Bulletproof Entrepreneur

#80 The 2025 Budget: Hidden Traps Every Founder Must Avoid - with tax guru Malli Kini.

Send us a textThe Autumn Budget landed last week -  and while the headlines were busy talking about ‘black holes,’ and ‘fairness,’ the fine print tells a very different story.Nimesh Shah, The CEO of leading tax advisers, Blick Rothenberg didn’t mince words calling it “the most damaging Budget in living memory”If you own a business, if you’re scaling your company, or if you’re even thinking about an exit in the next few years, this Budget will affect your future wealth more than you realise.And most founders have absolutely no idea.So I’ve brought back one of the sharpest tax brains in the country - Malli Kini -  to unpack the traps, the opportunities, and the moves you need to make right now to stay ahead.We’re talking; • The stealth tax hikes nobody’s mentioning • The dividend and pension changes that hit founders hardest • The EOT crackdown and what it means for successionAnd so many other issues that didn't make the headlines.This is one of those episodes where a single insight could save you six figures - or more -  over the next few years.If you’re a business owner, buckle up.If you’re planning an exit, take notes.And if you care about keeping more of what you’ve built… this one’s for you. Let’s get into it.Ladies and gentlemen, Malli KiniThis podcast is produced by GR Media Sponsored by Capital Asset Management

#79 The exact playbook to 3 x the value of your business - Graham Stephen of Bizval

Send us a text What if your business isn’t worth what you think it is?What if it’s less than you think? What is it’s more?Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most owner-managed businesses never sell.Not because the founders are lazy or stupid…But because the business just isn’t sellable in the eyes of a buyer.So Today, we’re fixing that.I’m joined by Graham Stephen, CEO and co-founder of a company called Bizval.His team helps entrepreneurs get a proper, defensible valuation.without a £50,000 big accounting firm invoice - or 80 pages of jargon! - and then they break down the key steps you can take to improve your exit valuation.So this episode is a bit different. During our conversation, Graham screenshares a live valuation of a very typical business:It’s a £10m revenue marketing agency, decent profits, happy owners.On the surface, it all looks great.But under the hood?There are a few issues that are keeping the valuation down in the eyes of a potential buyer.He then plugs in the key numbers and data…And you’ll hear how that business comes out at a valuation of around £3.7m today.  Then we apply some smart strategic moves and pull a few specific levers – nothing crazy and all highly achievable as part of a focused strategic exit plan.And suddenly the model shows a path from a £3.7m valuation to over £10m.Same business.Same owners.Very different outcome.And one other thing, Graham has kindly agreed to offer a very useful discount to the standard cost of your evaluation and strategic plan. There’s a link to the discount code below.So, if you’re an entrepreneur and your business is your pension, your exit, your family’s future – this episode will make you think very differently about your business value and how to optimise it.Let’s face it, you’re probably only going to sell once - and it’s likely to be the most significant financial transaction of your life.And so this next hour or so could make all the difference to you when that time comes.Let’s get into it.https://bizvalglobal.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-stephen?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_apphttps://bizvalglobal.com/pricing/ - code Bulletproof This podcast is produced by GR Media Sponsored by Capital Asset Management

#78 Sir Tom Hunter - The Incredible Journey From Market Stall to Billionaire.

