You don’t build a business to sell it.
You build it to create wealth.
You build it so that one day, you can cash out—on your terms.
In Built to Sell, John Warrillow explains why most founders can’t exit.
Not because they don’t try.
But because they don’t design for it.
The biggest blockers?
- The business depends too much on the founder
- Systems are missing or live inside your head
- Offers are too custom or complex
Sound familiar?
Even if you’re not selling, these problems hurt your business every day:
- You can’t delegate
- You can’t step away
- You can’t scale without burnout
Here’s the fix:
Stop building around you.
Start building something a buyer would want—even if you’re never selling.
7 Traits of a Buyable Business
- Always aim for recurring revenue
Don’t rely on one-off projects.
Predictable income increases value. - Productize, don’t customize
Don’t create from scratch every time.
Scalable offers attract premium buyers. - Build delivery systems, not bottlenecks
Don’t be the reason clients get results.
Train your systems to perform without you. - Keep your finances clean
Don’t wait until due diligence.
Know your numbers—margins, CAC, runway, and burn. - Generate leads without you
Don’t be the only rainmaker.
Create inbound or partner-led growth engines. - Document your operations
Don’t keep processes in your head.
SOPs and checklists make handoff possible. - Make yourself optional
Don’t be irreplaceable.
That’s great for ego, terrible for valuation.
Who Should Read This
This is for:
- Founders planning to exit in 1–5 years
- Founders who want to increase their business’s valuation
- Anyone tired of being the bottleneck in their own growth
You don’t have to sell. But you do have to build something worth buying.
Read Next
The Hard Thing About Hard Things → How to lead under pressure without breaking down
Deep Work → How to reclaim focus and protect your most valuable resource
Building a StoryBrand → Make your customer the hero and clarify your message
Build a Buyable Business
Work with me 1:1
This high-touch partnership will help you achieve any of these business goals:
- Grow revenue
- Increase profit
- Boost valuation
- Make the business run without you.
