• Built to Sell

  • Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You
  • By: John Warrillow
  • Narrated by: Erik Synnestvedt
  • Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (2,439 ratings)

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Built to Sell  By  cover art

Built to Sell

By: John Warrillow
Narrated by: Erik Synnestvedt
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Publisher's summary

A business parable about how to create a start-up that won't trap you when you want to sell it. According to John Warrillow, the number one mistake entrepreneurs make is to build a business that relies too heavily on them. Thus, when the time comes to sell, buyers aren't confident that the company-even if it's profitable-can stand on its own. To illustrate this, Warrillow introduces us to a fictional small business owner named Alex who is struggling to sell his advertising agency. Alex turns to Ted, an entrepreneur and old family friend, who encourages Alex to pursue three criteria to make his business sellable:

  • Teachable: focus on products and services that you can teach employees to deliver.
  • Valuable: avoid price wars by specializing in doing one thing better than anyone else.
  • Repeatable: generate recurring revenue by engineering products that customers have to repurchase often.

©2011 John Warrilow (P)2011 Gildan Media Corp

What listeners say about Built to Sell

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Rather get the kindle

This book is great! As a business owner who got stuck into the trap of *being* the business, the concept really spoke to me. But the Nasally twang of the reader was so distracting I nearly couldn't finish it.

Rather read the book and then get John's "Automatic Customer" which is also very good, and read in a less distracting way!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A great book indeed!

Not a fan of the narrator, but the book was full of great tips! Well worth the time to listen!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great content. Reader somewhat annoying to listen

great book. narrator has a weird way he trails off at the end of many sentences that was sort of annoying. otherwise great book

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love this book!

I had to also buy the audio to listen in my car. This books help ke reset and get back on course every time.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

It’s got some gems

Great if you’re a beginner or a lost entrepreneur who needs direction. But If you’re advanced or intermediate it might not be very informative. It covers the basics without overwhelming you and gives you actionable steps to move from the book to real life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Exceptional book

Engaging story but even more compelling content that matches my experience scaling and selling an 8 figure business and now growing 2 more.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Could have been a pamphlet but made it a story

This could have been a small how-to book I’d gladly pay $50 for but they made it a story instead. Great info, but look for an outline instead of listening to this.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The performance was atrocious

The information in this book is fairly straightforward but it’s very helpful from a general standpoint to make sure we’re doing things right.

BUT the author is atrocious. Like laughably uncomfortable at how bad it was. It made me feel like he was trying to purposely be creepy. Never let that author speak a book again.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great information. Annoying voice.

I really like the information provided in this audiobook but the voice was really hard to listen to

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Plan to sell your business

Great practical and easy to follow approach if you plan to grow or sell your business.

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