Owner To Owner Podcast

Jaimee Hart is a chartered accountant, M&A advisor, and private-equity-backed CFO who helps founders build valuable, sellable businesses. She explores how private equity partnerships work, balancing cash flow with capital growth, improving earnings and valuation multiples, and preparing for due diligence. Also covered: bolt-on acquisitions, unsolicited approaches, and planning a stronger exit.

Warwick Levy, Australian artist and founder of Lonely Kids Club, transformed bedroom-printed tees into an ethical creative studio. He discusses building a supportive artist community, sustainable print-on-demand production, viral protest shirts, and choosing purpose over maximum profit. He also recounts the fight against mass marketplace copying and why graphic tees remain powerful cultural messages.

Tony Simmons, an Australian entrepreneur, business builder, and former M&A lawyer, shares lessons from three technology exits. He discusses building companies around real customer problems, preparing for acquisition, exclusivity traps, living data rooms, and the risks of earnouts. He also explores the emotional impact of selling a business and the red tape holding small businesses back.

Brenton Johnson, founder of Australian managed service provider Uptake Digital, champions people-first technology for SMEs. He shares his journey from fixing computers for beer to building a purpose-driven, owner-independent business. The conversation explores culture as a balance-sheet asset, psychological safety, AI’s missing middle, resilient systems, MSP consolidation, and making entrepreneurship less risky.

Overcoming Small Business Burnout: Why You Need Simpler Systems, Not More TechWelcome to another episode of the Owner to Owner Podcast. If you’ve ever wondered how to reduce small business burnout, the answer often starts with simplifying your small business tech stack. Are you feeling overwhelmed by the endless apps, subscriptions, and communication channels required to run your business today? You aren't alone.In this episode, Michael sits down with Elise Balsillie, Head of Thryv ANZ, to unpack why modern technology often adds complexity instead of freedom for small business owners. They explore the best systems for service based businesses and dive deep into the burnout epidemic. You'll learn exactly how to build a business that runs without you, which is the ultimate key to reducing owner dependency for business sale and preserving your day-to-day sanity.Whether you want to learn about using AI for small business marketing, improving local visibility for contractors, or leveraging Thryv for small business growth, this conversation covers the practical steps to get your time back.In this episode, you’ll discover:The Burnout Reality: Why Thryv’s recent research shows 45% of Australian small business owners have considered stepping away due to workload pressure.The "Mishmash" Tech Stack: Why stringing together too many isolated tools creates process gaps rather than fixing your core problems.The 3 a.m. Rule: How to stop trying to fix everything at once and focus strictly on the one issue keeping you awake at night.Real-World Success: How Booth Contracting saved 10 hours a week and scaled from a single van to a national operation using better local SEO and lead generation.Building for the Future: Actionable ways to reduce owner dependency to boost both your current profit and your eventual exit valuation.Practical AI Adoption: How to take practical, baby steps into AI to save time on everyday tasks without feeling overwhelmed.Episode Chapters:00:00 – The modern small business trap: Why tech promises freedom but delivers pressure05:22 – The "mishmash" tech stack and how to solve your 3 a.m. problem09:06 – How Thryv helps service businesses grow (featuring the Booth Contracting case study)18:37 – Surprising data from the Thryv Business Index: Burnout, rising costs, and wearing too many hats25:29 – Reducing owner dependency to improve saleability and transition out of the day-to-day30:22 – Building AI-powered marketing systems that outlast the owner38:24 – The future of online discovery and how AI is changing local search43:30 – Elise’s final advice for overwhelmed owners and how to take the first step  Thanks for listening.  Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au 

