function should look like and discusses the perils for exiting (and acquiring) entrepreneurs who don’t build adequate strength in this area.Interested viewers can reach Julie via https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewil...2024-06-1052 minBuild and ExitAl Zucker - Deal fails due to deteriorated assets that drained cash reservesMany 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...2024-06-1037 minBuild and ExitMarc Adams - £3m cost saving on outsourcing activitiesYou 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...2024-05-2737 minBuild and ExitSteve Lawrence - Resigned from a job to close an acquisition that failedAcquisitions can be an opportunity to change your career.
But what if you quit your job and the deal falls through?
You’re left with no job and no deal.
This is exactly what happened to my guest in this episode, Steve Lawrence. The seller decided not to go ahead at the last-minute leaving Steve in the lurch.
Steve shares the ups and downs of his acquisition experience from his first failed acquisition to then finding the company he went on to buy throug...2024-05-1332 minBuild and ExitJudith Hamilton & Christine Nicholson - £5m in debt because of hidden receiptsImagine not even knowing you are about to go bankrupt.
Many business owners don’t know what is going with their accounts. With £5 million pounds of debt and another £1 million in stocks that anyone could have taken, this was the reality for one business.
In this episode I am joined by Judith Hamilton and Christine Nicholson, 2 brilliant women working in the exit planning and financial world. We share our experiences working with businesses and what needs to be in place for a well-structured exit.
We also discuss what co...2024-04-2936 minBuild and ExitNigel Carley - Why investing in fractional ownership differs to time shareMost businesses are built from people’s dreams. The challenge is taking it from that dream to reality.
In this episode I am joined by Nigel Carley who has achieved this through creating The Pinelli Group, as he approached retirement. A company that sells properties in Italy through fractional ownership.
Nigel fell in love with Italy over his career with Alfa Romeo and through hard work and investing his time he found the right properties that would allow him to create the business he dreamed of.
He share...2024-04-1545 minBuild and ExitMeena Kumari Adnani - Losing everything to hitting 7 figuresFinancial freedoms means different things to everybody. Achieving it means living the life you want but imagine having it and then losing it all.
In this episode I am joined by Meena Adnani, who worked hard against the expectations those around her had. She was judged, because of being a woman and also because of her cultural background. All of which she blocked out to reach her dreams and achieve financial freedom.
She reveals how she lost everything to then build her life back up and reach 7 figures. And she shares ho...2024-04-0129 minBuild and ExitDella Kirkman - How buying a job built her wealthImagine going from waitress to financial freedom all through acquisitions.
That is exactly what my guest in this episode, Della Kirkman, achieved. She found a way to buy small businesses and grow them organically to build and exit. She is now on a mission to supports 10,000 women to build wealth through acquisition.
In this episode Della reveals how she achieved financial freedom through acquisitions, and how she changed her career from waitress to business owner. She also shares her experiences in making the deals and what her top tips are for an...2024-03-1819 minBuild and ExitKush Birdi - Managing cashflow risk post-acquisitionAcquisitions would be far easier if all sellers were educated on what’s involved.
Knowing what happens post-acquisition is part of the learning that needs to happen to secure a successful deal.
In this episode Kush Birdi and I discuss the importance of KPI based target setting and why you should audit the legal aspects of your deals. We also share why being truthful is so important for the seller to ensure the buyer sees your business as a good deal. We also talk about the fact that selling in full is n...2024-03-0420 minBuild and ExitKath Jones - £100k debt from funding that fell throughImagine being in £100K of debt because of a scam.
This is a nightmare situation for any business owner who puts their trust into others and is exactly the position my guest, Kath Jones found herself in.
She is the founder of Think Wine Group and ended up losing £100K after her agent scammed her and the funding she got to salvage the situation never came through.
Kath shares how all of this has impacted her mental health as well as the business and the lessons she has l...2024-02-1928 minBuild and ExitKush Birdi - Financial and legal due diligence, what can go wrong!Not being aware of the financial or legal implications of a deal can have disastrous consequences.
