Buy Grow Sell

We are reflecting on an extraordinary year of the Buy Grow Sell podcast, where we delved into the triumphs and tribulations of nearly 100 business owners from across the globe. To wrap up this season, we rounded up the top insights from our guests that every business owner needs to know. Listen to our final episode of 2023 and leave with five integral tips to ensuring a successful business sale. See you next year! Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srhbedard/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

In episode 98 of the Buy Grow Sell Podcast, I sit down with Nick Fanto from Orbital Advisory and Joanna Oakey from Aspect Legal to discuss the complex challenges that arise when business partnerships go sour. Nick shares personal experiences and valuable insights into the importance of planning for unforeseen circumstances, such as illness or injury, which may impact the key revenue-generating individuals in your business. Together, we discuss the critical role of key person insurance and the significant financial benefits it can provide in times of need. We also address the crucial need for a well-documented Shareholder Agreement, which can help resolve disputes, protect interests, and ensure a smooth transition in the event of an exit. Throughout the episode, you will discover real-life examples, practical advice, and stories that highlight the necessity of addressing these issues proactively. Don't miss out on this informative discussion that will equip you with the knowledge and tools to safeguard your business and make well-informed decisions in challenging times. Connect with Nick Fanto LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickfanto-lifeinsurancespecialist/ Website: https://www.orbitallife.com.au/ Connect with Joanna Oakey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannaoakey/ Website: https://www.aspectlegal.com.au/ Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srhbedard/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

From four frustrated moms crafting labels in a basement to a multi-million-dollar business model, Julie Cole and her co-founders navigated the challenges of co-founding a business while juggling parenthood and bootstrapping their startup. Eventually, Mabel's Labels moved from a basement to a bigger basement to a 20,000 square foot facility before finally selling for $12M back in 2016. In this episode, Julie explores the ups and downs of having co-founders (especially when they are family) and the pivotal moments that lead to a successful exit. Connect with Julie Cole Website: https://mabelslabels.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-cole-llb-ma-3794671/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mabelhood/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliecole Twitter: https://twitter.com/mabelhood YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MabelsLabels_Mabelhood Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srhbedard/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

From growing her business to $1M then spending it all on a lawsuit, seeing her business fall apart on 9/11, having her father die six weeks later, and losing her house on the very same day as the funeral, Beate Chelette has faced her fair share of adversity. But she turned it around, rebuilding her business from scratch, and eventually selling it off to Bill Gates for 5x gross earnings. In this episode, she unveils her path from a single parent drowning in debt to a multimillion-dollar deal with Bill Gates. Overcoming lawsuits, personal tragedies, and financial turmoil, Beate's story proves that adversity fuels future success. Get ready to be inspired as we explore Beate's rollercoaster journey from rock bottom to remarkable triumphs. Connect with Beate Chelette Website: https://beatechelette.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beatechelette Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beate.chelette Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeateChelette Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srhbedard/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

If you're an entrepreneur eyeing the outsourcing realm, then you're in for a treat. Learn how Nathan Hirsch's journey shifted from dollars to value, from e-commerce to building an empire of virtual assistants, to exiting and finding contentment in the freedom he gained after growing the business to eight figures. His journey spans from street smarts to business brilliance, as Nathan shares his experiences and wisdom that's more than just numbers – it's about crafting a life on your terms. Connect with Nathan Hirsch Personal Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhirsch/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathan.hirsch/ Business Social Media: EcomBalance Website: https://www.ecombalance.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecombalance/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecombalance/ AccountsBalance Website: https://accountsbalance.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountsbalance Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/accountsbalance1   Outsource School Website: https://www.outsourceschool.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/outsourceschool/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/outsourceschool1 Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srhbedard/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

As one of Australia's most successful businesspeople, Radek Sali blends over a decade in the service industry with a lifetime of health and wellness knowledge, and pairs it with a conscious business philosophy that puts people first. Under his helm, he transformed Swisse Wellness Group into one of the largest wellness brands in the country before negotiating a $1.7B acquisition deal with a Hong Kong-based company. He used the proceeds to continue on his path of bringing light to the world through several other business endeavours aimed at social and environmental causes. Connect with Radek Sali Website: https://lightwarrior.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radeksali/ Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srhbedard/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Hampus Jakobsson co-founded the company at the age of 21 with his university friends and sold it eight years later for $150 million to Blackberry. Over coffee. While usually a 9-figure exit takes more than a year to complete, this acquisition took place in less than six weeks. Why? Because Hampus and his co-founders spent those eight years building the perfect product for the market, making it irresistible for Blackberry, and in turn securing an offer the team couldn't say no to. Connect with Hampus Jakobsson Website: https://paleblue.vc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hampusjakobsson/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/hajak   Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srhbedard/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