In this episode of the Owner to Owner Podcast, Michael sits down with Bill Lang—Chair of Small Business Australia, Co-chair of Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs for Oceania, and a seasoned business founder and advisor. They dive deep into the rising trend of "entrepreneurship through acquisition," exploring why buying an established business is becoming an increasingly popular and less risky alternative to the traditional startup model. Bill shares fascinating insights from his recent Harvard Business School reunion, highlighting the explosive impact of AI on the "solopreneur" movement and how technology is fundamentally lowering the barriers to entry for new business owners. Beyond trends, Bill delivers practical, hard-earned wisdom for current SME owners. From the critical importance of documenting your business processes and preparing for unexpected succession, to managing cash flow and learning from Other People's Mistakes (OPM), this episode is packed with actionable advice for building and sustaining a successful business. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition: Why buying an existing business is often a smarter, lower-risk strategy than building a startup from scratch. The AI Revolution: How artificial intelligence is empowering a new generation of "solopreneurs" to launch fully functional businesses in minutes. Succession Planning: Why documenting your business processes is vital for attracting buyers and protecting your family in case of unexpected life events. Regional Business Hubs: The essential role of Australia Post Licensed Post Offices (LPOs) in supporting regional and rural small business economies. Surviving the Journey: Bill’s golden rules for small business survival, including why "cash is king" and the immense value of learning from other people's failures. Policy Reform: Bill's vision for a simplified employment structure and tax incentives to fuel a small business revolution in Australia. Chapters: 01:20 The Evolution of Entrepreneurship 06:24 Changing Perspectives on Business Ownership 11:34 The Rise of Solopreneurs and AI 16:29 Navigating the Landscape of Business Acquisition 21:36 Preparing for the Unexpected in Business 26:36 Lessons from Past Acquisitions 26:58 The Impact of Capital on Startups 30:04 Navigating Tax Changes and Business Opportunities 32:02 The Future of AI in Business 34:54 Leveraging AI for Small Business Growth 38:43 Aussie Post's Role in Supporting Small Businesses 42:23 Lessons from a Small Business Journey 46:52 The Need for Practical Experience in Politics   #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessAcquisition #Solopreneur #SmallBusinessAustralia #BusinessAdvice #AIforBusiness #SuccessionPlanning #BusinessStrategy #PodcastSEO Small Business Australia: Connect with Bill Lang and find resources to support your business journey at smallbusinessaustralia.org. Thanks for listening.  Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au 

Why every business owner needs to build authority. Michael sits down with Trevor Young—PR and communications advisor, coach, mentor, writer, author, and podcast host—to unpack why building authority is a strategic business asset for SME owners. They discuss how founders can build credibility, visibility, and trust without falling into noisy self-promotion. The conversation also gets practical about content, earned media, owned media, and how all of this affects growth, reputation, and even business saleability. In this episode: The real job of PR: Trevor reframes PR as building a deeper connection, trust, and reputation with the people who matter most to a business, rather than just chasing press hits. Why good owners stay invisible: A look at tall poppy syndrome, analogue mindsets, the fear of bragging, and the discomfort many owners feel about putting themselves out there. Content-led communications: Trevor breaks content down into four distinct buckets: Utility content Thought leadership content Personal content Brand content Why owned media matters: The case for email newsletters, websites, podcasts, and other channels you control, rather than relying solely on platforms that can change their rules overnight. Pick fewer channels and do them well: Why you shouldn't try to be everywhere, and how to build a strong base on just one or two channels (usually LinkedIn plus an owned channel). Matching format to founder: How video, writing, and audio all have a role, and why the best format depends on the founder’s strengths, the audience, and the business model. Thought leadership > generic utility: While answering common questions is useful, the stronger opportunity is to express a point of view and challenge the status quo. Trust takes repetition: Why people often need to see you 7 to 12 times before they factor you into their thinking. Authority helps sales and exits: How personal brand, business brand, and strategic communications affect acquisition, talent attraction, and the ability to build a business that can run without the founder. Timestamps 00:00 - Why business owners need to build authority 00:58 - Trevor’s background in journalism and PR 02:12 - Why he works with credible founders and experts 05:31 - Tall poppy syndrome and the fear of visibility 07:25 - Why content paralysis happens in a noisy media landscape 09:24 - Why owners already know they need to act 11:45 - Content-led communications across owned, earned, and paid media 13:27 - PR versus marketing and why the distinction matters 16:22 - Choosing the right content format: writing, video, audio, visual 17:42 - A property company’s 350 video and live stream playbook 19:10 - Why owned media beats platform dependence 21:14 - Personal brand websites, books, and digital ownership 22:52 - The reality of omnipresence and big creator teams 24:42 - Why most business owners should focus on fewer channels 27:05 - Utility content versus thought leadership 28:30 - Why a contrarian point of view can matter more than FAQs 31:27 - How repeated exposure and personal stories build trust 34:19 - The four content buckets, including brand content 35:22 - The 80/20 rule for promotion versus value 39:42 - Why newsletters still matter, even if they are simple or curated 41:20 - Why YouTube is a major opportunity for business owners 42:42 - Building a show instead of random videos 45:57 - Beehiiv and newsletters as business assets 49:49 - Why human stories beat AI and how earned media helps discovery 51:34 - How AI tools use earned media and websites to verify people 55:38 - Why companies should make internal people into stars 57:06 - Michael Hyatt’s move from personal brand to business brand 62:49 - Using back channels and case studies to support sale readiness 64:42 - Creating heat around a brand through visibility and speaking 67:19 - Talent attraction, retention, and employer brand 68:42 - Adam Robinson’s LinkedIn growth and startup content strategy 71:41 - What Trevor would do if asked to lead small business policy 74:09 - Where to find Trevor’s website and newsletter Notable quotes “We want to hear from the genuine people who have got something to offer.” “If you just do rollout paid ads and you have nothing underneath to back it up, you're gonna have to put your hand in your pocket for a lot longer.” “If you want to grow quickly from a low base, it's all personal brand. If you want to build to sell, it's the business brand first.” Thanks for listening.  Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au 

