Are you looking to exit your business?
When it comes to leaving your business, you likely have a ‘magic number’ in mind – the value you want your business to be worth before you step away, whether it’s for your sense of achievement or part of your retirement roadmap.
However, the harsh truth is, that few people ever achieve their ‘magic number’.
Not because it isn’t achievable, but because they simply haven’t done the right things within the business to attract a buyer.
Perhaps you’ve known this for a long time and have exerted every effort to do what is needed. Yet, with the demands of the day-to-day running of the company and the challenges posed by ingrained business processes – often rooted in individuals set in their ways -making these shifts has become an overwhelming challenge.
As a Private Investor, this is where I come in.
I invest in business with owner-managers who are either ready to exit, or whose businesses have become distressed, and help is needed to get it back on track.
I don’t acquire companies based on their current value; instead, I negotiate deals based on their projected worth in a few years from now.
Jim Molony, Private Investor
Why companies get into trouble
Getting a business off the ground takes blood, sweat and tears – and a hell of a lot of passion. But when unexpected events happen and it feels like the hits just keep coming, it can begin to feel impossible to sustain the level of stamina and drive needed to get things back on track. The truth is, businesses become unstuck for a variety of reasons.
Constant change
Technology is currently evolving at record pace, and if your competitors develop new innovations or upgrade their customer experience and you don’t, even your most loyal customers will move on.
Internal challenges
Inefficient systems and processes mean a slight change in the economic landscape could lead to increased material and delivery costs, wiping out profit making you less nimble than your competitors.
GROWING TOO FAST
Sometimes things go too well and we find we’re unable to keep up with demand and build the internal structure to handle it. Before long the cracks begin to show and we burn out, and it can feel there is no way out.
When your business is in distress it can be hard to see the path ahead – especially since your attention up until now has been on growing your business and survival. Selling your business or inviting in an investor to help transform it is a great next step.
Hi, I am Jim Molony.
As a Private Investor, I specialise in partnering with owner-managers who are either ready to exit or whose businesses are facing challenges and need a fresh direction. My goal is to simplify the complexities, refocus your business, and set it up for lasting success—whether that’s getting it sale-ready or steering it back on course for a strong recovery.
With over 15 years of experience in professional sport, I’ve seen that success doesn’t just come from talent and hard work. It’s about making smart decisions, at the right moments, and having the right people around you. I bring that same mindset into the businesses I work with, helping them navigate obstacles and unlock their full potential.
Whether you’re looking to exit or recover, I bring a hands-on, strategic approach tailored to your unique needs.
Why do I do this? Because I’ve seen too many great businesses with untapped potential miss out on their ‘magic number’ due to avoidable mistakes. My passion is helping owners like you make the most of what you’ve built, ensuring you leave behind a legacy you’re proud of.
The Opportunity
A Private Investor is someone who will either acquire your business immediately and let you walk away, or who will work with you – bringing valuable resources such as capital, expertise and perspective – to transform the business. They will either buy your business for what it is worth today, or better than that, buy the business for what it will be worth in 5 years once they’ve completed the transformation and increased its valuation.
Walking away from your business doesn’t have to mean ‘game over’ or even that you ‘failed’ – in fact there are many ways to leave a business without having to officially close its doors or let your staff go.
IMMEDIATE ACQUISITION
TRANSFORMATION
EXIT/RETIRE
The truth is, most businesses are not started by entrepreneurs, but rather by owner-managers, who, despite having earned a good living from their business, will struggle to retire or walk away from their business. For all your years of hard work, it can seem the only logical next step is to wind up the business, but with many employees depending it, some of whom have been with the company for a long time, this can feel like an impossible decision.
No matter what your situation, there is a solution. And the right solution for you might be to find a Private Investor.
