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My First Million

My First Million

The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.

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Build a business designed from inception to sell at premium multiples

Entrepreneurs starting service or technology companies who want to maximize exit value

5-10 years from business launch to exit

What Success Looks Like

Selling company for 8x+ revenue in top decile of industry valuations

Steps to Execute

1

Research studies on what differentiates high-multiple exits in your industry

2

Design business model around those success factors from day one

3

Establish international presence early (even if just one office)

4

Create recurring revenue streams rather than project-based fees

5

Build proprietary technology and data moats

6

Develop defensible intellectual property

Checklist

International expansion (even symbolic)
Recurring revenue model implemented
Proprietary technology developed
Data collection systems superior to competitors
Clear niche domination established
IP protection in place

Inputs Needed

  • Industry exit multiple research
  • Sufficient capital for international expansion
  • Technical talent for building proprietary systems
  • Legal resources for IP protection

Outputs

  • Business positioned for premium valuation
  • Clear exit story for potential acquirers
  • Defensible competitive advantages

Example

“L2 was designed with international office, recurring subscription model, proprietary data scraping technology, and luxury/consumer brand niche focus, ultimately selling for 8x revenue.”