Build and Exit
As a chartered management accountant by trade, I uncovered my true potential at 37, moving from a well-paid corporate job to building my own accounting and consultancy firm. Having worked on 5-10 acquisitions or business exits each month for clients, I understand the key challenges business owners face, including getting the real value they want for their business, whilst having the right controls and processes in place so the business can run independently of the owners. The Build and Exit podcast will include conversations, stories and real-life examples of day-to-day challenges business owners face, different methods of growth including acquisitions and top tips on how owners can transition from working in their business to working on it, enabling them to maximize their value on exit. I will also include episodes where I share my own learnings on business management and how Wilkinson Accounting Solutions are planning to continue to grow by acquisition.
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Episodes
Monday Dec 04, 2023
Monday Dec 04, 2023
Have you checked your brand’s intellectual property?
Imagine having £7million of investment held because you found another business already had your name. This is exactly what happened to a company my guest in this episode, Matthew Cusack, is working with.
Matt is Managing Director of National Business Register Group Limited (NBR), an Intellectual Property business, and is responsible for driving the business’ strategy and growth plans. He firmly believes that “people buy people” and relationships are key to the growth of any successful business.
In this episode he discusses the importance of IP (Intellectual Property) to businesses and the risks of not protecting your brand. He also shares what to have in your shareholder agreements and what to do if you are concerned about your IP.
“Every transaction is unique, and every transaction throws up its challenges” – Matthew Cusak
Timestamps
01:35 – An introduction to Matthew
03:10 – What IP is and why it’s important
05:40 – The risks of not protecting your brand
10:28 – What to have in a shareholder agreement
15:10 – Why you need to understand accounting principles
21:27 – The unique challenges of every transaction
23:49 – What to do if you are concerned about IP
Connect with Matthew Cusak
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-cusack-8a209534/
National Business Register LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/start-biz-nbr/
National Business Register Linktree - https://linktr.ee/corinelliott
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wilkinsonaccountingsolutio4018
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!
Download the RacketPal app and get a 50% discount with this podcast when you enter WILKPAL at sign up.
RapketPal on the App Store - https://shorturl.at/iDFIS
RacketPal on Google Play - https://shorturl.at/givA2
Monday Oct 30, 2023
Monday Oct 30, 2023
You must get used to hearing “No” when trying to raise funds to start a business idea. Knowing that eventually you will hear the yes you need is all the motivation you need to keep going.
That was the belief my guest in this episode had to get his idea off the ground. Robert Riza is the Co-Founder and CEO of RacketPal, a platform built out of a love for racket sports.
He talks about what it took to get funding for the project and how getting the funding was only the start of the challenges he faced. He also gives advice on what you need to generate funding and the information he reports to investors.
“I just knew that the next person I called the next person I reached out to, the next person I emailed could change my life” – Robert Rizea
Timestamps
02:12 - An introduction to Robert
03:55 - Making a plan for the money needed
09:53 - The challenges of phoning for funding
14:22 - What you need to start a funding round
18:59 - Pricing founder salaries into funding
20:50 - Reporting financials to investors
27:25 - What is the future for RacketPal?
Connect with Robert Rizea
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-rizea/?originalSubdomain=uk
Twitter - https://twitter.com/robertrrizea?lang=en-GB
RacketPal website - https://racketpal.co.uk/
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wilkinsonaccountingsolutio4018
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!
Download the RacketPal app and get a 50% discount with this podcast when you enter WILKPAL at sign up.
RapketPal on the App Store - https://shorturl.at/iDFIS
RacketPal on Google Play - https://shorturl.at/givA2
Monday Oct 16, 2023
Monday Oct 16, 2023
This is part 2 of a special episode of The Build & Exit podcast where the tables get turned and Julie is in the hot seat. Julie was interviewed live on NTV to tell her personal and business story.
In this episode Julie gives the business side of her story, talking about how her business journey started, the advice she has for people looking to become entrepreneurs and the fundamentals that every business owner should have in place when running a business.
“Try and step outside of your comfort zone” – Julie Wilkinson
Timestamps
05:18 – Julie hands in her notice
07:28 – How Julie got into acquisitions
09:39 – Why Julie started her podcast
12:46 – The importance of valuing a business
17:24 – How Julie built a company quickly
22:47 – Julie’s tips for aspiring entrepreneurs
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wilkinsonaccountingsolutio4018
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!
Monday Oct 02, 2023
Monday Oct 02, 2023
The first 72 hours of taking on a new business is always eventful. But a salesperson syphoning leads, and the police called in to stop diggers tearing down buildings at a school must be up there with the hardest first days of any business owner.