Even the best rugby teams can miss the winning play if they’re too close to the action. It’s the sharp eyes on the sidelines that spot the gaps. Businesses are no different—without a fresh perspective, inefficiencies pile up, and the real opportunities for growth get lost in the noise.
how it works
Recent studies show that only 2% of businesses put on the market sell, and it takes an average of 3 years for a company to find a suitable buyer. The reason for this is that most companies are not structured correctly to achieve an outright sale, or big enough to attract an investor.
Sell on potential
With a Private Investor, you don’t sell your business for what it’s currently worth. You sell it on its future potential value i.e. what it’ll be worth once transformational work has taken place. And what’s better, you don’t have to do the work.
TRANSFORMATION
Once the sale is agreed, the Investor will take on the burden of delivering the transformation; whether that’s updating technology, streamline processes, or renegotiating finances. You’ll have the option to stay on in a consultative role, or exit the business immediately.
Tax Smart
Accepting a higher offer with deffered payments is also tax smart. Instead of paying 52% tax on the full amount, you’ll only have to pay 10% because you’re receiving the agreed sale price over 5 years.
Partnerships can be structured in a variety of ways, including carrying out the work in exchange for a stake in the business, a cash investment to transform internal processes or buy-out options that reward you once the transformation has been completed. You also have the option to buy back shares from the investor once things are running smoothly.
It is important that the right deal is found, and that it is structured to meet your needs. After all, you’re the one whose put your heart and soul into the business. It’s also important to select the right person to work with! Someone you like and feel comfortable bringing into your family, at home and work!
Central to everything I do is working closely with my team. I believe employees need as much care as a professional sports team.
With players, all the training and preparation comes into play when it’s game time. Those 80 minutes are absolutely critical. It’s the only performance that matters.
And if your people aren’t performing, or don’t grasp the expected performance standards, you can guarantee you’re not delivering a quality product, and any transformation initiative will fail.
The key to transformation – whether it’s optimising a sports team’s strength or helping businesses thrive – lies in setting clear targets and systematically ‘conditioning’ individuals to achieve small, manageable milestones.
And it’s the same with employees, when they are at work performing critical tasks, making decisions and speaking to customers, this is their moment, and it can’t just be left to chance.
I believe in caring for employees more than they’ve ever been cared for before. Something that is rarely considered outside the sporting world. I believe when people are clear on their roles, have set targets and are supported to perform at their best, any goal is achievable.
As one of my players recently said to me, “You make me work hard, but at least you look at my work”.
AREAS of Focus
Every Private Investor will have their own area of focus. Some investors like to specialise in a particular industry, buying companies of a similar type to create a bigger, more profitable company. Some will create eco-systems by buying the supply chain of a company they own. And, others will simply buy a business because they know they can use their skill set to quickly increase its valuation.
As a Private Investor with a background in Sports Rehabilitation, I am renowned for my goal-driven approach, applying principles from sports to help businesses succeed and owners reach their objectives.
I typically invest in businesses with a turnover of £500+ – £2m, that are either in a turnaround situation or with owner-managers preparing to exit. With a background in Sport Rehabilitation I am particularly interested in businesses within the health and wellness sector.
The first question I always ask: What’s your Magic Number?
Partnerships can be structured in a variety of ways, including an outright sale of the business allowing you to walk away immediately, or by working with you to carry out the transformation in exchange for a stake in the business with the option to buy back shares once the transformation is complete.
I don’t acquire companies based on their current value; instead, I negotiate deals based on their projected worth in a few years from now.
With any acquisition, the first question I always ask is “What’s your magic number?” as by knowing this we can create a plan and set weekly and daily targets to achieve it.
Get in Touch
If you’re currently questioning what’s next for your business, I invite you to get in touch. I’ll be happy to perform an audit of your business to identify exactly what will be required and whether we’d be a good fit.
All conversations will be held in the utmost confidence. Together we can explore the right next step for you, your clients/customer and your family.
11 Kingsfort Square, Castlepark, Mallow, Co.Cork, Ireland, P51 RR9X
+39 371 596 1273
Jim@JMInvestmentsGroup.com