As a self-described scaler, Kurt Uhlir has helped start and run businesses from start-up to hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue, been a part of over 60 transactions, and built teams across almost every continent. He came onto the Buy Grow Sell Podcast to share some of his stories about scaling, how to recruit the right people to grow fast and effectively, what he looks for in strategic acquisitions, and how he embeds his values into everything he does. From starting a web hosting platform in college to leading almost a billion dollar IPO and participating in dozens of acquisitions, Kurt's a wealth of resources for any organisation looking to grow. Connect with Kurt Uhlir Website: https://kurtuhlir.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtuhlir/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kurt.uhlir Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kurtuhlir/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kurtuhlir YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KurtUhlir Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Sophie Howard, Founder of Aspiring Entrepreneurs, has started, scaled, and sold six and seven-figure online businesses. Sophie started online with an Amazon business in 2013, which she sold for over $1 million USD in 2015. As well as launching over 1,000 products, she has built educational programs teaching thousands of students how to sell online. She is now focusing her efforts on buying other online businesses and teaching others how to build a portfolio of income-generating assets. Learn her secrets on buying, growing, and selling e-commerce businesses in this episode. Connect with Sophie Howard Website: https://www.aspiringentrepreneurs.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiehowardnz/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV7xz4RSPa8_pxDcXDJ83uQ Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Imagine growth so fast, you needed to double your headcount every 120 days. How do you build a sustainable business this way? More importantly, how do you exit? In the latest episode of the Buy Grow Sell podcast, Sunny Vanderbeck, a successful entrepreneur and investor, walks us through the start, rapid growth, then exit of his business Data Return. Over three years, it grew a staggering 40% every quarter before reaching a $3 billion market capitalisation. Sunny operated at the helm throughout this unique journey and shares his roadmap for business leaders who are looking to sell. Connect with Sunny Vanderbeck Get a copy of Sunny's book: https://www.amazon.com/Selling-Without-Out-Sell-Business-ebook/dp/B07YLYR78F Website: https://www.satoricapital.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnyv/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/satori_capital Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Getting tips from a computer about how to act more human seems a little counterintuitive. But Shruti Kapoor's software, Wingman, takes that role very seriously. The application allows salespeople to get real time feedback on mannerisms, and when to pick up on social cues. The trio of founders include Shruti Kapoor, who speaks about how they developed the product, approached seeking capital, and how they went on to quickly sell to an enterprise software company. Proof that a Wingman, is still your biggest asset no matter if you're at the club, or behind the screen. Connect with Shruti Kapoor Website: https://www.trywingman.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrutikapoor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wingmanforsales/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wingman_hq/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wingmanforsales YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6qVJt1k_icicaK3tX-N-oA Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Jeffrey Deckman is a serial entrepreneur who bootstrapped 2 multi-million-dollar companies, several non-profits, and multiple political organisations. Despite his early dream of becoming a field operator in his dad's industry, Jeffrey became a business owner and leader. However, after 15 years into his second business, Synet, he realised that it was time for him to exit. He shares his journey of leaving the business, how he sold it to his partners, and how he found fulfilment again afterward. Connect with Jeffrey Deckman Website: https://jeffreydeckman.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-deckman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JDeckman56 Twitter: https://twitter.com/_Deckman_ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JeffreyDeckman Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Tom Jackobs went from being 40 pounds overweight to being at the helm of a very successful fitness centre within a decade. His transformation from cushy corporate to SME was both mental and physical as he learned what to do – and what not to do – as a small business owner. After growing the business to $600k in annual revenue, Tom sold Body3 Personal Fitness to transform into the next stage of his life as the Impact Pilot. He now helps entrepreneurs generate more income through better sales strategy and using stories to sell. Tune in and learn how Tom took his journey into his own hands, and how you can follow suit and create your own success in business and in life. Connect with Tom Jackobs Website: https://tomjackobs.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trainertom/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactPilot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactpilot/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TomJackobs YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZgzqH2MiIMHQbLoJXvA5_Q FREE Gift: https://tomjackobs.com/storybook[sa1] Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