This was the reality for my guest in this episode, Adrian Knight. He had a lot of firefighting to perform within his acquisitions that led him to really focus on the back end, something many people don’t do.
He talks about this experience as well as his integration strategies, how having no processes can impact the customer and why even the smallest things can have big financial impacts.
“The police came to stop diggers tearing it down” – Adrian Knight
Timestamps
02:10 - An introduction to Adrian
04:49 - Why Adrian focused on the back office
07:12 - Did Adrian have an integration strategy?
13:24 - Did no processes impact the customer?
16:34 - Small things can cause big financial problems
19:51 - Adrian's acquisition story
22:00 - Adrian's future acquisition plans
Connect With Adrian Knight
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianjohnknight/
Spectacular LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spectaculargroup/
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!
Monday Sep 18, 2023
Monday Sep 18, 2023
Achieving financial freedom is the ambition of many that are building to sell their business. But knowing how to get there is a whole different ball game. Understanding the financial side of how to build and exit a business is key to making this dream a reality.
My guest in this episode is Fiona Hudson-Kelly, who has sold businesses for multi-million pound deals. She has experienced selling through venture capitalists and independently.
Fiona discusses the light bulb moment that happened after she finally understood how the financial side of her business worked. She compares the differences between her venture capital and independent deals as well as the importance of resilience in those looking to build and exit their business.
“I sold my business and never had to worry about money again” – Fiona Hudson-Kelly
Timestamps
02:04 - An introduction to Fiona
05:42 - Venture Capital vs Independent
08:15 - The importance of resilience in exiting
10:26 - The difference between profit and cash
16:15 - The problem with financial information
23:20 - Why people need to invest in financial knowledge
27:58 - Julie's experience with management accounts
32:18 - Fiona's investment tips
Connect With Fiona Hudson-Kelly
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionahudsonkelly/
Website - https://www.fionahudsonkelly.co.uk/
X - http://twitter.com/fhudsonkelly
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070806951159
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!
Monday Sep 04, 2023
Monday Sep 04, 2023
This is a special episode of The Build & Exit podcast where the tables get turned and Julie is in the hot seat. Julie was interview live on NTV to tell her personal and business story.
In this episode Julie gives the personal side of her life story. You’ll find out about her passions from dogs to being out on the open water. She tells all about how the loss of her mother at an early age impacted her life and how her wellness routine has transformed not just how she starts every day but her mindset towards everything.
This is part 1 of the live interview with Victoria Beale on NTV.
*** Join Julie’s Masterclass How To Understand Accounting Lingo on Tuesday 5th September 12pm BST. Get your ticket here - https://shorturl.at/bsQZ5 ***
“Take control of what you want” – Julie Wilkinson
Timestamps
03:13 - The start of Julie's story
04:27 - How the loss of Julie's mum impacted her
06:52 - Julie's experience travelling
08:09 - Julie's career after travelling
12:22 - How Julie met her husband
13:39 - Julie's tell all about her dogs
15:47 - Julie's outdoor hobbies
16:35 - Julie's interests in wellness
20:34 - Julie's transformation due to wellness
21:07 - How this has impacted Julie’s entrepreneurship
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!
Monday Aug 21, 2023
Monday Aug 21, 2023
Distressed business deals can be a quick and high earning way to grow by acquisition. It took Steven Pettigrew 4 days to close a distressed deal and since then has grown a business of 80 people.
In this episode Steven gives his insights into how to grow through distressed acquisition deals, managing seller relationships, and the strategies behind industry deals.
Steven Pettigrew is an entrepreneur with over 13 year’s experience across multiple industries. He has been involved in M&A since 2014 which opened up an exciting new chapter in his career. He also works with a select group of joint venture partners, allowing him to be dynamic in his approach with business owners in order to achieve a win-win scenario for all parties.
*** Join Julie’s Masterclass How To Understand Accounting Lingo on Tuesday 5th September 12pm BST. Get your ticket here - https://shorturl.at/bsQZ5 ***
“If I were to do it again, I would acquire a business rather than start one” - Steven Pettigrew
Timestamps
01:45 - An introduction to Steven
03:18 - How quickly did the business grow to 80 people?
05:55 - What you need to do a distressed business?
07:06 - Was the seller relationship hard?
07:59 - Was the acquisition planned?
10:48 - Is there a strategy to industry deals?
12:48 - Why did Steven start his own business?
18:52 - Can you utilise staff across acquisitions?
Connect with Steven Pettigrew
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-pettigrew/
Opulentia Capital - https://opulentiacapital.com/
Opulentia Capital on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/opulentia-capital/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLg_vCxtwB7LV7IgzPtxasw
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/opulentiacapital/?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!