Send us a textToday on The Bulletproof Entrepreneur, you’re going to hear from a man whose story is almost impossible to compress into a single sentence -  because it’s part grit, part luck, part audacity… and entirely remarkable.Sir Tom Hunter grew up in the small Scottish mining village of New Cumnock, where his father ran the local grocery shop. It was there -  stacking shelves, serving neighbours, and learning the value of every pound  - that Tom absorbed the lessons that shaped everything that came next: look after your customers, keep your word, and work harder than anyone expects.From those beginnings, he went on to build one of the most successful retail empires the UK has ever seen. The story isn’t neat. It’s not linear. It’s full of missteps, brass-neck decisions, fake-it-till-you-make-it moments, and an unshakeable belief that the best way to learn is to do.You’ll hear how he started by selling trainers from the back of a van… how he leveraged luck by simply showing up… how a chance encounter led to selling more shell suits than anyone in Europe… and how an almost absurd coin toss sealed a £296 million deal.But you’ll also hear the parts of the journey most people never talk about. The weight of shutting shops. The backlash after the sale. The pressure of the financial crisis. Losing hundreds of millions. And the resilience required to rebuild from the inside out.It’s rare to sit with someone who has not only succeeded at the level Tom has but is also willing to speak honestly about the parts that don’t make the headlines.And today, he goes further  - sharing the philosophies that now guide his work through West Coast Capital and The Hunter Foundation… why he believes entrepreneurs are the engine of the UK economy… what government consistently gets wrong… and the one piece of advice Warren Buffett gave him that changed the way he thinks about family, money, and legacy.It’s a conversation about risk, resilience, humility, generosity, and what true wealth really means.So settle in. This one is special.Links:https://www.thehunterfoundation.co.uk/https://www.westcoastcapital.co.uk/Shareholder LettersThe Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness: Amazon.co.ukBarbarians At The Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco: Amazon.co.ukThis podcast is produced by GR Media Sponsored by Capital Asset Management

#77 “Everyone Exits - You’re either bought out, pushed out or wheeled out” - with Brian Hill

Send us a textToday on The Bulletproof Entrepreneur, I’m joined by Brian Hill — ex-soldier, endurance athlete, entrepreneur, and the founder of a business called Pathfinders.Brian’s also just published a fantastic new book called Everyone Exits, which is a step-by-step blueprint for business owners who are scaling towards a successful sale. I read it before we recorded this conversation and I took a lot from It - and I strongly recommend you put it on your own reading list!During our conversation, we unpack how smart founders scale using Brian’s eliminate, automate, delegate rule — and why true delegation, not heroics, creates profit and freedom.Brian also exposes the biggest mistakes owners make when selling - from buy-side brokers and exclusivity traps  - to why you must create competitive tension to protect your price and business valuation.And finally, he shares his Exit-Ready Stay-Ready framework that every business owner should start building right now  - with clean data, profitable clients, and reduced risk - because, as his book says, Everyone Exits.If a business sale’s even remotely on your horizon, this episode could change your outcome. Let’s dive in.Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr Brian Hill.Links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-hill-pathfinders/PathFindersEVERYONE EXITS: You’re either bought out, pushed out, or wheeled out : MSc MCSI, Brian HillThe Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More. The Sunday Times bestseller, as heard on the Diary of a CEO podcastThis podcast is produced by GR Media Sponsored by Capital Asset Management

#76 From Council Estate to £70 Million Exit: The Unbelievable Story of Andrew Hulbert

Send us a textMy guest today is someone whose story is nothing short of remarkable.From a tough upbringing on a council estate in Oxford to building one of the UK’s most disruptive property management companies -  and ultimately achieving an eight-figure exit before the age of 40 - Andrew Hulbert’s journey is one of grit, growth, and gratitude.His story begins with a choice he made as a 16-year-old that changed the course of his life and is a powerful story - a real Sliding Doors moment.Later, his decision to walk away from a secure career and risk everything to start a business, all alone with a laptop and a relentless work ethic, is truly inspirational.And then his plan to seek an exit and create financial security for his family provides deep insight for anyone currently growing a business and considering when is the right time to step down and sell the company.Today, Andrew lives on a farm, is planting a forest, and spends most of his time with his wife and young children - although he still maintains a healthy interest in business; after all, he’s only 39!During our conversation, we discussed how he built his company, what he learned along the way, and what true wealth means after the exit.Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr Andrew Hulbert.Andrew's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhulbert/This podcast is produced by GR Media Sponsored by Capital Asset Management