The hardest job in business is being in middle management, according to this episode's guest. With people above and below you, you're stuck in a sandwich trying to create change. For Mark Janes, he realised he was spending his career building great businesses for other people when he decided he should do it for himself. As a company builder and highly successful entrepreneur, Mark has grown and exited three businesses, including ConnectedYard, which he grew to a value of 20x initial investment before exiting to a funder. Now, he helps other business replicate his success through Exit Velocity. Connect with Mark Janes Website: https://www.exitvelocity.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjanes/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/getexitvelocity Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

To be successful in a business you must be passionate about the problem you're solving. This advice comes from 3-time serial SaaS/DaaS entrepreneur, CEO, Board Director, and tech executive, Alexander Rink. His most recent exit was to the tune of 8-figures after coming on and pivoting 360pi from a consumer comparison platform (B2C) to a market intelligence platform for retailers (B2B). Along the way, Alex maintained a Net Promoter Score in the 40-60% range and an annual recurring revenue retention rate of around 90% before finally exiting to a competitor. This episode imparts lessons learned about finding passion in your business, timing your exit to capitalise on value, and mitigating risks in due diligence to ensure your exit is on your terms. Connect with Alexander Rink Website: https://www.rinkventures.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderrink/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexrink Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

There are four questions an entrepreneur needs to ask themselves. With more than 25 years of entrepreneurship and business management experience, Ian Silverberg boils down every business decision and every interaction with his clients to these four questions and considers them the throughlines between buying, growing, and selling a business. In this episode, you'll walk away with a four-question framework for defining your purpose, elevating your impact, and unlocking both personal and professional success. Connect with Ian Silverberg Website: https://silverlineventures.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-silverberg-62b22343/ Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Ryan Niddel has the Midas Touch. He's the leading authority on improving revenue of companies by improving EBITDA through increased operational efficiency, lean manufacturing principles, and more. In fact, in one 2.5 year period, he successfully tripled the revenue of more than 5 companies, adding an extra $950M in valuations. Ryan's passion for growth is balanced by a natural curiosity and humility that allows him to create the processes necessary to proceed. Learn his top tips for scaling in the latest Buy Grow Sell podcast. Connect with Ryan Niddel Website: https://ryanniddel.com/ Website: https://mit45.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/exitwealthy/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanNiddelStrategies Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanniddelstrategies/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ryan_Niddel/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClmZmmxnwgL9hwWtz_194Iw Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Interested in trends shaping the B2B tech space? Not sure whether you should invest in video or in an AI-based content creation tool? Curious to see how ChatGPT is going to overthrow your current workflows? Tune into this episode of the Buy Grow Sell podcast and learn from marketing technology expert, Josh Sweeney. As a digital disruptor, Josh Sweeney is a seasoned entrepreneur whose relentless drive has given him the platform to build big ideas, and even bigger companies. You'll learn how to harness current and upcoming tech in order to maximise the value of your business. Connect with Josh Sweeney Website: https://founderscale.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweeneyjosh/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FounderScale/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/founderscale/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/joshsweeney YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi4SVWTO6VsXxd8macirOKQ Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Bryan Clayton went from mowing lawns to owning a lawnmowing business to owning a lawnmowing services app. He started mowing lawns in high school before turning it into a 150+ person company that turned over $10M a year in annual revenue. After selling it, and finding himself emotionally adrift, Bryan decided to beat the Ubers and the Marketplaces of the world and build an app for his industry before someone else did. The result was... a lot of hard work, but he shares some valuable lessons around bootstrapping and growing a small business. Connect with Bryan Clayton Website: https://www.yourgreenpal.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-clayton-a96b33214/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenpallawncare/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourgreenpal/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/YourGreenPal Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Jonathan Jay has bought, grown, and sold businesses in publishing, digital marketing, adult education and coaching, and preschool education. His M.O.? Strategically acquire and then sell to strategic acquirers in turn. Some of his highlights include: Making 48 business acquisitions to create the 4th largest group in his sector in under three years Buying a digital marketing business for £1 and selling it for £1.3M later Purchasing a competitor in just five days Tune in for a host of lessons on how to strategically acquire, integrate, and then exit your business. Connect with Jonathan Jay Website: https://dealmakers.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-jay-3556b230/ Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Gary Guseinov has spent his career successfully buying, growing, and selling businesses. As the founder of CyberDefender and the CEO of RealDefense where he acquires other cybersecurity companies, Gary has a proven playbook of making profitable business decisions. His experience on every side of the transaction process means he has a lot to share with entrepreneurs whether they're building their first business or moving into acquisitions to accelerate their growth. Tune in and learn his framework for vetting business ideas and scaling them to the next level. Connect with Gary Guseinov Website: https://www.realdefen.se/home/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyguseinov/ Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Most entrepreneurs dream of selling to a Fortune 500 Company. However, how many entrepreneurs build a business that a Fortune 500 Company would want to buy? Aaron Walker, at the ripe old age of 27, exited his pawn shop business to Cash America for 7 figures. After nine years of paying himself an $18,000 annual salary so he could pour the money back into the business, Aaron found himself on the other side of those once-in-a-lifetime exits most entrepreneurs seek. But his story comes with a lesson (or several) about the importance of purpose and how to rebuild yourself post-exit. Connect with Aaron Walker Website: https://www.viewfromthetop.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwalkerviewfromthetop/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronWalkerViewFromTheTop Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isimastermind/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/VFTCoach YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDkwb8Lma3iylfjjBDzsB2A Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

