Buy and Build

To accelerate your search and acquisition journey, join the next Buy and Build Accelerator, in September.   https://www.buyandbuildaccelerator.com/  This week we speak with Will Hunnam, the former searcher-turned-CEO of Forza Doors. Will has a fascinating background which lead him to decide to take the ETA path.  Early in his ETA journey, Will was considering acquiring a £1-2m revenue self-funded deal but ended up acquiring a £30m revenue business with the help of a group of investors, using the more traditional search fund path.  During the episode we discuss Will's ETA journey, his partnership with Novastone Capital, how he sourced targets including Forza Doors, why he likes the sector he acquired in, and the highlights and challenges of running a business. We hope you enjoy the episode!

To accelerate your search and acquisition journey, join the next Buy and Build Accelerator, in September.  https://www.buyandbuildaccelerator.com/ This week we speak with Jack Minns, Corporate Transactions partner at Larking Gowen. Jack has a wealth of corporate finance experience, generally representing sellers looking to exit the business.  During the episode, we discuss the definitions and components of working capital, the common issues and contested areas, and the adjustment mechanisms post-close, namely a working capital peg or the locked-box method.  We hope you enjoy this conversation with Jack as much as we did.  If you want to find out more about EOS, reach out to Rob Liddiard at https://www.mission-group.co.uk/. Rob is very open in sharing his experience with EOS in his startup and his new passion for helping other owners implement the system in their businesses. 

In this episode, we speak with Jim Ward about his inspiring acquisition journey to acquire a successful family-led business in the chemicals industry. Jim is an experienced chemical engineer and MBA graduate who had considered the ETA path for some time before taking the leap.  In this episode, Jim shares his thoughtful insights to searching in the UK. Jim took what would be considered an unconventional approach to searching, sector selection, deal origination, and fundraising; but that wasn't going to stop him. It is clear that all Jim's decisions were very well researched and supplemented by the wisdom of the influential people he met during his search journey.  There is a lot of unique perspectives to take away from this episode so we hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did! ----- If you are a new searcher, the second Buy and Build Accelerator has been announced and is scheduled for the 7th of June 2024.  So, If you're struggling with deal flow, structuring deals, or raising funds, this one is for you.  Check out the Buy and Build Accelerator to learn more.  

In this episode, we explore the dynamic UK debt landscape with a new searcher, Scott McGregor. Scott brings extensive experience in finance and private equity, and as a new searcher, he recently undertook the task of examining the broader UK SME cash flow lender landscape. He then shared his findings on Searchfunder, generating considerable engagement. We thought it would be beneficial to bring his insights to a wider audience through this podcast. Scott does a fantastic job communicating his findings with clarity of thought and a deep understanding of the topics.  You are going to love this episode! ----- If you are a new searcher, the second Buy and Build Accelerator has been announced and is scheduled for the 7th of June 2024.  So, If you're struggling with deal flow, structuring deals, or raising funds, this one is for you.  Check out the Buy and Build Accelerator to learn more.  

In this episode, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with Sam Turner, a friend and return guest to the podcast. Sam was a guest on episode 20, about 2 years ago. At that point, he had completed his first acquisition and he laid out a very ambitious growth plan.  Since then, Sam has completed a further 3 acquisitions and although his sector strategy has broadened, it is fair to say his goals are even more ambitious than 2 years ago. We love to see that! During the episode we recap Sam's journey thus far, the challenges and strategies he used to find the right debt partner, his experience bringing in key hires, and his goals going forward. We hope you enjoy this fantastic conversation with Sam! ----- Finally, the second Buy and Build Accelerator has been announced and is scheduled for the 7th of June 2024.  So, If you're struggling with deal flow, structuring deals, or raising funds, this one is for you.  Check out the Buy and Build Accelerator to learn more.  

