Business Exit Advisor: Save £4,000, Retire A Millionaire! Most Owners Never Do - Saul Cohen

Business Exit Advisor: Save £4,000, Retire A Millionaire! Most Owners Never Do - Saul Cohen

What if the biggest barrier to scaling your business isn't marketing or sales, but how you think about your numbers, your tax strategy, and your exit plan? In this episode of The Grown UP Business Podcast, Paul Avins sits down with Saul Cohen, founder of ExpertEye and one of the UK's most experienced acquisition advisors. Saul started his career at PwC and has been involved in over 150 acquisitions before turning 35. He sold his first business before entering the corporate world, and now helps entrepreneurs optimize their tax, understand valuations, and navigate acquisitions with clarity and confidence. Saul shares why most entrepreneurs don't understand their numbers, when it's time to change accountants, how to save thousands in tax every year, and why £4,000 saved annually can add up to an extra million pounds at retirement. Paul and Saul unpack the myths around business valuations, why most accountants use finger in the air guesswork, and how to know what your business is actually worth. They explore the difference between lifestyle businesses and performance businesses, why most entrepreneurs wait too long to exit, the 18 month minimum timeline to sell a business, and the psychology behind why deals fall apart. Saul introduces his SCORE framework, a valuation model built from 150 acquisitions that measures systems, commercial strength, operations, regulatory risk, and exposure. He explains why culture can kill a deal even when the financials look perfect, and shares stories of incredible acquisitions and absolute car crashes. If you're building a business and want to understand how to create real value, protect your wealth, and play the long game with your finances, this episode is essential. What you'll learn: • Why most entrepreneurs don't understand their numbers and how that holds them back • When you should change accountants and what to look for in a great one • How saving £4,000 a year in tax can give you an extra million pounds at retirement • The three games of money: making it, keeping it, and investing it • Why accountants aren't all created equal and how to level up your advisory team • How accountants calculate valuations and why most use finger in the air guesswork • Why businesses over a million pounds in profit have a higher multiple and more options • The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when trying to exit and why they wait too long • Why it takes a minimum of 18 months to sell a business and how to prepare for it • The SCORE framework: systems, commercial, operations, regulatory, and exposure • Why culture can cap your valuation even when the financials look perfect • How to bring in a fractional CFO at the right time and what they should actually do • Why the best acquisition Saul ever saw was a £2.5 million profit business sold for £10 million • Why you should get your business professionally valued every two years • The baby boomer wave and biggest transfer of wealth in a generation • Why underselling your promise in marketing can increase conversions and create raving fans Apply this: Get your business professionally valued in the next 90 days. If you don't know what it's worth, you can't grow its value intentionally. Ask yourself: am I building a lifestyle business or a performance business? Your tax strategy, extraction method, and reinvestment plan depend on this answer. Audit your accountant. How many clients do they have at your level? How much M&A experience do they have? If the answer is none, it's time to level up your advisory team. Calculate your life changing number. How much money do you actually need invested to never worry again? Work backwards from that and build your exit plan. Meet with your accountant at least twice a year, ideally every quarter if you're over a million in revenue. Use those meetings to optimize tax, refine margins, and plan for growth. About Saul Cohen Saul Cohen is the founder of ExpertEye and one of the UK's most experienced acquisition advisors. He started his career at PwC and has been involved in over 150 acquisitions before turning 35. Saul helps entrepreneurs optimize their tax, understand their valuations, and navigate acquisitions with confidence. He is creator of the SCORE valuation framework and author of the new book Finding Gold, which reveals the patterns of what goes wrong in acquisitions and how to avoid them. Connect with Saul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cohensaul/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cohensaul/] Take the tax saving scorecard: https://stopoverpayingtax.scoreapp.com/ [https://stopoverpayingtax.scoreapp.com/] Grab a copy of Finding Gold: https://findinggoldbook.com/ [https://findinggoldbook.com/] Scale with Paul Avins If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day to day and scale with structure and confidence. Connect with Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/] Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call [https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call] Subscribe to the Scale Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in [https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in] Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.