From an early age, wherever Zain Hasan saw problems, he wondered how he could fix it. Entrepreneurship was in his DNA, from selling ready-made chicken sandwiches as a kid to growing three successful businesses – and disrupting the health insurance system in America along the way. After a botched acquisition, Zain knew there was much to be improved in the world of mergers and acquisitions, so he set out to challenge the status quo. Through rapid growth and accolades, he led his firm through being acquired by a Private Equity backed platform with an “integrated” model that focused on partnerships rather than acquisitions. Zain's revolutionary model is a look at how the future of M&A could be. Connect with Zain Hasan Website: https://risktag.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zainshasan/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZainSHasan Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

While the rest of her MBA class were starting projects they thought would change the world, Angela Mader was developing a fitness journal. That journal, fitbook®, went on to challenge the status quo in the fitness industry with its strong branding around real people, realistic expectations, and healthy inspiration. What started out as a passion project ended up in over 16,000 retail stores around the world, became a national bestselling item in Target, catapulting a wellness business that developed over 50 other products, and earned Angela a 5x earnings exit 10 years later. This is her story. Connect with Angela Mader Website: https://www.angelamader.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelamader/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theangelamader/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theangelamader From an early age, wherever Zain Hasan saw problems, he wondered how he could fix it. Entrepreneurship was in his DNA, from selling ready-made chicken sandwiches as a kid to growing three successful businesses – and disrupting the health insurance system in America along the way. After a botched acquisition, Zain knew there was much to be improved in the world of mergers and acquisitions, so he set out to challenge the status quo. Through rapid growth and accolades, he led his firm through being acquired by a Private Equity backed platform with an “integrated” model that focused on partnerships rather than acquisitions. Zain's revolutionary model is a look at how the future of M&A could be. Connect with Zain Hasan Website: https://risktag.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zainshasan/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZainSHasan Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Stuart Crane spent 20 years developing his software company that digitised patient records for the healthcare industry. He and his business partner started out on floppy disks and ended up with $44M cash in their pockets twenty years later. This episode explores how they developed a winning idea, grew market share, and built a profitable business model within its first year of operations. Tune in for the key ingredients that created a scalable SaaS business model that sold for 9x EBITDA. Connect with Stuart Crane Website: https://stuartcrane.com/ Website: https://www.shopsmaller.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-crane/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sdcrane Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Ken Burke is a serial entrepreneur, thought leader, sought-after speaker, mentor, and author. He joins us on the Buy Grow Sell podcast to discuss the growth and exit of his ecommerce software platform, MarketLive. Bootstrapped in 1995, Ken talks about how he pivoted to a fully operational SaaS business, managed challenging relationships with VC funders, and overcame all the usual roadblocks to become a market leader for 20+ years. When Ken did sell, it was for a life-changing $100M. Learn all about it here in the latest episode. Connect with Ken Burke Website: https://kenburke.com/ Website: https://entrepreneurnow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenburke/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kendburke Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EntrepreneurNN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entrepreneurnn/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kendburke Twitter: https://twitter.com/entrepreneurnn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/EntrepreneurNowNetwork Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Nicky Senyard never ran a tech company before, had no experience generating new markets, and didn't know how she would fare as a CEO. Yet she sold her house in Australia, moved to Canada, bootstrapped her affiliate marketing company, Income Access, and broke even in just 9 months. From then, she grew her business from 3 employees to 90 over 14 years, servicing over 25,000 affiliates, and then secured a $40M exit in 2016. Her story is an authentic look at what it takes to be a leader and how to succeed in a market, even if you might not enter it as the leader. Connect with Nicky Senyard Website: https://www.fintelconnect.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickysenyard/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fintelconnect Twitter: https://twitter.com/FintelConnect Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

