John Warrillow

John Warrillow is the creator of The Value Builder System™ and author of Built to Sell, The Automatic Customer & The Art of Selling Your Business.

[John Warrillow @JohnWarrillow]

Want to increase the value of your company? Sign up for Built to Sell News, a free weekly newsletter that will teach you how to:
• Build a biz that can thrive without you
• Design recurring revenue models
• Negotiate techniques when selling
🔔 https://t.co/6zLych1FQN

[John Warrillow @JohnWarrillow]

Big congrats to Value Builder advisor @paulwildrick on launching his new book The Second 40! A powerful read for any entrepreneur ready to rewrite the rules and build the business they were meant to lead.

https://t.co/EMT1Y1d61v…

[Adam Rossi @rossiadam]

Selling my company was bittersweet.

I’d heard the warnings about the downsides (but didn’t really believe them).

Post-deal, my first reaction wasn’t relief or pride, but regret. And it took years before I could say I was glad I sold.

For founders building toward an exit, or those who’ve just crossed that line, I hope you’ll listen to my full conversation with @JohnWarrillow on his After the Deal series on Built to Sell.

We dive into:

• The emotional hangover after a “dream” exit
• What money does (and doesn't) solve
• The mistakes I made before/ after selling, and what I’d do differently now

Listen to the full conversation here:

https://t.co/smzrlofZmE

[John Warrillow @JohnWarrillow]

a real treat for me. Thanks @rossiadam

[Adam Rossi @rossiadam]

Awesome to join @JohnWarrillow on the Built to Sell podcast.

This was part of his “After The Deal” Series where we dived into the nitty gritty of what happens when you sell your company.

We cover:

- Identity whiplash post-exit
- the second-bite mistake I made by going all-cash
- why I turned down earnouts but still stayed 18 months
- Unexpected emotional pressures of ‘sudden wealth’
- the wealth planning I didn’t do, and the options I missed before signing the deal

This one’s for :

- Bootstrapped founders fielding acquisition interest without a clear plan
- Investors interested in founder psychology
- Operators nearing a sale or adjusting to post-exit life

Appreciate you having me on, John!

Listen here:

Youtube:https://t.co/pjrBQKCuZv

Built To Sell: https://t.co/smzrlogxcc

[John Warrillow @JohnWarrillow]

good reminder to play it straight when you're selling your business: https://t.co/eJ7HPsPIrE

[Built to Sell @BuiltToSell]

For the first time ever, we recorded a Built to Sell Radio episode in front of a live audience at the Value Builder Summit.

@robwalling & @drsherrywalling break down what separates a thriving exit from one that leaves founders lost.

with @JohnWarrillow

🎧 Listen now: https://t.co/Hm1hyfXAaV

[John Warrillow @JohnWarrillow]

deep dive into the psychology of selling a business. Well worth listening to THE power couple of small business.

[Dr. Sherry Walling @drsherrywalling]

LIVE Podcast Episode!

In this episode of @BuiltToSell radio, @JohnWarrillow sits down with @robwalling and me to dive deep into what separates a thriving exit from one that leaves a founder lost and full of regrets.
Listen now: https://t.co/eK9TkZ4atL

[John Warrillow @JohnWarrillow]

Kristie is one of the most instinctive entrepreneurs I’ve come across in a long time. She embodies what it means to bet on yourself. Well worth learning from.

[Built to Sell @BuiltToSell]

Building a business is one thing. Knowing when to sell is another.

Kristie Shifflette took big risks to build a 13-location @orangetheory empire. When it came time to exit, she played her cards right. Here’s what she learned about timing, negotiation, and maximizing value. With @JohnWarrillow

Listen now: https://t.co/9hQYpxEfRY

[Built to Sell @BuiltToSell]

What happens AFTER you sell your business?

@johnrood sold Next Step Test Prep & spent years researching what life really looks like post-exit.

In this episode, he shares insights from 70 founders on wealth, identity & happiness.

🎧 Listen now: https://t.co/0U8JKo2vKi
@JohnWarrillow

[John Warrillow @JohnWarrillow]

file this one in "the deal is not done until the money is in your account" folder. Mind blowing.

[Built to Sell @BuiltToSell]

🚨 $80M Offer Gone Sideways 🚨

Imagine this: You’re on the verge of selling your business for $80M. Wire instructions sent. Deal day tomorrow. Then—8AM—the acquirer tries to change the terms.
This happened to @KevinWagstaff3. But instead of caving, Kevin stood his ground and walked away.

