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/srhbedard/ 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/srhbedard/ 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/srhbedard/ 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/srhbedard/ 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/srhbedard/ 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/srhbedard/ 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/srhbedard/ 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/srhbedard/ 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/srhbedard/ 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/srhbedard/ 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/srhbedard/ 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/srhbedard/ 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/srhbedard/ Website: https://buygrowsell.com/ Website: https://exitadvisory.com.au/