What does it take to build a thriving independent brewery in the shadow of multinational giants? In this episode, Peta Fielding, co-founder of Burleigh Brewing, takes us behind the scenes of her nearly 20-year journey crafting one of Australia's most beloved indie beer brands. From buying a brewery out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy to mastering long-term strategy and fostering deep brand loyalty, Peta shares the highs, lows, and crucial decisions that fueled their growth. Whether you're a craft beer enthusiast or an aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical insights on passion, resilience, and scaling up while staying true to your community values. Key Topics & Takeaways: Building and sustaining an independent craft brewery in Australia Navigating early hurdles, including acquiring a bankrupt business Competing against multinational beverage giants The power of venue dynamics, brand loyalty, and community engagement Strategic growth, funding, and leadership for the long haul Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction to Peta Fielding & Burleigh Brewing 02:27 – The Origins: From Hawaii MBA to Burleigh Heads 05:55 – Buying a Brewery Out of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy 07:36 – Building a Business with Values & Community Focus 12:38 – Scaling Up: From Small Units to a Production Brewery 18:16 – Funding, Investors, & Business Growth 25:49 – Current Capacity & Future Expansion 37:27 – Venue Role & Community Engagement 43:44 – Industry Challenges & Multinationals in Australia 54:22 – Leadership, Succession, & Long-Term Vision 1:07:38 – Future Outlook & Maintaining Independence Thanks for listening.  Visit the Owner To Owner Podcast website to subscribe, listen back, or check out any resources or information mentioned on the show.Search @ownertoownerpodcast on your favourite podcast player to subscribe and listen to the episodes.Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.auwww.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au 

Andrew Clements, Co-Chair of Employee Ownership Australia and small-business succession advocate, explains selling to your team through EOTs. He compares allocated share plans with unallocated trusts. He highlights international lessons, regulatory and tax hurdles in Australia. He outlines which firms fit employee ownership and practical steps for founders planning an exit.

Monica O’Malley, a dentist and founder who converted her clinics into employee-owned practices to build trust and purpose. She talks about shifting from top-down control to shared agency. Topics include rebuilding trust in dentistry, practical steps for cultural change, financial transparency, succession for lasting legacy, and how ownership boosts resilience and workplace motivation.