built to sell Archives

Tips for Starting an E-Commerce Business That is Built to Sell

Entrepreneurs are driven by many different motivators. Some may create a new business because they feel an abstract impulse to bring a particular vision to life. Others enjoy the prospect of building a legacy for...

byTravis Jamison

September 10, 2020

Where to Start When Your Growth Stops

Why would two companies in the same industry, with the same financial performance, command vastly different valuations? The answer often comes down to how much each business is likely to grow in the future. The problem is...

byJohn Warrillow

December 19, 2016

Value Builder Score: A Blood Pressure Test for Your Business

When was the last time you had your blood pressure tested? Taking your blood pressure is one of the first things most doctors do before treating you for just about anything. How much pressure your...

byJohn Warrillow

November 28, 2016

Growth vs. Value: Not All Revenue is Created Equally

When you look ahead to next year, will your growth come from selling more to your existing customers or finding new customers for your existing products and services? The answer may have a profound impact...

byJohn Warrillow

October 10, 2016

Competition: Its Power in Business and When to Fold

On June 1, 2011, both Floyd’s Coffee Shops in Portland, Oregon were busier than usual. The regulars were elbowed out of the way by new customers visiting the store for the first time to redeem...

byJohn Warrillow

September 13, 2016

4 Traps To Avoid When Selling Your Company

Business owners have been known to refer to due diligence as "the entrepreneur's proctology exam." It's a crude analogy, but a good representation of what it feels like when a stranger pokes, prods and looks...

byJohn Warrillow

August 8, 2016

8 Ways to Know if You Have a Job or Own a Business

The ultimate test of your business can be found in a simple question: would someone want to buy your company? Whether you want to sell next year or a decade from now, you must be building...

byJohn Warrillow

August 1, 2016

The Hierarchy of Recurring Revenue

One of the biggest factors in determining the value of your company is the extent to which an acquirer can see where your sales will come from in the future. If you’re in a business...

byJohn Warrillow

July 25, 2016

The Hidden Goal of the Smartest Business Owners

What are your business goals for the year? If you’re like most business owners, you have a profit goal you want to hit. You may also have a top line revenue number that’s important to...

byJohn Warrillow

July 18, 2016

Do You Have a Billion Dollar Business Hiding Inside Your Company?

Asking customers to pay to join a special group of your best patrons, or an elite customer club, can increase your revenue, encourage customers to buy new products and services from you, and provide a...

byJohn Warrillow

July 11, 2016

Business Valuation: What is Your Business Worth?

Your business is likely your largest asset, so it's normal to want to know what it is worth. The problem is: business valuation is what one might call a "subjective science." The science part is...

byJohn Warrillow

July 6, 2016