@MarkRubbo from @readingsbooks shares his personal take on buying and building this iconic business. We cover a lot of ground including; How the opportunity to buy Readings came about Laving the music industry (Professor Longhair) for book retailing The linkage of Marks business ambitions with the impact on; the Australian book industry the broader literary community (writers, publishers) the local community Mark's ambition and opportunistic mindset to expanding Readings into multiple other locations, and the establishment of an online presence The importance of community engagement, autho ..read more

@Pete Seligman talks about and #eta (Entrepreneur through Acquisition) and #searchfunds and their impact on small business owners. He's an investor and co-owner of multiple businesses.  Pete explains the concept of search funds and how they provide a vehicle for investors to back #acquisitionentrepreneurs.  We talk about; the importance of finding the right fit between the entrepreneur and the business current market challenges and opportunities how business owners should handle an approach from  a search fund or investors the role of #earnouts in business sales and how they ca ..read more

@Sandy Chong brings 39 years experience as a salon owner to her current role as CEO at @The Australian Hairdressing Council. She's the current @cosboa #smallbusinesschampion and has multiple other board and advisory roles that involve advocacy and improving effectiveness for industry bodies. Sandy sold her own salon during 2023 to focus on her CEO role. In that role she is actively involved in advocating for small businesses and shaping the future of the industry. Her extensive background as a business owner gives her valuable insights to guide those aspiring to venture into entrepreneurship a ..read more

@JonathanRoberts  co-founded @OneRabbit with 2 partners 10 years ago.  He'd worked with those same partners for 17 years prior in a marketing and design business, which ultimately morphed into One Rabbit.   Along the way he's founded, owned and exited multiple other businesses. In this episode and based on that deep experience as an entrepreneur Jonathan shares high value insights on the challenges and rewards of making a strategic exit.  Specifically he talks about; how 3 partners exited their marketing firm with friendship Intact the importance of recognizing when passio ..read more

@ShaneCheek is the CEO of @ContinuaSoftware which is a private company that specialises in acquiring, operating and growing B2B software companies. Shane is an experienced founder, builder, business seller and investor. His  expertise and practical insights make this episode a must-listen for #businessowners who are potential sellers looking to understand the best strategies to sell their business, especially when they are selling to an industry buyer. In this episode we cover; how to best manage the process of selling your business to an industry buyer the fast growing trend of #searchf ..read more

@ShaneCheek is the CEO of @ContinuaSoftware which is a private company that specialises in acquiring, operating and growing B2B software companies. Shane is an experienced founder, builder, business seller and investor. His  expertise and practical insights make this episode a must-listen for #businessowners who are potential sellers looking to understand the best strategies to sell their business, especially when they are selling to an industry buyer. In this episode we cover; how to best manage the process of selling your business to an industry buyer the fast growing trend of #searchf ..read more

@Ben Tuszynski from @Judo Bank, shares his insights on the importance of banking relationships for small business owners.  Ben is currently the Managing Director of Judo Bank in Victoria and Tasmania. He has over a decade of experience in the banking and finance sector. Joining Judo in 2017 as one of the pioneering employees, Ben has played a pivotal role in the bank's substantial growth over the years.  His primary focus lies in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, aligning with Judo's commitment to providing tailored financial solutions to businesses, in an age of #indust ..read more

@Stu Gregor Stu and his @fourpillarsgin co-founders recently sold the last 50% of their business to Vanguard Luxury Brands, the Lion-owned distribution business. Four Pillars is an Australian success story.  Stu's has a lengthy background in food, wine, hospitality and travel. His other business and personal experiences include; Founding  @LiquidIdeas in 2013 - Australia's leading communications agency for food, drink, travel and lifestyle brands Co-owning of luxury travel business Gregor & Lewis Bespoke Travel President of the Australian Distillers Association (2014-current) Di ..read more

The hum of a steam train, the rhythm of blues and roots music and the energy of a live audience. These are the ingredients @Hugo T Armstrong mixed over 30 years to create and grow the legendary @The Blues Train in Queenscliff, Victoria. Now it's time for Hugo to move it on and he's currently in the market to find a new owner for this iconic business . We cover a lot of ground in this episode and Hugo talks about; growing up in the music-soaked town of Queenscliffe making mixtapes and DJing school socials dreaming of a life centered around the magic of music #communityradio the revitalization ..read more

In this episode of the Small Business Banter podcast I'm joined by Louise Broekman, CEO and founder of Advisory Board Center. We cover the importance of strategic decision-making in business, but specifically the role of advisory boards in exit planning.   Key messages for #businessowners #founders #familybusinesses from Louise include the importance for shifting from on-the-run decision-making to a more thoughtful and how Advisory Boards; provide a space for businesses to think and problem-solve over a 90-day period help business owners  make confident decisions that focus on long ..read more