JL Needham has bought, grown, and sold multiple businesses over the past few years with most of his career spent in big tech with Adobe, Google, and Amazon. From helping brands grow in Amazon's marketplace ecosystem to renovating businesses he acquired to pass over to the next long-term owners, JL operates with a growth mindset. His journey has taken him from one side of the negotiation table to the other as he grew and sold his business venture, Valence, then shifted over to acquiring, flipping, and selling others. Now, he implements his learnings throughout the transaction process to help him craft win-win situations for both buyer and seller. Tune in for expert knowledge on how to get the deal done. Connect with JL Needham Website: https://www.ascendantbrands.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlneedham1/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFBEfnJrEVnsaRT11AUf3Dw Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Anson Sowby's hard work and business acumen had created a successful creative agency that was churning out award-winning work for some of the biggest brands in the world. But the business hit a limit. He and his co-founder realised that in order to scale up to the next level and take on bigger clients with bigger budgets, they would need to access external capital. When they started working with the right advisors who helped them position the business for investment and introduced a CFO, the business really accelerated. That process took over 12 months and for Anson, there were lots of learnings along the way, which he shares in detail in this latest episode of the Buy Grow Sell podcast. Connect with Anson Sowby Website: https://www.batteryagency.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ansonsowby/ Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

A successful business doesn't always have to be the flashiest one. Take Jean-Eric's farm clean-up business, which nailed the simple need that farmers had in the Prairies of Canada. They wanted scrap farm equipment off their property and Jean-Eric's team was able to recycle it at scale. A true win-win for all parties involved. But as the business grew, new challenges arose, including a partnership breakdown. The latest episode of the Buy Grow Sell podcast provides some fascinating insight into how a real-world serial entrepreneur came to realise that bringing in his business partner was a mistake – and one that was going to cost him. Connect with Jean-Eric Plamondon Website: https://growthstrategy.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-eric-plamondon/ Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Everyone will exit their business someday. While most business owners are looking to understand how to get the highest valuation and how to position themselves to get the best deal structure with the right buyer, Thomas Kereszti spent most of his career on the other side of those discussions, figuring out whether your business was worth the investment in the first place. Hear directly from a corporate M&A buyer on what he looks for in acquisitions, how he structures deals, and what a strategic acquirer may find important that you might overlook. Tom talks through several business acquisitions, including his own where he shares his learnings from both ends of the table. Connect with Thomas Kereszti Website: https://www.leadershipdisciples.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaskereszti/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Tom-R-Kereszti/100010386214692/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tom_Kereszti YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0fQk8ge__WLTOjGJsAN_NQ Get a copy of Tom's book, ‘C-Suite and Beyond': https://www.leadershipdisciples.com/purchase-book/ Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

There are two options for growth – organic or through business acquisition. Each one comes with its own set of challenges, but for Wendy Pease, growth through acquisition made more sense. She didn't have a ‘business-worthy' idea and instead, bought a small, zero-employee translation service that turned over around $100K in revenue. Eighteen years later, Wendy grew Rapport International to a global translation and marketing company that has $5M in revenue and around 10-15 employees. This episode is great for potential business owners who want to enter the market by either starting or acquiring their first business rather than growing it from scratch. Connect with Wendy Pease Website: https://www.rapporttranslations.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendypease/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RapportInternational/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RapportIntl YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Nfd_jjzeNI8pzsSPMr0dg Linktree: https://linktr.ee/wendypease Get a copy of Wendy's book, ‘The Language of Global Marketing': https://www.rapporttranslations.com/the-language-of-global-marketing-sample Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

