Forgetting or overlooking cash flow is not only a risk to the viability of your business, but can often reduce the value of your business. Instead if you can drive up your cash flow you will often drive up the value of your business and reduce your stress in the process.
Many owners had to take on too much at their own businesses during COVID. This article shows 3 steps you can take to get your life back.
8 facts to help you determine if you own a business or an expensive job. if you own a business than you own an asset that others might want to buy from you. If you own a job, than most likely your business ends when your self employment does.
The Music Industry Illustrates the sometimes exponential value of owning a unique brand. Artists like Bruce Springsteen who own their name, Amazon who owns their distribution experience and Peloton who owns a unique community all illustrate how these unique aspects drive up their respective values.
If you are a business owner you will often have to “fire “yourself from the day-to-day grind of your business so you can truly unlock the value of your business.
To Grow the Value of my Business requires more than just increasing profits. It requires me to optimise my business on the 8 key value drivers a potential buyer would look at.
Use the art of bundling both your expert and general services to capture customers, build their lifetime value, and drive up the value of your business.
Despite having no grapes, vats or wineries of their own – nor experience in the industry – Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey were able to create, grow and sell Barefoot Cellars for millions. 15 lessons they shared from this experience are listed below.
As you know, it is far easier and efficient to cross-sell a new product to an existing customer than it is to market and find a new customer for that product.
If you are looking to just grow your top line revenue, then cross-selling is a very effective technique.
However, you do have to be mindful as to the extent of your cross selling and how it affects your revenue diversification. In some instances, if you cross-sell your existing customers too much stuff, it could make your business far less valuable.
Amazon Prime is arguably one of the most successful examples of a company transforming its repeat customers into repeat business subscribers on the planet.
Not only did the average customer life time value (LTV) more than double, the the success drove tens of thousands of non Amazon customers to subscribe and engage with the company off the bat as repeat subscribers.
As Amazon knew (and clearly illustrated) repeat business drives the value of a company, but not all repeat business is the same.
“I wasn’t being strategic, I was going through a divorce!”
Divorce often sinks a company but John the owner was able instead to transform his company into an independent asset. Today he works 90% less hours, his company is growing, and he enjoys the business much more.
is your business independent or does it own you?
10 Questions Often Asked When Looking to Sell Your Business One of the most intimidating aspects of selling your business can be facing the barrage of
Wisdom is not the same as Intelligence or even technical knowledge. Thousands and tens of thousands of very smart business owners were technical experts at what they produced and should have had business success, but their companies lie in unmarked graves across the economic landscape.
Lack of market demand is the primary reason provided for many start ups failing, but that does not fully explain why 50% of SMEs fail within five years.
“Prepare the business for a sale even if no intention to sell currently or in the future”
Why ? Because if you are preparing to sell from now (even if you do not intend to actually bring the business to market anytime soon), you will position your business to provide you multiple options when it does come to exit. That can mean passing along a well-functioning business to your children (instead of a lemon that prematurely ages them as they struggle to deal with its inherited issues and problems), selling your business at a premium (due to multiple and/or strategic buyers) or other options in between (minority sell off, etc)
Why did you decide to become an Entrepreneur? If you’re like most owners, you aspire to have the freedom that comes from owning your own independent business. This desire for freedom often leads owners to aspire for a bigger business, which they think will give them what they want. Unfortunately, most owners who strive for more revenue or profit as their primary goal often end up with less freedom as slaves to the day-to-day grind of their business.
There’s an alternative to get you closer to what you want..
Excellent Service drives up the value of your business. In this article I illustrate how Amazon solved an AED 1,835 issue for me that generated over AED 400,000 in business value for them. It’s a formula (excellent service – repeat customers – high multiples) they practice again and again.
The Major Blind Spot Blocking Business Value “…Do not think you are wiser than you really are” (Romans 12:16) I wrote an article last month
Financial Freedom – “You Proofing” Your Business In a previous post, I spoke about the Freedom Point and the risk in holding on to your
Are you Achieving Financial Freedom through your Business? When did you last calculate how much of your net worth is tied to your company’s value?
Have you struggled to identify a recurring revenue model that will work in your business?
If so, you’re not alone.
Most owners understand the benefits of recurring revenue, such as predictable cash flow and an increase in their company’s valuation, but struggle with where to start. Just changing your pricing from a one-time transaction to a smaller, recurring fee does not make a sticky subscription model.
