The Exit Plan: Mergers and Acquisitions for Creative Entrepreneurs

Mike Silver, the founder of an experiential agency called Stretch, shares his journey of setting up an experiential marketing agency called Stretch in Cape Town, South Africa.  We talk about its growth, a merger with another agency in Johannesburg and it’s eventual sale to a WPP affiliate. He discusses the challenges, learnings, and post-sale experiences, offering valuable insights for entrepreneu...

Tim Drake, a semi-retired agency owner, shares his journey of building and selling his agency for £20 million. He discusses the various pivots his agency went through, from graphic design to websites to mobile-first business. Tim emphasizes the importance of finding the right business partner and maintaining a ruthless focus on building and selling. He explains the earn-out structure of the deal a...

George Hughes, founder of Small Films, shares his experience of starting and acquiring businesses in the video production industry. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from working in the television industry to running his own company and the importance of understanding the objectives of clients. Hughes also talks about how he acquired Maia Films, an education specialist company, during i...

Steve James Royal, co-founder of The Yard Creative, shares his journey of building and selling a design agency. The Yard Creative is an evidential design agency that focuses on bringing scientific thinking and research into the design process. Steve discusses the challenges and successes of implementing evidential design, including a case study with World Vision. He also talks about the growth of...

Arthur Petropoulos, the managing partner at Hillview Partners, discusses his work in mergers and acquisitions and capital advisory for middle market companies. He shares how he got into this line of work and the process of setting up and growing his own firm. Petropoulos explains the importance of building infrastructure and processes in businesses to reach the one million EBITDA mark, which is a...

Alex Price, founder of 93 Digital, shares his journey of building and selling his digital agency. He started freelancing in web design at a young age and eventually grew his agency to a team of 35. The agency focused on WordPress and B2B tech clients, and later expanded into digital marketing services. Alex decided to sell the agency when it was in a position of strength and had attracted interest...

Richard Neve, Executive Creative Director at Cognito, shares his professional journey and the acquisition of his agency by Cognito. Cognito is a global agency focused on financial services and financial technology. Richard started as a journalist and later moved into public relations in the financial services industry. In 2017, Cognito acquired Richard's agency in the Netherlands, and in 2022, the...

In this episode of The Exit Plan, Barnaby Cook interviews Gabe and Jack, co-founders of The Shoots Group, a video agency. The twins share their journey of starting the business, scaling it, and eventually deciding to go their separate ways. They discuss the challenges of running multiple brands, the importance of alignment in business partnerships, and the process of negotiating and finalizing the...

Andy Maher, founding partner of Endeavour, shares his career journey and the work his firm does in business advisory and M&A. He discusses the partnerships between Endeavour and Green and Purple, as well as Keystone Lawyers. Andy explains the criteria for taking on a business and the process of identifying potential buyers. He also highlights the motivations that trigger the idea of selling a...

SummaryIn this conversation, Jordi Pujol, an expert in investment banking and valuation, discusses the process of valuing a business. He highlights the importance of value markers, such as brand and customer list, as indicators of a company's value. Pujol also emphasizes the significance of process in creating value and scaling a business. He advises business owners to focus on attracting, servici...

Trenton, the founder of a UX agency, shares his experience of selling his business. He discusses the background of his agency and the type of clients they worked with. Trenton talks about the growth and turnover of the agency, as well as the ownership structure and share options. He explains the reasons behind his decision to sell, including a difficult financial year. Trenton shares the process o...

Caroline Johnson, co-founder of the Business Model Company, discusses the importance of transforming business models to stay relevant and profitable in the face of changing market dynamics. She emphasizes the need for businesses to recognize the decline of legacy service-based models and adapt to more scalable and innovative models. Caroline shares case studies of businesses that have successfully...

In this edition of the Exit Plan podcast, Barnaby participates in a live conversation taped at the Riding House Cafe in Fitzrovia. The panellists are Lisa Paasche, former CEO of Verve Search, Nick Berry, partner and M&A advisor at Green Square, and Joe Lewin, CEO of Foundy, an M&A marketplace. The episode begins with insights into the panellists' experiences selling enterprises, which shed...