After leaving successful, high-paying jobs in the corporate world, Michael Spinosa decided to strike out on his own by founding Unleashed Technologies, a digital marketing agency that specialised in application development. However, there was one problem: No one in his life thought he had what it took. While he bootstrapped his business from the ground up, it was not all sunshine and lollipops. Michael struggled financially, and he also struggled to find his market fit to truly grow the business. This led him on a journey of self-discovery about what it takes to be an entrepreneur. After several key shifts in the business, a lightbulb seemed to go off with the company scaling rapidly. Michael never even thought about an exit until he received a Letter of Intent that he just couldn't ignore. Connect with Michael Spinosa Website: https://shield7.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikespinosa/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shield7Consulting Twitter: https://twitter.com/MSpinosa Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Gabriela Isturiz did the impossible. She built a high-growth SaaS company and sold it to a Fortune 500 company for a huge multiple…twice! Her legal tech business, Bellefield Systems, grew to 45 employees over 7 years. Not to mention enjoyed 99% recurring revenue, 93% gross profit margins, an EBITDA margin of 38% as well as a whopping retention rate of 102%. All that is to say is that Gaby built a very successful software company, and she lays out not just how she did it, but how you can too. Connect with Gabriela Isturiz Website: https://thefund.vc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielaisturiz/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/gabrielaisturiz Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Nick Gray didn't like museums. That dislike spurned the birth of ‘Museum Hack.' A new way of touring museums led by scientists, actors, and comedians in an engaging and interactive way. Starting the business predominantly for his friends, Nick was able to grow ‘Museum Hack' to a $3 million a year business. From a young age, he had the entrepreneurial drive after helping the family business in the avionics industry. That entrepreneurial nature helped him to create an extremely successful business where he eventually exited through a unique shared equity model and retained 15% of the company. Nowadays, Nick is busily creating a blueprint for hosting the perfect cocktail party and helping others expand their networks through casual events. Connect with Nick Gray Website: https://nickgray.net/ Website: https://tripeak.com/ Website: https://party.pro/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickgraynews/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newfriend Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickgraynews/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickgraynews YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/nickgray Join Nick's Friends Newsletter: https://nickgray.net/signup-for-email-updates/ Get a copy of Nick's book: https://party.pro/book/ Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Your business is your baby, so what happens when you must let someone else make the decisions? Whether you have a business partner or a range of investors, there is always going to be someone with a different opinion on what you should do with the business. The problem lies when you don't hold enough clout and their opinions are what go ahead. This is the trap of a minority shareholder, and something Erik Rind can speak in-depth about. Having been building software since before the dawn of the internet, Erik has found himself a few times in a minority shareholder role – once being forced to sell a company to another company he didn't want to, and once being forced to step down as president. While these were some harsh lessons, it gave Erik clarity on how to approach business sales as a majority shareholder and come up with a number (and an ethical outlook) that takes care of his other partners. Connect with Erik Rind Website: https://imaginebc.net/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-rind-0aa415b/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imaginebcapp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imaginebcapp/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/imaginebcapp Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Businesses with purpose can create much bigger opportunities. This episode centres around an entrepreneur who managed to put community first, carve out a significant market differentiator, and because of this, grew his real estate business to $1B in annual turnover before selling to newer, younger agents for almost $10M dollars. Mark Deutschmann is a real estate entrepreneur who operated in a scant one-mile radius in Nashville, Tennessee. His business, Village Real Estate could have gone national, but instead, they funnelled money back into the community and created a thriving place to live that attracted more people (and agents) to the area, which then fuelled more growth for the company. It was a win for Mark, a win for the community, and a win for the city that saw new life breathed into it over the two plus decades he was in operation. Connect with Mark Deutschmann Website: https://www.villagerealestate.com/ Website: https://corenashville.com/ Website: https://nashvillecityliving.com/ Website: https://onemileradius.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-deutschmann-b999a027/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_deutschmann/ Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

For Ryan Tansom, his professional life started at 19 when the family business came knocking. He put on a suit and hit the pavement to start selling, starting his 18-year journey of growing and eventually selling the business. After navigating tricky situations in dealing with his father in the family business, Ryan grew the company to new levels before his father decided that he wanted out. Selling the business to a competitor meant gutting all of things he had helped to implement, but it was a formative experience that provided Ryan with crucial know-how. This experience is what he now calls upon when coaching and mentoring other entrepreneurs looking to sell. Tune in to hear what lessons Ryan has learned from his successful and entrepreneurial career thus far and how they could help save you time, money, and effort if you're looking to sell. Connect with Ryan Tansom Website: https://arkona.io/ International Growth Financial Statement: https://arkona.io/intentional-growth-financial-assessment/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-tansom-4a440710/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RyanTansom Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Landscaping is a tough, not-so-glamourous business, but it's one that Tom Farinacci cracked early on with his entrepreneurial drive and penchant for hard work. After selling his first business, Tom completed a college degree, worked at national landscaping business with the sole purpose of learning their trade secrets, and then returned to what he does best. Building his own business and propelling its growth forward. Focusing solely on strategic acquisitions from competitors in his area, Tom grew the business to achieve comfortable EBITDA margins of 15% a year. Tune in to hear why he prioritised strategic acquisitions over organic growth, how he knew the time was right to sell, and what his motivations were for exiting the industry.   Connect with Tom Farinacci II LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-farinacci/ Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