From intellectual property protection, staffing issues to outstanding debts, there are many aspects of a deal that need to be checked as part of your due diligence.
In this episode Kush Birdi and I discuss where due diligence can impact deals and our personal experiences working with both sellers and buyers throughout the due diligence process. We cover where lawyers and accountants fit into the process and the biggest problems we have seen throughout our ti...2024-02-0523 min
DEBBIE WILLIAMS's PodcastCorporate to Acquire: Navigating Entrepreneurship with Financial InsightJulie Wilkinson brings over twelve years of financial expertise, serving diverse companies from SMEs to large corporations. With a mission to prevent failed acquisitions, she's dedicated to assisting business owners in achieving sustainable growth, transforming businesses from lifestyles to valuable assets. Having transitioned from corporate to establishing multiple recurring income streams through investments in businesses, property, and high-value metals, she also led a successful acquisition within her own consulting firm. Her team now actively engages in 3-5 deals monthly, both in the UK and globally. In this episode, she provides advice on how to transition from a corporate employee...2024-02-0425 min
Systemize Your Success PodcastSYS 157: Scaling Through Acquisition: Mindset Shift From 'Doer' To 'Investor' - Interview with Julie Wilkinson, Founder of Wilkinson Accounting Solutions🎙 Dr. Steve Day interviews Julie Wilkinson, an expert in mergers and acquisitions. Julie shares her background as a chartered management accountant and explains how she started her own company, Wilkinson Accounting Solutions. They discuss the importance of implementing corporate structure and governance in small businesses, as well as the benefits of planning for an exit strategy from the start. Julie emphasises the need for systems, processes, controls, and a strong management team to support business growth and prepare for a successful exit. She also provides insights on financing acquisitions and leveraging existing business resources. 2024-01-2538 minBuild and ExitKush Birdi - How can buyers and sellers get aligned pre Heads of TermsHeads of terms are a key aspect of any acquisition.
The buyer and seller need to agree on these to show serious intent for the deal. But there are many key issues both parties need to be aware of. In this episode Kush Birdi and I discuss our experiences working with heads of terms.
We also share how the buyer and seller can become aligned and why this is so important. The common problems that can arise whilst creating heads of terms and crucially what you need to make sure is in...2024-01-2231 minBuild and ExitKush Birdi - Legal consequences for acquisitionsThere are many risks to consider as a buyer in acquisitions.
Not being prepared can have severe consequences. You need to do your due diligence and plan every aspect to ensure its success.
In this episode I am joined by Kush Birdi to tell you all you need to know about the legal consequences buyers can face and how to ensure you are covered all the way through your acquisition process. From risk planning, corporate governance to due diligence we cover it all, as well as our views on no money do...2024-01-0829 minBuild and ExitMatthew Cusack - Brand risk causing £7m of investment to be withheldHave you checked your brand’s intellectual property?
Imagine having £7million of investment held because you found another business already had your name. This is exactly what happened to a company my guest in this episode, Matthew Cusack, is working with.
Matt is Managing Director of National Business Register Group Limited (NBR), an Intellectual Property business, and is responsible for driving the business’ strategy and growth plans. He firmly believes that “people buy people” and relationships are key to the growth of any successful business.
In this episode he d...2023-12-0426 minBuild and ExitRobert Rizea: The hard work started after we received £2m for our start upYou must get used to hearing “No” when trying to raise funds to start a business idea. Knowing that eventually you will hear the yes you need is all the motivation you need to keep going.
That was the belief my guest in this episode had to get his idea off the ground. Robert Riza is the Co-Founder and CEO of RacketPal, a platform built out of a love for racket sports.
He talks about what it took to get funding for the project and how getting the funding was only the st...2023-10-3034 minBuild and ExitJulie Wilkinson: Julie’s story live on NTV – Part 2This is part 2 of a special episode of The Build & Exit podcast where the tables get turned and Julie is in the hot seat. Julie was interviewed live on NTV to tell her personal and business story.
