Ep 452 How to Turn a 3x EBITDA Offer into 5x. Creative earn out structures. Declining projects without losing a customer and selling a service business with Paper Leaf founder, Jeff Archibald.

Ep 452 How to Turn a 3x EBITDA Offer into 5x. Creative earn out structures. Declining projects without losing a customer and selling a service business with Paper Leaf founder, Jeff Archibald.

Author: John Warrillow July 26, 2024 Duration: 55:43

Jeff Archibald founded Paper Leaf, a company specializing in developing websites, mobile apps and custom software. By offering a narrow scope of services to a variety of verticals, Paper Leaf built a reputation for handling challenging projects that generalist agencies couldn't. Jeff's commitment to simplicity and effective forecasting played a significant role in Paper Leaf's success. He used fixed payment contracts to ensure steady cash flow and offered a limited number of technologies, allowing his team to become experts. These practices stabilized the business and made it attractive for acquisition. 


For any entrepreneur, the idea of selling the company they've built is both a daunting prospect and a potential pinnacle of success. Built to Sell Radio, hosted by John Warrillow, steps into that complex space with a clear, practical focus. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a weekly conversation grounded in real experience. Every episode features a different founder who has recently navigated the sale of their business. The discussion goes straight to the heart of the matter: understanding the personal and strategic reasons behind the decision to sell. Listeners get an honest breakdown of what worked, from preparation and valuation to negotiation, and perhaps more importantly, the unforeseen pitfalls and mistakes made along the way. It’s that candid post-mortem, the lessons learned in the trenches of a transaction, that provides unparalleled value. By compiling these firsthand accounts, the podcast builds a comprehensive library of exit strategies and cautionary tales. Tuning in feels like gaining access to a private mastermind, where seasoned entrepreneurs share the unvarnished truth about cashing in their life's work. If you're contemplating your own eventual exit, this series offers the nuanced, peer-to-peer insights you need to think like a buyer, protect your interests, and ultimately, build a business that is truly desirable. Built to Sell Radio serves as an essential guide, transforming the opaque process of selling a business into a clearer, more manageable journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Built to Sell Radio
Podcast Episodes
Ep 458 Inside the Mind of an Acquirer with Tim Schumacher [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:04
On this week's Built to Sell Radio, John Warrillow talks to Tim Schumacher, co-founder of SaaS Group, about the mindset of an acquirer. Tim shares Peter Thiel's "zero to one" versus "one to ten" concept and how knowing w…
Ep 453 The Small Business Acquirer: Inside the Mind of Kristi Herold [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:54
Most people hear about spectacular acquisitions made by strategic acquirers or giant private equity groups. But the reality is, you're likely to sell your company to a small business in your sector that nobody outside yo…