As most marketers will tell you, Search Engine Optimisation is a long game. It requires hard work, patience, and most of all, a keen eye for the changes in the industry. In fact, SEO is much like owning a business. These parallels culminated in the journey of Eric Enge, a 20+ year veteran in Search Engine Marketing and a savvy business owner. Eric was the founder of the award-winning SEO agency, Stone Temple Consulting, and by 2018, the marketing services business had almost 70 employees, $9 million in annual revenue, and counted fifteen Fortune 500 level among its client base. However, just like in SEO, there exists a ceiling, and it was around this time that Eric decided it was time to exit. See how it ranks here. Connect with Eric Enge Website: https://www.pilotholding.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericenge/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/stonetemple Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Everyone can start a business, but few can make it a successful one. And even fewer entrepreneurs know when it's time to step aside to bring in the big guns. Tina Youngblood is that big gun. With a PhD in accounting and over 20 years of experience in executive strategic leadership and results-oriented operational administration, Tina has developed a strategic approach to turning around businesses that has seen her succeed in various ventures across accounting, health, and SaaS. If you're a flagging founder who can't seem to get to the next stage of growth, tune into this episode and learn Tina's rules for sustainable growth. Connect with Tina Youngblood Website: https://techaccel.net/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-youngblood-13262264/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tech_Accel YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4gck7vLHtIlVRzIAE9gbLw Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

For an accidental entrepreneur, Jonathan Claydon did everything right in his affiliate marketing company, Streamline. Jon grew the business for 7 years from 1 employee to five to 35, servicing big names like Expedia, T-Mobile, and Microsoft right from the get-go. His industry expertise and market niche saw a client retention rate of 95%. This skyrocketed streamline to leaders in the industry, with Jon assessing over 20 Letters of Intent before finally accepting an offer from “frenemy” company, Acceleration Partners (who he now works for). His top advice for entrepreneurs: Find the right buyer and everything else will fall into place. Connect with Jonathan Claydon Website: https://www.accelerationpartners.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonclaydon/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jon.claydon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AccelerationPartners/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accelerationpar/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jon_claydon Twitter: https://twitter.com/accelerationpar Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

From theory to application and beyond, marketing professor Peter Fader did what most academics fail to do: create a successful commercial business based on what you're doing in the classroom. His work on consumer decision making led him to start Zodiac, a company that looked at consumer buying data to accurately predict future purchasing decisions. His data was a gold mine for entrepreneurs, but the challenge was getting business owners to see the value and trust the forecasting. After three years of side-of desk growth, Peter and his team were working hard on scaling and bringing in new and innovative ideas, when along came an acquisition offer they couldn't refuse from a retailer you might've heard of before: Nike. Peter's answer to the offer? Just do it. Connect with Peter Fader Website: https://thetaclv.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterfader/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/faderp Get a copy of Peter's new book, The Customer-Base Audit: https://whr.tn/Customer Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Whether it's eCommerce or Influencer Marketing, David Perry has advice for all businesses on how to best acquire, engage, and retain customers. A veteran of the gaming industry, he's taking the lessons he learned creating #1 selling video and computer games, and translating them into successful business ventures. David has built and sold businesses acquired by Sony, Disney, and Atari. Now, he's shifted to eCommerce, blurring the lines between gaming and reality. Connect with David Perry Website: https://dperry.com/ Website: https://getcarro.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dperry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getcarro/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dperry Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Successful entrepreneur, technologist, speaker, podcast host, and pilot, James Benham is a man of many talents, but one of his greatest gifts is his ability to build bootstrapped businesses. James took three years to develop enough cash flow to invest in building products he wanted to build, but the payoff was worth the wait. SmartBid, his construction bid management software, was first-to-market on most technology trends, staying well ahead of its venture-funded competitors. But after 12 years of funnelling all profits into the business, James came to a crossroad: He needed to scale, raise, or exit. Learn how he built to scale, including his top takeaway tips for growing a self-funded company. Connect with James Benham Website: https://jamesbenham.com/ Website: https://jbknowledge.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbenham/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JBKnowledge Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesmbenham/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesMBenham Twitter: https://twitter.com/jbknowledge Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