In this episode, I had the pleasure of discussing the intricacies of acquiring and operating a franchise operation with Ruth Brown, COO of Home Instead, and Mahdi Kaz, a multi-unit franchise owner within the Home Instead network.  We cover a lot of ground in the episode including: Common misconceptions of the franchise model, The resale and acquisition opportunities, The benefits franchising offers, especially in sectors like healthcare and social care, The importance of partnership between franchisor and franchisee within the Home Instead model, and finally Mahdi shares his personal journey of transitioning from a career in engineering to becoming a multi-unit franchise owner with Home Instead.  We hope you enjoy this informative area exploring another area in the acquisition space. ----- Finally, the second Buy and Build Accelerator has been announced and is scheduled for the 7th of June 2024.  So, If you're struggling with deal flow, structuring deals, or raising funds, this one is for you.  Check out the Buy and Build Accelerator to learn more.  

Today we speak again with Jordan Hammond, who returns to speak about his experience implementing EOS in his business. As a reminder, Jordan owns Genuine Comfort, which he grew from scratch to $5m in turnover before turning to strategic acquisitions to nearly triple his top line while simultaneously doubling the profit margins. To learn more about his acquisition journey, jump back a couple of episodes to learn more! According to Jordan, a big part of successfully integrating those acquisitions and the subsequent growth was due to the Entrepreneurial Operating System. During the episode, we explore the role of EOS implementers, the evolution of organizational structures, and the challenges and strategies for hiring the right people. Jordan shares insights into overcoming resistance to change and maximizing EOS for sustainable business growth. Throughout the conversation, we emphasize the importance of aligning core values, defining clear roles, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement to drive operational excellence and success. Enjoy this fantastic conversation! ---------- If you are a UK searcher looking to acquire a great business, check out the Buy and Build Accelerator- a program designed to help you acquire the right business, quicker. Paul founded the boot camp but the curriculum is developed and presented by former guests of the podcast. The next cohort of peers is incredible, you should consider joining them: https://www.buyandbuildaccelerator.com/  ------ Follow Jordan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-hammond-9a79562a/   

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Rob Liddiard, a professional Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) implementer, to reflect on an insightful morning where he introduced the EOS principles to my team at Amber Home Improvements.  Before becoming an EOS implementer, Rob was the founder and CEO of Yapster, a workplace messenger app for frontline organisations. Rob self-implemented EOS in his startup and the impact on his business was profound. Since exiting Yapster, Rob has been focusing on helping others implement EOS in their business.  During the episode, Rob and I work our way through the different components of EOS, getting my initial takes, while Rob enriches the discussion with his deeper understanding and personal experience with EOS.  We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did recording it.  Be sure to follow Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertliddiard  and check out his EOS site for more information: https://www.eosworldwide.com/rob-liddiard  ------- If you are a UK searcher looking to buy a great business, check out the Buy and Build Accelerator. The curriculum is highly practical and developed and presented by former guests of the podcast: https://www.buyandbuildaccelerator.com/ 

In this episode, we are joined by Matthew Bradley. Matthew is the founder of Tikto Capital, a private investment firm investing in and acquiring UK SMEs and tech businesses. Before Tikto, Matthew was the CIO and CFO of Forward Partners, a publicly-listed venture capital firm.  During the episode, Matthew shares valuable insights into his investment and deal origination strategy, how he pivoted to minority investments throughout last year (2023), and the importance of engaging with businesses that are genuinely open to selling. We also spent time discussing some interesting sectors Matthew has gone deep on and what his findings were.  It is always a great time chatting with Matthew and we hope you enjoy the conversation too! ------- If you are a searcher looking to acquire a great business, check out the Buy and Build Accelerator. The bootcamp curriculum is highly practical and developed and presented by former guests of the podcast: https://www.buyandbuildaccelerator.com/  Enjoy!

In this episode, we are thrilled to have a returning guest, Rob LeBlanc— Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Ambit Partners. Rob brings a wealth of experience in traditional search fund investing, particularly in emerging markets, investing in 80 search funds across 30 countries.  During the episode, Rob delves into the intricacies of Ambit Partners' searcher selection process, the importance of a strong local cap table, and the most interesting markets they have invested in Fund I. We also get into the plans for Fund II. Exciting times! ------- If you are a searcher looking to acquire a great business, check out the Buy and Build Accelerator. The bootcamp curriculum is highly practical and developed and presented by former guests of the podcast: https://www.buyandbuildaccelerator.com/  Enjoy!