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John Warrillow is the author of Built To Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You, which was released by Portfolio/Penguin on April 28, 2011. He has started and exited four companies. Most recently he transformed Warrillow & Co. from a boutique consultancy into a recurring revenue model subscription business, which was acquired by The Corporate Executive Board. In 2008 he was recognized by BtoB Magazine’s “Who’s Who” list as one of America’s most influential business-to-business marketers.


Create a Profitable User Conference

What's one way to get people to pay to see you demo your product? Host a user conference.  Read story

What Does Your Office Say About You As a Leader?

Your office says a lot about your leadership style. As tempting as it is to take the corner office with the great view, it may exact a steep toll in a time o...  Read story

How to Master the Ansoff Matrix

Learning the Ansoff Matrix, which shows four ways that businesses can grow and the risks associated with each option, can help you grow your niche.  Read story

The CEO vs. the Shareholder

Author John Warrillow explains the perks of keeping your role as both CEO and a shareholder separate in your mind -and in everyone else's.  Read story

7 Reasons to Sell Now

If you feel like a gambler at a blackjack table with everything riding on the outcome of one hand, it may be the right time to take a few chips off the table.  Read story

Caution: Do Not Poke the Giant

In hindsight, would Groupon have been better off selling to Google than competing with Google Offers? What lessons can business owners learn from this cautio...  Read story

Inside the Mind of a Billion-Dollar Acquirer

Thinking about entering an earn-out agreement? Here's an insider's look into what perks and challenges may lie ahead.  Read story

7 Ways to Work From Anywhere

Author John Warrillow shares the tech tools he uses to run his start-up remotely while traveling through Europe.  Read story

When to Toss the Rule Book

Do your employees know when to throw out the rule book and let your philosophy guide their responses to the unexpected?  Read story

The Math Behind Your Company Valuation

What you need to know to increase the value of your business for a financial buyer  Read story

How to Protect Your Turf

Five tips on beating out the competition and making your business stickier  Read story

4 Ways to Turn Your Expertise Into a Product

John Warrillow explains how professionals-such as architects, accountants, doctors and dentists-can grow their business beyond themselves.  Read story

Do You Lead With Intellect or Emotion?

Author John Warrillow explains the difference between the "dissociative architect" and "sleeves-rolled-up" types of leaders. Which leadership style is best?  Read story

6 Reasons to Keep Your Business Small

Author John Warrillow proposes an alternative to setting your sights on building a $200 million business: Focus on building a $2 million company instead.  Read story

Why You Should Avoid the C-Word (and 7 Others)

If you want to build a valuable company–one someone will buy down the road–consider re-positioning your company out of the "consultancy" box.  Read story

10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Picking a Partner

It's natural to want a partner to share your experience with, but make sure you run through all the possible implications of your generosity.  Read story

How to Think Like America's 18th-Richest Man, Jeff Bezos

A shift in perspective-focusing on the long-term possibilities instead of short-term gains-may inspire new business growth strategies.  Read story

Don't Sell the Fix, Sell the Prevention

To scale up a knowledge-based business, it's necessary to take yourself out of the equation. Here's one solution for how to grow your business.  Read story

The Burden of Being Boss

The burden of having people's livelihood in your hands never fully goes away, but knowing where your revenue to cover your expenses will be coming from does ...  Read story

How You Can Use Amazon's Mechanical Turk for Business

Perfect for tedious tasks, Amazon's Mechanical Turk may be the perfect alternative to hiring temporary workers for singular projects.  Read story

How to Get Your Managers to Think Like Owners

Cash flow is like oxygen. If it runs out, nothing else matters. Here's how to encourage your managers to stretch every dollar. Hint: Make sure their jobs dep...  Read story

A Lesson From the World's Richest People

What strategies can you learn about running your business from Switzerland?  Read story

One Question Can Predict the Future of Your Company

Are your customers likely to recommend your business to their friends? The answer can make or break your business.  Read story

What to Look for in a Star Salesperson

As a business owner you may be a great salesperson but a lousy sales manager. So remove yourself from the equation by hiring a self-directed salesperson.  Read story

3 Traps to Avoid When Hiring a Salesperson

Don't let your new sales rep call on just any prospect. Be strategic with your game plan.  Read story

What's Your Growth Strategy?

John Warrillow, author of Built to Sell, answers questions from readers about building a sellable business.  Read story

How Can I Find a Niche Market to Tackle?

John Warrillow, author of Built to Sell , answers questions from readers about building a sellable business.  Read story

Selling Your Business for Parts

John Warrillow, author of Built to Sell , answers questions from readers about building a sellable business.  Read story

The Importance of Recurring Revenue

John Warrillow, author of Built to Sell , answers questions from readers about building a sellable business.  Read story

How Much Is Your Business Logo Worth?

John Warrillow, author of Built to Sell , answers questions from readers about building a sellable business.  Read story

Selling Your Business to an Advertiser

The story of how Peter Shankman, founder of HARO.com, sold his company to one of his largest advertisers  Read story

3 Tips for Building a Valuable Company

John Warrillow shares the three most important business tips he's learned over the course of starting and exiting four companies.  Read story

Is Your Company an Irresistible Buy?

Guy Kawasaki applies the principles in his new book Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions to learning how to enchant an acquir...  Read story

Professional Services vs. Scalable Business

Building a scalable business as a professional service provider may require that you change the role you play in your business.  Read story

When Writing a Business Plan Is a Waste of Time

Spending months writing a business plan can make you feel like you're being productive, but what you really need is market data and some experience.  Read story

Does Your Business Have Curb Appeal?

As with selling a house, your company's curb appeal goes a long way toward attracting potential buyers.  Read story

Beware of Those Bearing Stock

A financier's pitch to buy your company may sound good in theory, but be skeptical if the currency being offered is stock and not cash.  Read story

How to Scale Up Your Service Business

One way to increase the value of your company is to train others in your area of expertise.  Read story

The No. 1 Reason Why Business Owners Sell

Author John Warrillow warns that illness is the reason cited most often for why a business owner is forced to sell their company. Here's what you should do t...  Read story

Is Your Business Sellable?

Past performance, stellar staff, and a long client list may not be enough to entice potential buyers.  Read story