After growing her bootstrapped and self-funded alternative camping SaaS business to $100,000 in Annual Recurring Revenue, Anna Maste received a very respectable offer of 3.9 times ARR. Rather than accepting, Anna decided to focus on exponentially growing Boondockers Welcome, capitalising on a favourable market at the time. Two years, 2,800 hosts and 12,000 annual guest members later, she more than quadrupled their revenue before accepting a mid-seven figure offer. Connect with Anna Maste Website: https://www.subscribesense.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-maste-9aab6315/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/skulegirl Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

After Sandy Hansen-Wolff's husband suddenly died, she was thrust into running their regional agriculture business. Rather than balking at the task, she grew the company to $8M before selling 18 years later. Sandy overcame a lot of challenges in this time period. From navigating her grief, to navigating being a woman in a male-dominated industry. She made a lot of mistakes along the way, but in the end, created a great business and secured a great exit. Now, Sandy integrates these key insights as the platform for her work with high-level business leaders and entrepreneurs so that they too are empowered to move from struggling to success and profitability. Connect with Sandy Hansen-Wolff Website: https://sandyhansenwolff.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-hansen-wolff-5568b910/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandyHansenWolff/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandyehansen Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Three-time start-up entrepreneur, Melissa Kwan has one piece of advice for those who want to start a tech company: Don't! But jokes aside, Melissa's advice is invaluable when it comes to the mindset you need to build a SaaS product, and she isn't shy about sharing the cold hard truth. Her real estate software, Spacio grew to the industry's #1 open house sign-in solution by applying data analytics to open houses and helping agents automate lead capture and follow-up. When she sold to HomeSpotter in 2019, the deal terms were undisclosed, but were in the mid-seven figures. Yet to get there, Melissa spent three years skipping meals and paycheques, and not knowing whether she mentally had what it took to get her business off the ground. But once she found the momentum, her success skyrocketed. This is her story. Connect with Melissa Kwan Website: https://ewebinar.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissakwan/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ewebinar Twitter: https://twitter.com/msskwan Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Shannon Susko started, scaled, and sold two high-growth technology companies in the financial services industry just six years apart. This self-described ski bum from Whistler, Canada built a repeatable playbook that both she and her acquirers have used, as well as over 100 businesses worldwide. In her second business, it resulted in a 60x top line sale. If you're looking to inject more predictable profit into your business, then tune in and learn from best-selling author, entrepreneur, and business coach, Shannon Susko. Connect with Shannon Susko Website: https://www.metronomeunited.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonbyrnesusko/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metronomeglobal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metronome_united/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShanByrneSusko YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtfKz1miyfoNlX9RYvtQx-A Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

Are you looking to scale your business? From team development to infrastructure to founder mindset, to just straight luck, there are so many components required to rapidly grow a business. Our guest, Greg Alexander unlocks many of the mysteries surrounding how to take your business to the next level. And he should know. Greg successfully built his sales consultancy firm, SBI, over 11 years, generating $30M in annual revenue and $16M in EBITDA with only 30 employees. This allowed him to sell to a private equity firm for $162M without an earn-out. Tune in and learn not just how he did it, but also how you can take his framework and apply it in your professional services business. Connect with Greg Alexander Website: https://www.collective54.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gpalexander/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/collective54 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collective_54/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/collective_54 Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/

What started as a family business in Australia's local pub scene turned into a multi-branded private equity firm with 250+ employees and a 7-venue portfolio. Stephen Hunt is the founder of Hunt Hospitality, and buying, flipping and selling pubs is his passion. Tune in and learn how he started with a $400K investment and turned that into $50M through a strategy of innovation and acquisition, including executing multimillion-dollar deals, all the while still fostering deep roots in the communities in which he operated. His structured approach to acquisitions is transferrable across every industry, and you will leave with a thirst for more. Connect with Stephen Hunt Website: http://www.stephen-hunt.com.au/ Website: https://www.hunthospitality.com.au/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunthospitality/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stephen-Hunt-111789404289990 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephenhuntofficial/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephenhunthosp Connect with Simon Bedard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/business-sales-sydney/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/