Scale Sales with YouTube Ads in 90 Days (Without Wasting Budget)

What if the secret to scaling your sales in the next 90 days isn't working harder or hiring more salespeople, but mastering one platform most business owners completely overlook? In this episode of The Grown UP Business Podcast, Paul Avins sits down with Tom Breeze, founder and CEO of Viewability, a specialist video advertising agency that has managed multi million pound ad budgets for brands like HelloFresh, Mindvalley, ClickFunnels, and Performance Golf. Tom has spent over 13 years running YouTube ads, managing spends of up to £100,000 a day, and has just written the definitive guide to YouTube advertising. This conversation goes deep into why YouTube is the highest quality traffic source available, how the advertising landscape has completely changed in the last three years, and why creative is now 80% of your success. Paul and Tom unpack the psychology behind high performing ads, the five A framework that makes advertising work on any platform, why most entrepreneurs waste budget by skipping the fundamentals, and how to get started with as little as $5 a day. Tom explains why video is no longer optional if you want to scale, how to engineer spontaneity in your content, the difference between YouTube and Meta advertising, and why most agencies get it completely wrong. If you want to scale sales predictably, reduce your cost per acquisition, and build a marketing engine that works without you, this episode is essential. What you'll learn: • Why YouTube delivers the highest quality leads of any advertising platform • How Tom went from helping people overcome fear of public speaking to running a multi million pound ad agency • Why Google AdWords with a £30 voucher changed the trajectory of his first business • The five A framework: Aims, Acquisition, Account, Audience, and Ads • How the algorithm has shifted from manual control to AI driven placement and what that means for advertisers • Why ads with whiteboards, flip charts, or visual demonstrations massively outperform talking head videos • How video disqualifies bad leads and attracts only high intent buyers • How to get started with YouTube ads for as little as $5 a day using in feed video ads • Why you need five conversions a day in your ad account for the algorithm to learn effectively • How to target by postcode, audience behavior, and interest without over narrowing your reach • The difference between YouTube and Meta advertising and why platform specific expertise matters • How video collapses the sales cycle and reduces the skill level required from your sales team • Why most businesses fail at ads because they skip the financial modeling and customer journey mapping • How to test small, learn fast, refine, and scale without breaking the bank • Why the first video you create will suck and why that's actually good news • How to use the circle of excellence technique from NLP to mentally prepare before going on camera • Why authenticity and spontaneity in ads outperform polished scripted content every time Apply this: Map out your customer acquisition model on paper before you spend a single pound on ads. Know your cost per lead, cost per show, cost per sale, and lifetime value. Start with $5 a day running in feed video ads on YouTube targeting a specific audience with one piece of content you already have. Test the waters without breaking the bank. Create a pen and paper style ad where you diagram out your framework or solution on camera in a spontaneous authentic way. Film it handheld or with minimal production and test it. Upload your customer email list to your YouTube ad account to help the algorithm learn who your ideal buyers are and build lookalike audiences. About Tom Breeze Tom Breeze is the founder and CEO of Viewability, a specialist video advertising agency focused on YouTube and Meta. He has managed multi million pound ad budgets for brands including HelloFresh, Mindvalley, ClickFunnels, vShred, and Performance Golf, with ad spends of up to £100,000 a day on YouTube. Tom has over 13 years of experience in video advertising and has worked with major training platforms like Google and Digital Marketer. He is the author of the definitive guide to YouTube ads and helps entrepreneurs and business owners scale sales predictably using video advertising. Connect with Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tombreeze/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tombreeze/] Visit Viewability: https://www.viewability.co.uk [https://www.viewability.co.uk] Get the book on Amazon: Search for Tom Breeze YouTube Ads Scale with Paul Avins If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day to day and scale with structure and confidence. Connect with Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/] Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call [https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call] Subscribe to the Scale Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in [https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in] Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.