In this week’s episode of Built to Sell Radio, Kevin shares how he turned a bad situation into a $90M win with a better partner.

🎧 https://t.co/nB88EICw9K
@JohnWarrillow

[John Warrillow @JohnWarrillow]

Good conversation. Enjoyed Blake's take on dealing with imperfections in your business.

[Built to Sell @BuiltToSell]

40% of deals fall apart after LOI—often because the buyer can't secure capital. Learn how to protect yourself and close the deal in our latest Built to Sell Radio with Flippa CEO Blake Hutchison. Listen here: https://t.co/3HLXilXgvt – via @JohnWarrillow

[Built to Sell @BuiltToSell]

Most service businesses face earn-outs. Ben Landers avoided one entirely. Learn how he sold his 8-figure digital marketing agency with no strings attached. @JohnWarrillow

https://t.co/afZKnGgIzE

[Built to Sell @BuiltToSell]

What if selling your business for 1x EBITDA wasn’t the end—but the beginning of something bigger?

This week on Built to Sell Radio, Adam Kerrigan shares with @johnwarrillow how he sold his MSP, rolled equity into a larger company, and positioned himself for a 15x payday.

Learn how valuation arbitrage can turn your first sale into a life-changing financial event. Listen now: https://t.co/EUYZixqJ9Y

[Built to Sell @BuiltToSell]

Ever signed an LOI only to find out the buyer couldn’t close? George Hartley did. Hear how he salvaged Smarter Mail’s $2M ARR sale after a failed deal on Built to Sell Radio.
@JohnWarrillow

Full episode> https://t.co/wguosCGRTS

[John Warrillow @JohnWarrillow]

interesting data here with a link to complete the survey if you own a business

[Built to Sell @BuiltToSell]

The early returns from our Built to Sell 2025 reader survey are in and reveal that nearly 60% of business owners consider their identity as closely tied to their business. It’s a reminder of how deeply connected we become to the companies we build— and how difficult it can be to step away when the time inevitably comes to sell. If you own a business, and haven’t completed our 2025 survey, please take 2 minutes and answer a couple of questions. We’ll share some of the insights we gather here. https://t.co/iBsy8mD9S1

@JohnWarrillow

[John Warrillow @JohnWarrillow]

good reminder of what happens during an earn out. Thanks for sharing @THEJamesAshford

[Built to Sell @BuiltToSell]

“Playing to win” vs. “Playing not to lose”

@THEJamesAshford describes the subtle, dangerous mindset shift he faced after selling GoProposal to Sage for 8 figures—a raw, revealing look at life After the Deal with @johnwarrillow.

[John Warrillow @JohnWarrillow]

great journey. told by a master. thanks @THEJamesAshford

[Built to Sell @BuiltToSell]

What happens when you sell your business for 8 figures and go from running the show to being part of a corporate giant?

@THEJamesAshford shares with @johnwarrillow the emotional highs, the challenges of bureaucracy, and the lessons he learned after Sage acquired his 12-employee company.

🎧Listen now https://t.co/NiJnkH4WIw

[John Warrillow @JohnWarrillow]

trending to be one of our most downloaded episodes of the year.

[Built to Sell @BuiltToSell]

Private equity buyers are targeting industries everywhere. How can you protect your business? Jordan Dubin shares insider secrets from the roll-up playbook on this week’s Built to Sell Radio. @JohnWarrillow

https://t.co/Ert5qGuvj2

[Built to Sell @BuiltToSell]

From 300 pounds and a high school dropout to a $419M exit— @mikefata's journey with Manitoba Harvest is pure grit and resilience. 💪Hear his story on Built to Sell Radio. @JohnWarrillow

https://t.co/Ffkbd3gNAC

[John Warrillow @JohnWarrillow]

good example of the game of "musical chairs" that happens when a private equity group(s) decides to roll up an industry

[Built to Sell @BuiltToSell]

A PE roll-up can feel like a “feeding frenzy”—until it doesn’t. At some point, the buyers become giants, leaving independents at a disadvantage. Hear how Carrie Kelsch secured a 10x EBITDA deal on #BuiltToSellRadio. @JohnWarrillow

https://t.co/fcTlbYe9Uq

[Built to Sell @BuiltToSell]

When private equity rolls up an industry, it’s like a high-stakes game of musical chairs. Wait too long, and suddenly PE giants stop overpaying and turn into fierce competitors. Hear how Carrie Kelsch navigated it on #BuiltToSellRadio. @JohnWarrillow

https://t.co/fcTlbYe9Uq