Mark Mills · August 12, 2026
Podcast: UNSTOPPABLE PODCAST - Harry Sardinas
August 12, 2026 · 54 min
Did you know most businesses fail due to a lack of recurring income? In this episode, Mark Mills shares the five essential steps every entrepreneur must follow to ensure they not only survive but thrive in their businesses.
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OBE Business Sale Advisor Helping UK Founders Maximise Exit Value
5 Businesses built & sold£175M Cardpoint exit valuation6,500 Cash machines in Cardpoint network£500M+ Monthly cash dispensed by Cardpoint network
Mark Mills OBE is a business sale advisor who helps UK founders sell their businesses for maximum value.
He got into this work after spotting overlooked value as a child selling broken biscuits at school and then carrying that instinct into founding and exiting companies. The early biscuit story taught him to see what others ignore and to turn small advantages into commercial wins, a thread that runs through his approach to identifying hidden value in mature businesses. Over time that practicality led him from founding companies to deliberately learning from each exit and packaging those lessons into a repeatable system.
He has built and sold five businesses, most notably building and exiting Cardpoint at a £175 million valuation; Cardpoint floated on AIM at £7 million, grew to 6,500 cash machines and 300 employees, and dispensed over £500 million a month. Since 2007 he has worked as a Non-Executive Chairman and advisor applying his methods to other owners. In December 2024 he was awarded an OBE for services to Business and Charity and he holds the title of Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire.
Day-to-day he steps in as Non-Executive Chairman, works directly with founders to uncover hidden value, and manages the full sale process from preparation through to finding the right buyer.
Mark Millsis an accomplished business sale advisor and the UK founder of a firm that helps entrepreneurs prepare their businesses for sale at maximum value. He has a remarkable track record, having started his entrepreneurial journey at a young age by selling biscuits. Mark's insights into business strategy have earned him recognition, including being appointed an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to business and charity.
He explains:
◼ Understand the importance of a recurring income model in business.
◼ Learn how to interrogate and refine your business model for maximum efficiency.
◼ Discover the key selling strategies that ensure sustainability.
◼ Learn to charge what you're truly worth and not undervalue your services.
◼ Embrace the idea of pivoting when necessary to adapt to market changes.
◼ The final takeaway for business growth
The views and opinions expressed by the guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or this podcast. The content of this conversation is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, business, investment, tax, or other professional advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified professional before making any decisions based on the information discussed..
Five Steps to Make Your First Million - Mark Mills And Harry Sardinas
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:31 - Mark's Early Entrepreneurial Journey
00:02:45 - Step 1: Recurring Income Model
00:04:59 - Main Strategy
00:05:19 - Step 2: Bulletproof Business Model
00:08:40 - Step 3: Learn to Sell
00:09:02 - Important Lesson
00:12:03 - Step 4: Charge More
00:13:05 - Business Advice
00:15:26 - Step 5: Don't Be Afraid to Pivot
00:21:36 - The Importance of Mentorship
00:25:11 - Challenges in Business
00:29:46 - Mark's OBE Award
00:34:08 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
A message from Mark Mills: "Always remember, your destiny is in your hands. If you work hard and refine your business model, the opportunities are endless."
About The Host:
Get ready for Harry Sardinas Speaking, where inspiration meets action! He has spoken at the same events where world-class speakers such as Tony Robbins and Les Brown also spoke.
Harry Sardinas is a Business Growth Strategist, Empowerment, Public Speaking, and Leadership Coach based in London. Through Harry Sardinas Coaching, he inspires and empowers entrepreneurs, gold medalists, celebrities, investors, millionaires, and leaders to unlock their full potential, achieve business success, and make a lasting impact in their industries.
With 288,000+ followers and a mission to recognize entrepreneurs and connect visionary investors with business opportunities, Harry Sardinas Events, such as Speakers Are Leaders Awards and Entrepreneurs Are Leaders, empowers individuals to grow, lead, and create lasting improvements in their lives and businesses.
Harry Sardinas Workshops help companies transform their products into global brands both from the stage and in front of the camera through his signature program, Speakers Are Leaders, which has reached over 10,000 attendees on stages worldwide and more than 1 million people online.
🎙 Harry Sardinas Podcast Unstoppable features over 500 millionaires and entrepreneurs who share their journeys, challenges, and key lessons on how they have grown their businesses. We believe every founder has the potential to be wealthy, healthy, and happy. To join this empowering movement, book your spot here: https://www.harrysardinas.com/Podcast
👉 Explore events, speaking, branding, and marketing solutions for entrepreneurs and influencers here: https://linktr.ee/harrysardinas
📩 Whatsapp Harry Sardinas at +44 7775 596554 to collaborate. -
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Your support keeps the Unstoppable Podcast alive and growing.
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IMPORTANT: Earnings and Legal Disclaimers
We don’t believe in get-rich-quick programs or guarantees of specific outcomes. We believe in hard work, adding value, and serving others, and our programs are designed to help you achieve those goals. As stated by law, we cannot and do not make any guarantees regarding your ability to achieve financial results, earn money, or improve your health using our ideas, information, programs, or strategies. Your success depends on your own efforts, skills, and circumstances, which are beyond our control.
We are here to support you by sharing our strategies to help you progress, but nothing on this page, any of our websites, videos, marketing materials, or in our emails constitutes a promise or guarantee of future earnings, financial outcomes, or health improvements. Any financial or health-related examples, estimates, projections, or past results referenced are for illustrative purposes only and reflect the views of the hosts and guests. They should not be considered as exact, actual, or assured results. If you have any questions, please contact us at hello@harrysardinas.com
"Unstoppable Podcast - Harry Sardinas," podcast brings you inspiring conversations with influential millionaires, angel investors, property investors, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs who are making a massive difference in the world with their innovative products and services.
Guest: Mark Mills
2+ podcast & stage appearances. Remote or in studio, broadcast-grade audio.