In this episode Julie gives the business side of her story, talking about how her business journey started, the advice she has for people looking to become entrepreneurs and the fundamentals that every business owner should have in place when running a business.
“Try and step outside of your comfort zone” – Julie Wilkinson
...2023-10-1625 minBuild and ExitAdrian Knight - Why acquisitions fail with no integration strategyThe first 72 hours of taking on a new business is always eventful. But a salesperson syphoning leads, and the police called in to stop diggers tearing down buildings at a school must be up there with the hardest first days of any business owner.
This was the reality for my guest in this episode, Adrian Knight. He had a lot of firefighting to perform within his acquisitions that led him to really focus on the back end, something many people don’t do.
He talks about this experience as well as his...2023-10-0227 minBuild and ExitFiona Hudson-Kelly - Tripling the value of her business by understanding financial informationAchieving financial freedom is the ambition of many that are building to sell their business. But knowing how to get there is a whole different ball game. Understanding the financial side of how to build and exit a business is key to making this dream a reality.
My guest in this episode is Fiona Hudson-Kelly, who has sold businesses for multi-million pound deals. She has experienced selling through venture capitalists and independently.
Fiona discusses the light bulb moment that happened after she finally understood how the financial side of her business wo...2023-09-1836 minBuild and ExitJulie Wilkinson: Julie’s story live on NTV – Part 1This is a special episode of The Build & Exit podcast where the tables get turned and Julie is in the hot seat. Julie was interview live on NTV to tell her personal and business story.
In this episode Julie gives the personal side of her life story. You’ll find out about her passions from dogs to being out on the open water. She tells all about how the loss of her mother at an early age impacted her life and how her wellness routine has transformed not just how she starts every day but her...2023-09-0422 minBuild and ExitSteven Pettigrew: How buying a distressed business helped to double operationsDistressed business deals can be a quick and high earning way to grow by acquisition. It took Steven Pettigrew 4 days to close a distressed deal and since then has grown a business of 80 people.
In this episode Steven gives his insights into how to grow through distressed acquisition deals, managing seller relationships, and the strategies behind industry deals.
Steven Pettigrew is an entrepreneur with over 13 year’s experience across multiple industries. He has been involved in M&A since 2014 which opened up an exciting new chapter in his career. He also work...2023-08-2124 minBuild and ExitPaul Avins: Growing by 8 figure acquisitionsKnowing the right way to exit a business is not easy if you don’t know what your options are. Having the information you need to find the right exit strategy is what will make your exit plan both achievable and enjoyable.
Paul Avins has a wealth of experience in the acquisitions space and in this episode he gives his insight into why the hard work starts after acquisitions, the different types of exit strategies available and the importance of doing your research on who you are buying from.
Paul Avins is a...2023-08-0642 minBuild and ExitMathew Wainwright: Global entrepreneur generating £125m from acquisition sales in 12 monthsGenerating £125m from acquisitions in a year is the M&A specialist’s dream. That is exactly what the guest in this episode has achieved. Mathew Wainwright discusses what it takes to start out in the acquisitions space as well as going into the nitty gritty of how Opulentia achieved that incredible milestone. He also covers what leveraged buyouts are, how to mitigate risks in acquisitions and what cash flow problems he has faced.
Mathew Wainwright is the Director of Operations within Opulentia Capital. In the last 18 months Opulentia have grown their turnover portfolio by 125M GB...2023-07-2436 minBuild and ExitChris O’Connell - Losing everything after selling a £25m business only to come back fighting*Content warning* – this post discusses suicidal feelings
How do you see your life after selling your business? You may see happiness, wealth, and security. But just because you sell your business doesn’t mean they are guaranteed. In this episode Chris O’Connell shares his story of selling his business for £25 million only to find his life unravel afterwards. From losing his home, his children, divorce and 3 suicide attempts, Chris’ story is one not to be missed.
After exiting his last business, Chris now coaches leaders on how to build purpose-led businesses...2023-07-1028 minBuild and ExitKam Kaur Singh - How to maximise your wealth from an acquisitionKnowing 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 i...2023-06-2627 min