Watch: Business Owner Advice Videos
Gain first-hand insights from experts and entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated the sale process. Hear about their challenges, lessons learned, and advice for owners preparing for sale.
Exit Planning
Planning for an exit – Optimal
“Suddenly you look in the mirror and you think… I’m seeing an old man now. What is the exit plan?”
Making the difficult decision to sell – Fire Action
“I’d fallen out of love with the job…” But business partner Lou wasn’t happy at first…
Making a decision to sell – WOW Toys
“I had really personal family reasons for wanting to sell the business. I no longer had the drive to pursue what I had been pursuing.”
Deciding to sell – Trends
“We had two options, sell the business or wind it down…”
Making the decision to sell – Hicom
“The last thing I wanted to do was be was the boxer that has one fight too many and gets knocked out in the first round…”
Making the decision to sell – Optimal
“There was no way I would sell the business. It was my identity, that’s what I was. After a certain number of years you do start to feel very mortal.”
The importance of feeling heard – WOW Toys
“One thing that stood out for me… Entrepreneurs Hub took time to understand my situation and what I wanted out of the sale.”
Preparation for Sale…
Finding the right acquirer – WOW Toys
“What was interesting and surprising, was just how many companies and different acquirers Entrepreneurs Hub approached.”
A bespoke approach – Trends
“It was an unusual deal. It just would never have happened without that guidance.”
How to profile the ideal acquirer – Optimal
“They got under the skin of the business, understood it. And then by working as a team we got together the key points of the business that might attract potential buyers.”
My priorities for the sale – WOW Toys
There were a couple of really important points for me in selling the business. I’m happy to say both of those were truly achieved.”
Getting inside the heart of a complex business – Hicom
“You understood it to the point where your representatives could talk quite fluently with potential acquirers about what we are doing as a business…”
Finding the best home for the business – Fire Action
“It was really important that we found the right home for Fire Action. We ended up spoilt for choice…”
Keeping an open mind on potential acquirers – Hicom
“They were a surprise to us… we had to do research on them!”
Communicating the opportunity confidentially – Optimal
“I feel it’s really important for Entrepreneurs Hub to understand the business. You’re running on the razor blade because you want to keep things fairly confidential. I think they did a very good job.”
What’s it Like to Sell?
Selling a business is a roller coaster ride – Fire Action
“You don’t know how many twists and turns there are going to be on that ride. But all you know is… you’re sat in a chair, you’re strapped in.”
Navigating the highs and lows – WOW Toys
“I was surprised at how hard some acquirers can be… But I also met some people who were quite amazing…”
The highs and lows of selling your business – Hicom
“It is dramatic, painful, exciting, depressing, it’s literally physically tiring… I learned a lot through the process about how good our business was.”
The impact of competitive tension – Hicom
“We wanted more than one player to make an offer for us… We had three really interested parties, but we narrowed it down to two.”
The importance of a financial expert – WOW Toys
“Quite early on I was introduced to some highly skilled people in the financial side from Entrepreneurs Hub.”
The importance of different roles in the process – Fire Action
“Previously I’d had this notion it was something I could do myself… Lou laughs because we understand what’s involved.”
The value of 24/7 support – Optimal
“They were there to answer any tricky questions… (helping me) understand what the underlying question was about”
What it’s really like to sell a business – WOW Toys
“Selling a business, it’s a bumpy road and you’ve got no idea what to expect…”
The value of expert guidance – Hicom
“Entrepreneurs Hub, Hicom was one entity at the latter stages. It was all very much a team effort.”
The value of dedicated FD support – Optimal
“Financially they were a great crutch in helping me through the journey”
Post-Sale…
Two years on, any regrets? – Optimal
“All around I don’t think it could have been bettered”
What has selling meant for you? – Fire Action
“I just felt that this massive weight had been lifted from my shoulders. But I also feel proud of what we have done…”
Dealing with the aftermath – Trends
“It was a hell of an emotional roller coaster. Probably one of the most relaxing Christmases we’ve ever had.”
Achieving shareholder goals – Hicom
“I don’t think it could have been done any quicker… The valuation we got was above our floor by a reasonable amount.”
Due diligence support – Trends
“I don’t think either of us appreciated how complicated it is…”
Life after the sale – Hicom
“I hate the term work life balance, but now I’ve got mainly life and a little bit of work…”
The who, when and how of informing employees – Hicom
“My biggest concern throughout all of this was how our staff and our clients would feel about the deal…”
Telling your team about the deal – Optimal
“The deal has to remain confidential for a great part of the journey, and it doesn’t make you feel good if you have a good relationship with your employees…”
Peer-to-Peer Advice
Advice for business owners – Trends
“Most business owners are not experts in M&A, so get someone to help you.”
My advice to other business owners – WOW Toys
“Don’t be afraid of the unknown, don’t procrastinate. Entrepreneurs Hub advised as we were walking together.”
Advice for other business owners – Fire Action
“Think very carefully about who you’re going to work with… without EH I’m not sure we would have got to the point that we have…”
My advice for business owners – Optimal
“Be prepared for a lengthy journey with bumps in the road.”
Lessons learned in business – Trends
“Don’t be scared to try a new direction, or to call it a day if it’s not working.”
How to differentiate your business – Optimal
“Try to look at it from the customer’s perspective, what are they trying to achieve? Not just try and sell them a product, but actually think, how can I benefit the customer? What value can I bring them?”
Expert Advice
Maximising Business Value
When you’re ready to sell your business, maximising its value is often the successful outcome that business owners want. This video outlines essential steps to prepare your business for sale, including valuation methods, understanding buyer perspectives, and implementing improvements to enhance its appeal.
Avoid These Mistakes When Selling Your Business
Selling your business is a not only a major financial milestone, but a hugely emotional process with the outcome reflecting years of hard work and investment. It’s a high stakes game where mistakes can be very costly.
Sell your Business for Maximum Profit
Now is a good time to sell your business, but how do you make sure you get the best price and terms? In this video we talk you through 5 key points that will help you sell for maximum profit.
Client Testimonials
Appointing an advisor – Trends
“You just get a feel and it felt informal, it didn’t feel like a high pressure tactic.”
How to select the right advisor – Fire Action
“We had three sales pitches that we sat through… and it was really a no-brainer.”
Selecting an advisor – Hicom
“I think I could relate to you better than some of the others we had spoken to… you invested a lot of time in our deal”
Selecting the right advisor – WOW Toys
“I did meet with a number of companies… I think the ‘feel right’ is something that’s really important…”
Working with Entrepreneurs Hub – Optimal
“I feel as though I’m over selling it, but I can’t fault you! It’s not often in life whereby the first impressions are met by the experience.”
Testimonial – BlueGFX
“It was about finding the pedigree of company we wanted to work with…”