Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You [Hardcover]

John Warrillow (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 28, 2011

A business parable about how to create a start-up that won't trap you when you want to sell it.

According to John Warrillow, the number one mistake entrepreneurs make is to build a business that relies too heavily on them. Thus, when the time comes to sell, buyers aren't confident that the company-even if it's profitable-can stand on its own.

To illustrate this, Warrillow introduces us to a fictional small business owner named Alex who is struggling to sell his advertising agency. Alex turns to Ted, an entrepreneur and old family friend, who encourages Alex to pursue three criteria to make his business sellable:

* Teachable: focus on products and services that you can teach employees to deliver.
* Valuable: avoid price wars by specializing in doing one thing better than anyone else.
* Repeatable: generate recurring revenue by engineering products that customers have to repurchase often.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“John does a masterful job of illuminating the qualities that business buyers look for in a company, and he does it in a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging manner.”
—Bo Burlingham, author of Small Giants (from the Foreword)

“There is no tooth fairy for selling a business. It takes planning and a real understanding of what works. I bet you’ll find yourself (like me) recommending this book to your friends who want to sell their businesses one day but don’t understand what that’s going to take.”
—Seth Godin, author of Linchpin

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

John Warrillow is the author of Built To Sell: Turn Your Business Into One You Can Sell. Throughout his career as an entrepreneur, John has started and exited four companies. Most recently he transformed Warrillow & Co. from a boutique consultancy into a recurring revenue model subscription business, which he sold to The Corporate Executive Board (NASDAQ: EXBD) in 2008. He is the author of Drilling for Gold and in 2008 was recognized by BtoB Magazine's "Who's Who" list as one of America's most influential business-to-business marketers.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover; 1St Edition edition (April 28, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591843979
• ISBN-13: 978-1591843979
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.7 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (114 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Warrillow is the author of Built To Sell: Turn Your Business Into One You Can Sell.

Throughout his career as an entrepreneur, John has started and exited four companies. Most recently he transformed Warrillow & Co. from a boutique consultancy into a recurring revenue model subscription business, which he sold to The Corporate Executive Board (NASDAQ: EXBD) in 2008.

He is the Author of Drilling for Gold and in 2008 was recognized by BtoB Magazine's "Who's Who" list as one of America's most influential business-to-business marketers.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's about creating value, not selling your business April 29, 2011

By LKL in Santa Fe

Format:Hardcover

The only thing wrong with this book is the title. "Built To Sell" is catchy but the book is really about how to create value in a business that's separate from you, the owner. Sure, if you want to sell your business, you need to do that, but you need to do it for the good of the business whatever your plans. "Built To Sell" is about creating business value, whether you're going to sell or not. It's also a great read. It's told as a story. That's not unusual today in a business book, but most are clunky efforts that make you wince. Not this one. I read it on a flight and kept reading at the airport when I disembarked, just to finish it. I have a little business now and during the 80s and 90s I ran a business that sold to little businesses around the country (we had a million customers). I know this market -- every small business owner should read this book.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Built To Sell April 28, 2011

By Ted Matthews

Format:Hardcover

This is an amazing tool. Finally someone has cracked the code on what it takes to have a saleable business. I have created and sold 2 businesses - the hard way, without maximizing my return - I am now reengineering my current business with Warrillow's guidance, so I don't make the same mistakes again. This book is a quick, (who's got time?) fun, easy read, full of simple to GET principles. You can start to effect positive change the minute you put it down. My tip: Buy a few copies, for each of your senior people - you won't want to wait for this one to be passed around!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Light at the End of the Tunnel May 23, 2010

By John F. Lehman

Format:Hardcover

Built to Sell
by John Warrillow
flipjetmedia, 2010
160 pages, $25.95

THE GOOD
This is a book every entrepreneur must read, whether or not they are going to sell their business. Years ago I read a book stating that there are people good at starting an enterprise, those who can make it profitable, others who excel at sustaining it and finally, a unique few individuals who can figure out how to profitably get out from under it. A business needs all four. This book dramatizes how one person can accomplish each of these steps. As someone who ran a small ad agency for ten years like the one used as an example, I didn't see the slightest misstep in this examination of the ups and downs of owning a business. We all need a light at the end of the tunnel.

THE BAD
According to the author the secret to business success seems to be to move from a service provider to providing a unique product (or product-like service). Two problems: 1) There are businesses that don't follow this model that are successful, 2) Things change and the context in which these products are offered is variable.

& WHAT BUGS ME
Oh, how I wish I could have had this book back then! These are the elements a business owner needs to come to terms with (and some of the reasons why he or she has a hard time doing that). $[...] is expensive for a little book, but it is the best business investment you will ever make.

Buy It: X Library: Skip It:

John Lehman, [...]