Chasing all types of revenue by offering a wide array of products and services is common among growth companies. The easiest way to grow is to sell more things to your existing customers, so you just keep adding adjacent product and service lines.
However, there can be two drawbacks: First, you offer a wide range of products and services without any deep expertise in any of these products and services.
Second, a wide range of products and services can just confuse your customers and lead them to look elsewhere.
Should you Sell your Business Now? 5 Reasons why 2021 might be the time you look to sell your business Have you been thinking about
How practicing Situational Awareness adapted to your business can protect you against the unexpected as well as increase your business value.
I was told that starting a new trading desk in an already crowded market is a lost cause. But what if the existing service providers aren’t satisfying the traders? Here I share how I successfully opened a thriving trading desk and ignored the naysayers by directly addressing unmet needs.
And I learned that from an ex-manager who dared to challenge a market dominated by one player. His approach, focusing on what traders were truly unhappy about, led to significant changes in market share and opened up new opportunities.
Explore how questioning the usual, understanding real customer frustrations, and delivering clear, targeted solutions can make a difference even in “saturated” markets.
Navigating the world of business can often feel like the early days of dating—fraught with hesitations, uncertainties, and the fear of taking the wrong step. In my latest article, I draw parallels between the fears of rejection in dating and the daunting challenges of business ownership. From embracing authenticity to building genuine connections, I share insights on overcoming these fears to not only find love but also to succeed in business. Dive into the full article to discover how embracing your true self can be the key to both personal and professional fulfillment.
Running a business can feel like a solo mission. Decisions rest on you and the results aren’t always immediate. Here’s the hard truth: relying on one big client, one main supplier, or one key employee is playing with fire. It’s a risky business move that can turn your hard work to smoke overnight.
Meet “George Business Advisor,” the AI I’ve created to tackle the real-world issues SME owners face in delegation and networking. Curious about what George thinks are the top 5 challenges in each area? You might be surprised by his insights!
1️Trust and empowerment in delegation
2️ Building genuine, meaningful connections in networking
…and many more!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on George’s advice! (Ask me for the direct link to chat with him ).
“The fortune is in the follow-up.” That was the game-changing advice Tracey Currell shared with me during our initial Zoom call in late 2022. As I became a member of Introbiz UK from Dubai, Tracey’s approach to networking resonated deeply—it’s about genuinely helping others, not just swapping business cards.
Contrast this with the frenzied exchange at typical networking events, which can feel more like a scramble than meaningful interaction. That’s why I’m thrilled to announce that Tracey will share her insights on authentic networking at our Sophiall Profit and Dine Workshop and Cigar Experience Mastermind on April 24th.
Ever heard the story of Sisyphus, endlessly pushing his boulder uphill? Imagine meeting his modern counterpart—a hardworking architect in Dubai juggling offices and mired in micromanagement, sacrificing his personal life to watch every keystroke of his team.
Discover how a simple conversation revealed the real boulder he was pushing: the inability to trust and delegate. Learn why mastering these skills can transform relentless toil into effective leadership and free up precious time.
Throwback to my high school football days in 1987—when our team was struggling with just one win for the season, my teammates and I turned our frustration into creativity by filming parody sketches of our coaches’ pep talks.
I played our head coach, blending historical figures and sports icons into ludicrously motivational speeches—like channeling Bismarck’s “blood and iron” alongside OJ Simpson’s agility and a throwaway comment where I say OJ Simpson is a “Murderer” (7 years before his infamous trial).
This fun reminiscence highlights how easy it is to misconstrue one-off predictions as expertise. Today, we see many claim prophetic insights after one lucky guess. In reality, sustainable success in business, like in sports, requires consistent strategy and execution, not just luck.
“Well, Grant, we’ve had the devil’s own day, haven’t we?” – General Sherman, US Civil War.
As a history buff, I’ve always been fascinated by the pivotal moments that change the course of history. One such moment happened during the Civil War, when General Ulysses S. Grant, seemingly unfazed by a brutal first day at Shiloh, inspired a change in strategy that not only won the battle but also reshaped his future and that of the United States.
Discover how Grant’s resilience, strategic clarity, and leadership lessons can inspire today’s business leaders.