McDonald's Systems Expert Marianne Page Reveals the 4 Systems Every Business Needs to Scale

What if the secret to scaling your business isn't working harder — but building the right systems in the right order? In this episode of The Grown Up Business Podcast, Paul Avins is joined by Marianne Page — systems expert, former McDonald's executive with 27 years' experience, and author of three books on building scalable, repeatable business operations. Marianne shares how McDonald's opened a new restaurant every seven days in the 1980s using a blueprint that trained teams, ensured consistency, and scaled without chaos. Together, Paul and Marianne unpack the four critical system categories every business needs to scale successfully — and why most founders invest 60% of their energy in the wrong one. From sexy systems (marketing and sales) to security systems (finance and data), service systems (operational delivery), and the often-forgotten sticky systems (hiring, training, and feedback) — this conversation reveals why businesses that scale sustainably don't just systemise their operations, they systemise their people. This episode is essential listening for founders and CEOs who want to stop firefighting, build a business that runs without them, and create real enterprise value through disciplined execution. KEY TAKEAWAYS * The four system categories every scalable business needs: Sexy, Security, Service, and Sticky * Why most businesses over-invest in marketing and under-invest in people systems * How McDonald's scaled by creating a blueprint that made following systems non-negotiable * Why sticky systems (hiring, training, feedback) are the foundation of consistency and scale * Why most SOPs fail — and how to make your team actually follow them * How to shift recruitment from reactive hiring to always-on talent marketing * Why investing in developing internal talent beats external hiring for long-term scale * The difference between performance management and coaching — and why feedback is a gift, not a punishment * Why entrepreneurs resist investing in people — and how to overcome short-term thinking ABOUT THE GUEST Marianne Page is a systems and operations expert with 27 years' experience at McDonald's, where she worked across multiple functions and saw first-hand how disciplined systems enable explosive growth. She is the author of three books: Process to Profit, Simple, Logical, Repeatable, and Mission to Manage. Marianne specializes in helping established businesses scale by building sticky systems that ensure consistency, operational excellence, and sustainable growth. She works with businesses from £500k to £30 million in revenue. NEXT STEPS Apply it now Identify which of the four systems (Sexy, Security, Service, Sticky) you're neglecting — and commit to one action this week to strengthen it. Connect with Marianne Page LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram: Marianne Page Books available on Amazon: Process to Profit, Simple, Logical, Repeatable, Mission to Manage Scale with Paul If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day-to-day and scale with structure and confidence. Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call [https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call] Subscribe to the Scale-Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in [https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in] About Paul Avins Paul Avins is a scale-up business coach and founder of the Grown-Up Business framework. He works with founders and CEOs to help them move from operator to scale-up leader — building businesses that grow sustainably, scale beyond the founder, and create real enterprise value. Paul's work focuses on disciplined leadership, high-performing teams, and systems that replace chaos with clarity. Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.

[REVEALED] How Private Equity Turns £15M Businesses Into £50M Exits with Nick Bradley

What if the secret to scaling from £15M to £50M wasn't working harder, but thinking like a private equity firm? In this episode of The Grown UP Business Podcast, Paul Avins sits down with Nick Bradley, private equity strategist, former operating partner, and author of Exit For Millions. Nick has been involved in over 50 acquisitions and 27 business exits worth over £5 billion. He pulls back the curtain on how private equity firms 10X business valuations and reveals the exact strategies entrepreneurs can use to build investor grade companies, whether they plan to sell or not. This conversation goes deep. Nick shares his journey from News International to Getty Images, working inside some of the most elite private equity firms in the world, including Blackstone. He explains what private equity really is, how deals are structured, why most businesses never sell, and the five value creation levers PE firms use to transform undervalued businesses into eight and nine figure exits. Paul and Nick unpack the private equity playbook, including the 100 day plan, the ultimate CEO dashboard with just five metrics that actually matter, the 15 fatal flaws that kill deals, and why most entrepreneurs rush the exit process without understanding the game they're playing. Nick also opens up about why he left private equity, the unresolved trauma entrepreneurs carry, and how his father's death became the catalyst for building a business that helps founders exit on their terms. If you're building a business and want to understand how to create real enterprise value, this episode is essential. What you'll learn: • What private equity really is and how it works behind the scenes • The two key metrics private equity obsesses over: MOIC and IRR • How private equity firms are trained like special forces to make clinical decisions under pressure • The five value creation levers PE firms use: revenue growth, margin expansion, capital structuring, acquisitions, and value expansion • The 100 day plan: how PE firms strengthen foundations and create momentum fast • The 15 fatal flaws that stop businesses from selling to private equity • Why most entrepreneurs don't build a board and how a mini mastermind can accelerate growth and increase valuation • Simplicity at scale: how private equity runs board meetings with a one page business review Apply this: Ask yourself: what is my life changing number? Why does it matter? And is what I'm doing now going to get me there? Start tracking the five CEO dashboard metrics every Monday morning: cash runway, EBITDA margin, revenue growth rate, pipeline coverage, and customer concentration. Audit your business against the 15 reasons why businesses don't sell. Identify the top three gaps and commit to fixing them in the next 12 to 18 months. Build a board or advisory group. Start with one person who will challenge you, support you, and help you see what you can't see on your own. About Nick Bradley Nick Bradley is a private equity strategist, former operating partner, and founder of the Scale Up podcast. He has been involved in over 50 acquisitions and 27 business exits worth over £5 billion. Nick now helps founders build investor grade businesses and exit for millions using the private equity playbook. His new book, Exit For Millions: The Private Equity Blueprint for Scaling and Selling Your Business for Maximum Value, is available now. Connect with Nick https://www.linkedin.com/in/realnickbradley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/realnickbradley] Listen to the Scale Up podcast and grab a copy of Exit For Millions Scale with Paul Avins If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day to day and scale with structure and confidence. Connect with Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/] Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call [https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call] Subscribe to the Scale Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in [https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in] Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.