In this edition of the Exit Plan podcast, Barnaby participates in a live conversation taped at the Riding House Cafe in Fitzrovia. The panellists are Lisa Paasche, former CEO of Verve Search, Nick Berry, partner and M&A advisor at Green Square, and Joe Lewin, CEO of Foundy, an M&A marketplace. The episode begins with insights into the panellists' experiences selling enterprises, which shed...

The co-founder of Studio Blup, DINES®, tells a gripping story about the agency's path from acquisition to independence in this episode. The discussion provides a thorough examination of the highs and lows they encountered while working for a larger group. At first, Studio Blup was lured in by the prospect of pooling resources and strength as a group, but now they struggle with the tension between...

Welcome to The Exit Plan, a podcast for business owners interested in learning more about selling their business. In this episode, the director and co-founder of Green and Purple, Katie Bent, talks with Barnaby about her career path and the distinctive course of Green and Purple. Starting with her early career in accounting, Katie describes her corporate experience and her partnership with Pete, w...

The topic of roll-up deals, the target market for BizCrunch, and the value of acquirer community development are all discussed. Gareth highlights the distinct perspectives that professionals like Jonathan Jay and Jeremy Harbour offer in the field of business acquisition. In closing, Gareth encourages listeners to check out BizCrunch, highlighting the platform's free launch strategy and range of pr...

Punctuation's co-owner Jonathan Baker discussed the company's function as an adviser focusing on small to mid-sized marketing services organizations on this episode of "The Exit Plan" podcast. During the interview, Jonathan discussed their twin strategy of offering M&A activities, including buy-side and sell-side searches, valuations, and advising services encompassing positioning and lead gen...

Nikki Wheeldon, a versatile entrepreneur with a background in acting, shared her journey from a struggling actor to the founder of Jam Pot, a flourishing business providing freelance operational support. Initially managed solely by Nikki and her husband, Jam Pot's unique business model, devoid of retainers, offered flexible operational services across admin, HR, finance, and more. The company expa...

In this episode, join Andrew on a riveting narrative spanning nine years as he unveils the dynamic trajectory of Origins of Motion. This video production venture began in the quiet corners of Cambridge. The exit, a management buyout by two videographers, followed Andrew's decision due to remote management challenges. The valuation prioritized mutual affordability, ensuring a smooth transition. And...

Mike Craddock, co-founder and CEO of Kairos Group, underwent a unique journey, transitioning from a successful career as a YouTuber to leading a social creative agency. Established in 2015, Carros Group, with offices in London, Manchester, and New York, specializes in social media and influencer marketing. Mike's strategic approach includes acquisitions, such as Horizon, an esports organization, a...

Entrepreneur Peter Kemp, MD of Global 3 Digital, has navigated the dynamic landscape of digital corporate communications. With the establishment of his agency in 1999, Kemp successfully led the company through significant growth, culminating in its strategic sale in 2014. Kemp's journey unfolds with insights into the acquisition process, emphasizing a streamlined due diligence period. Beyond the s...

Welcome to The Exit Plan, a podcast for business owners interested in learning more about selling their business.   In this episode, we welcome John Starr, a business owner, mentor and co-founder of PR agency Clairville. Clairville began in 1989, emerging from a publishing company. Facing challenges, they sold the design agency, focusing on PR. With no clients initially, they secured the first wit...

Welcome to The Exit Plan, a podcast for business owners interested in learning more about selling their business.  Hasan Fadlallah is the founder & CEO of Brand Lounge, the region’s leading and award–winning branding consultancy. He is also the Co-Founder & Director of Fullmoon Experiments, a socially driven incubator that develops and grows purposeful startups in the region. Embodying the...

 Welcome to The Exit Plan, a podcast for business owners interested in learning more about selling their business.  Doug Austin is the Author of Permission to Win, he spent most of his career building, growing, and selling ad agencies until he founded the Austin Amplifies which specializes in helping independent agencies find their next level.  In this episode, Doug Austin shares how, in 2008, he...