Sunday Aug 06, 2023
Sunday Aug 06, 2023
Knowing the right way to exit a business is not easy if you don’t know what your options are. Having the information you need to find the right exit strategy is what will make your exit plan both achievable and enjoyable.
Paul Avins has a wealth of experience in the acquisitions space and in this episode he gives his insight into why the hard work starts after acquisitions, the different types of exit strategies available and the importance of doing your research on who you are buying from.
Paul Avins is an award winning business coach, speaker and mastermind mentor who is highly sought after in the UK by entrepreneurs and business owners to help them breakthrough the Scale Up Ceiling to create Shareholder Value worth Millions!
*** Join Julie’s Masterclass How To Understand Accounting Lingo on Tuesday 5th September 12pm BST. Get your ticket here - https://shorturl.at/bsQZ5 ***
“Nothing is passive in business” – Paul Avins
Timestamps
03:22 - Paul's background in acquisitions
10:27 - The hard work starts after acquisition
12:04 - How to fund acquisitions
18:58 - How to make an asset safer to buy
24:48 - The importance of bringing people on board
28:12 - Why to Google who you are buying from
36:17 - How to interview for an FD
Connect with Paul Avins
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/
Paul Avins’ Website - https://www.paulavins.com/businessgrowthcoach
Paul’s free business growth strategies - https://www.paulavins.com/67-growth-tips
Listen to Paul’s podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/grown-up-business-podcast/id1536822833
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!
Monday Jul 24, 2023
Monday Jul 24, 2023
Generating £125m from acquisitions in a year is the M&A specialist’s dream. That is exactly what the guest in this episode has achieved. Mathew Wainwright discusses what it takes to start out in the acquisitions space as well as going into the nitty gritty of how Opulentia achieved that incredible milestone. He also covers what leveraged buyouts are, how to mitigate risks in acquisitions and what cash flow problems he has faced.
Mathew Wainwright is the Director of Operations within Opulentia Capital. In the last 18 months Opulentia have grown their turnover portfolio by 125M GBP in revenue. Their trademarked model: "Buy, Build, Sell™️" is to buy or take equity stakes in Small & Medium Sized enterprises inside fragmented industries that they believe they can consolidate through inorganic & organic growth, by working with Owners that want to exit to them or want to partner with them in their next growth spurt and build the group to 50-100M+ pa.
“It’s easier to get bigger deals done that it is smaller ones” – Mathew Wainwright
Timestamps
01:49 - An introduction to Mathew
03:43 - What is a leveraged buy out?
07:03 - How to mitigate risks in acquisitions
15:16 - Julie's thoughts on dividend payments
22:00 - What to do before going to financiers
28:22 - Has Mathew ever had acquisition cash flow problems?
Connect with Mathew Wainwright
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathew-wainwright/
Opulentia Capital - https://opulentiacapital.com/
Opulentia Capital on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/opulentia-capital/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLg_vCxtwB7LV7IgzPtxasw
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/opulentiacapital/?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!
Monday Jul 10, 2023
Monday Jul 10, 2023
*Content warning* – this post discusses suicidal feelings
How do you see your life after selling your business? You may see happiness, wealth, and security. But just because you sell your business doesn’t mean they are guaranteed. In this episode Chris O’Connell shares his story of selling his business for £25 million only to find his life unravel afterwards. From losing his home, his children, divorce and 3 suicide attempts, Chris’ story is one not to be missed.
After exiting his last business, Chris now coaches leaders on how to build purpose-led businesses that perform. Chris helps businesses solve problems by solving people problems. Because people without a purpose have no centralised reason driving them to perform.
He works on best processes, vision execution and harmonising your life with your work.
If you need support for the topics raised in this episode call The Samaritans on 116 123
“Money, scaling and growing a business is not the key to happiness” – Chris O’Connell
Timestamps
01:43 - The highs and lows of Chris' story
05:20 - How Chris came through the other side
07:01 - Was the business ready to sell?
08:42 - Chris' involvement after the sale
10:17 - What happened when it all went wrong?
12:36 - Company problems caused by culture
14:03 - What does Chris do as a coach?
20:16 - The power of a decent board pack
22:13 - Chris' experience with meditation & manifestation
Connect with Chris O’Connell
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/
Basmindset website - https://basemindset.com/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisoconnellcoach
Listen to Chris’ show The Purpose Led Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/72edQlrSeUvLmC2LsqOrQG
Connect With Julie Wilkinson
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilkinson-accounting/
Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wasolutions
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wilkinsonaccountingsolutions
Website - https://wilkinsonaccountingsolutions.co.uk/
Before you go, don’t forget to leave a comment and review if you got something out of this episode!
