The fastest exit is usually the one that leaves the most money behind

Using the Last 18 to 30 Months: building proof and momentum before going to market

Many founders start thinking seriously about selling only when they are already tired, distracted, or ready to move on, which can push them into a rushed process before the business is truly buyer-ready. Speed feels sensible when the owner wants certainty, but it often means accepting today’s value rather than building the proof, sales momentum, and operational strength that gives buyers confidence to pay more.

Mark Mills OBE has seen through his own exits and advisory work that the biggest uplift often comes from using the 18 to 30 months before sale deliberately, not just waiting for a buyer to appear. For founder audiences, this creates a practical conversation about what to improve before going to market, how to time an exit properly, and why patience can be one of the most profitable decisions an owner makes.

About Mark Mills

Mark Mills, podcast guest

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.

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Ruthlessly Exit-Ready: Interview with Mark Mills
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Branching Out: TreeFork Strategies· Listen to Mark Mills on air