How to Build a High-Performing Team Without Costing You Profits with Laura Tutt

What if the biggest risk to your business isn't the market or the competition—it's not understanding the new employment laws coming into force? In this episode of The Grown UP Business Podcast, Paul Avins sits down with Laura Tutt, founder of The Affable Partnership and HR consultant with over 20 years of experience navigating the complex world of employment law and people management. Laura breaks down the most significant legislative changes in decades, including the new Employment Rights Bill, changes to unfair dismissal rights, fire and rehire restrictions, and what these mean for business owners who employ people. This conversation goes far beyond compliance. Paul and Laura explore how to build high performing teams, the power of appreciation and accountability, why most businesses fail at recruitment and onboarding, and how to create psychological safety in the workplace. They also discuss the generational shifts in what employees value, the rise of AI and global talent, and why investing in your team is the highest ROI decision you can make. If you employ people or plan to, this episode is essential listening. What you'll learn: •⁠ Why the Employment Rights Bill is the biggest legislative change in decades and what it means for you •⁠ How unfair dismissal rights are changing from two years to six months and what you need to do now •⁠ The five fair reasons for dismissal and why one of them is called some other substantial reason •⁠ Why fire and rehire practices are now restricted and how to navigate restructures legally •⁠ What protected conversations are and when you can and cannot use them •⁠ Why most businesses get recruitment wrong and how to fix it with better interviewing skills •⁠ The questions you should never ask in an interview and why consistency matters •⁠ How psychometric profiling can help you hire the right people for the right roles •⁠ Why onboarding and induction are critical to retention and performance •⁠ The generational shift in what employees value and why flexibility is now non negotiable •⁠ How to build a high performing team using the TEAMS framework: Trust, Engagement, Appreciation, Metrics, and Safety •⁠ Why appreciation costs nothing but delivers everything •⁠ How to measure HR metrics like retention, engagement, and flow to drive performance •⁠ Why psychological safety is the foundation of great teams •⁠ How AI and global talent are reshaping the workforce and what UK businesses need to do to stay competitive Apply this: Audit your current employment contracts and policies to ensure compliance with the new legislation. Book a call with an HR expert if you're unsure where you stand. Review your recruitment and onboarding process. Are you asking the right questions? Are you setting new hires up for success from day one? Measure your team's engagement and flow. Ask your team one simple question this week: On a scale of 1 to 10, how in flow were you last week? About Laura Tutt Laura Tutt is the founder of The Affable Partnership, an HR consultancy with over 20 years of experience helping businesses navigate employment law, build engaged teams, and create workplaces where people genuinely want to be. Laura and her team work across construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and professional services, providing holistic support including HR, health and safety, wellbeing, and employment law advice. Connect with Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauratutt/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauratutt/] Visit The Affable Partnership: https://www.theaffablepartnership.co.uk [https://www.theaffablepartnership.co.uk] Scale with Paul Avins If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day to day and scale with structure and confidence. Connect with Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/] Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call [https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call] Subscribe to the Scale Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in [https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in] Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.