Build and Exit

Michele Hecken built a global business from scratch, grew it to the point where she was working just 4–10 hours a week, and ultimately sold it. In this episode, Michele joins Julie Wilkinson to share how she built a business that could run without her, overcame founder dependency, and prepared the company for a successful exit. They discuss delegation, systems, leadership, KPIs, business value and...

Kemi Egan bought a business in 2021. What she did not know was that HMRC had already launched a COP8 fraud investigation into the seller six months before completion. By the time she found out, the tax liability had reached £677,000, a further million in director's loan credits had been denied, and she was five months pregnant.    This episode covers the full story, the due diligence check that co...

Less than 2% of VC funding in the UK goes to female founders. That number has barely moved in 16 years. In this episode David B Horne, who has raised over $110 million and written Funded Female Founders, joins Julie to explain why, and what female founders can do about it. Including the one response strategy that makes any founder 14 times more likely to secure funding.     Watch the full video ve...

Most conversations about selling a business focus on the deal. This one focuses on what it actually feels like.  Luke Winter co-founded Wallbreaker, a video agency, straight out of university. After 12 years he sold his half to his business partner.  In this episode he talks honestly about the loneliness, the exhaustion, the night in the shower, and the question every seller faces: am I walking aw...

Nine out of ten businesses that come to market within a year have not sold. Marc Adams has spent four decades on both sides of that statistic.  In this episode he joins Julie to break down the three-step framework behind his book: cutting costs through outsourcing, deploying that saving into growth, and using acquisitions to double a business in an afternoon.  Including a real client whose valuati...

Of all the businesses that go to market, 75 to 85% do not sell. In this episode Julie Wilkinson breaks down why that happens, what financial controls and governance have to do with it, and what needs to change before a business becomes a genuine asset rather than a job that stops the moment the owner steps back.  Watch the full video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dRiXi__uX9s?si=4EkaDmWyTFlm...

Most business owners go to market expecting a strong valuation and are disappointed. Not because the business is bad. Because the profits they think they have are not the profits a buyer will accept.  In this episode Julie Wilkinson breaks down adjusted EBITDA from the ground up, including the accruals concept, how owner pay distorts profits, the pricing flaw hiding in most SME businesses, and why...

Most businesses do not fail overnight. They lose oversight first. In this episode Julie walks through how financial and legal risk quietly builds inside growing businesses, including a real case where credit card spend crept to half a million a year unnoticed, an acquisition that inherited a money laundering exposure, and an internal fraud case that went undetected for years. If your business is g...

Most business owners believe their valuation is driven by revenue and profit. Buyers are looking for something else entirely: confidence.  Confidence in the numbers. Confidence in the controls. Confidence that the business is actually as sustainable as it appears on the surface.  In this solo episode Julie Wilkinson walks through a real case study: a business with £20 million turnover that had bee...

Nothing is technically broken. Revenue is growing, teams are expanding, activity is high. So why does cash never close where you expect? Why are the same decisions taking longer every month? Why do leaders keep double-checking numbers that should already be right?    In this solo episode Julie Wilkinson breaks down the three operational areas where financial systems quietly fail growing businesses...

Your finance is technically working. So why does something still feel off?  In this solo episode Julie Wilkinson breaks down one of the most consistent patterns she is seeing across scaling businesses right now: finance is in place, teams are in place, reporting is in place — but business owners are still struggling to trust their numbers and make confident decisions.  Julie explains why the probl...

Is your accountant really enough to protect your business? In this episode, I break down the five critical financial skill sets that most business owners are missing. Drawing from financial compliance audits and surveys of over 200 SME owners, I reveal why profitable businesses still run out of cash and how hidden risks are costing you thousands without you even knowing. You'll discover real case...

Ever wondered what happens when an acquisition doesn’t go to plan? In this episode, I speak with Gavin Page, a serial entrepreneur with 28 years in business and a decade of buy-and-build experience. Gavin grew a group of nine companies turning over more than £8 million, but one failed acquisition changed everything. We dive into the reality of scaling through acquisition, from structuring deals an...

What really determines the value of a business? In this episode I sit down with Saul Cohen, CEO of The Expert Eye, to explore the mechanics behind valuation and why it is never just about the numbers. We look at how strong financial controls and a clear understanding of EBITDA give both buyers and sellers confidence, and how risk management can make or break a deal. Saul and I also unpack the role...

What happens when a casual side hustle explodes into a million-dollar-a-month enterprise almost overnight? In this episode I am joined by Sam Penny, founder of Cheese Therapy, who scaled his cheese distribution business by 23x during the COVID-19 pandemic, in 18 months before choosing to exit. Sam takes us behind the scenes of his explosive growth, unexpected founder departure, and the moment he r...

What happens when a successful pharmacist gives up his career to buy a care business—just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic? In this episode, Chike Nwangwu, Managing Director of Nash Homecare and the BESDA Group, shares how he built a £4M care group through four strategic acquisitions in just five years. Chike breaks down the emotional and operational challenges of buying a business, from navigat...

Think Your Business is Worth More? Here’s What Buyers Are Really Looking At.   Sellers often feel let down by their business valuation. There is a key principle that they overlook from the start of building their business that has a huge impact – their financial literacy.   In this episode I am joined by Rob Goddard, seasoned M&A advisor, to unpack the real financial truths behind selling—or b...

Are 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...

Will 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 busi...

Selling 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 s...

Over 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 busin...

Imagine 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...

What 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...

The 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 acquis...

Financial 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...