Podcast: Are you tired of incremental growth that takes decades to build real wealth? 

Founder David B. Horne sits down with Paul Alvins on his podcast to reveal why 10X growth through M&A is actually easier than grinding out 25% annual growth – and how entrepreneurs can scale their businesses through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) rather than incremental growth.

The Reality Check: Why Traditional Growth is Harder Than M&A

Most entrepreneurs stay trapped in “operator mindset” – running their business day-to-day instead of adopting an “owner mindset” focused on strategic growth. Horne’s key insight? M&A requires completely different skills than daily operations, which is why successful entrepreneurs build dedicated deal teams rather than burdening their operational staff.

The 10X Mindset Shift

• Core Philosophy: 10X growth is easier than growing incrementally 25% year-over-year
• Main Barrier: Most entrepreneurs don’t realize M&A is available to them – they think it’s only for large corporations
• Mindset Problem: Entrepreneurs stay trapped in “operator mindset” (running the business) rather than “owner mindset” (growing the business)

The FACE Framework

Fund – Secure financing first

• Debt: Banks, fintech lenders (expensive but fast)
• Equity: Sell shares – own 50% of £100M company vs 100% of £10M company
• Alternative: Grants, supplier financing

Acquire – Buy quality companies

• Target: Competitors, complementary businesses, suppliers, geographic expansion
• Principle: “Wonderful company at fair price” not “fair company at wonderful price”
• Approach: Direct outreach, build human connections

Consolidate – Critical integration phase

• 90-day process: Evaluate (60 days) → Understand → Execute
• Change one thing at a time
• Integrate key management from acquired company

Exit – 3-year preparation minimum

• Need: 3 years growing financials, proper documentation
• Result: Can increase valuation from 5X to 8X earnings
• Reality check: Only 18% of businesses for sale actually sell

Success Requirements

• M&A-experienced accountant and lawyer (most don’t have this experience)
• Dedicated deal team (don’t burden operations team)
• Strong internal team: Sales/Marketing, Operations, Finance leaders

Why This Matters for £1M-£5M Business Owners

If you’re an ambitious entrepreneur in London, South East England, North West England, or Wales running a £1M-£5M business in tech, media, healthcare, or education, this podcast reveals why waiting for organic growth might be costing you millions.

The bottom line: While your competitors are grinding out 10-15% annual growth, strategic M&A can accelerate your journey to £10M+ in 3-5 years instead of a decade.

Key Takeaway

As Horn puts it: “10X growth through M&A is easier than 25% incremental growth” – but only if you have the right methodology, team, and mindset shift from operator to owner. Most entrepreneurs stay in “operator mindset” (running business) vs “owner mindset” (growing business). M&A requires completely different skills and teams than day-to-day operations.

Want to explore deeper insights into building your M&A growth strategy and avoiding the common pitfalls that derail most acquisition attempts?

Check out the full episode here: The FACE Framework: Your Blueprint for Successful Acquisitions