Alan BennettEvery podcast appearance, updated as new ones drop

Podcast Episode Description: "It's an exit plan, not an exit due." Host Laurie Barkman sits down with Alan Bennett, founder of Trust Built Solutions and exit planning coach who has lived through three very different business exits — a retail meat market that he closed in 2008, a contract catering business that a seller-financed deal and COVID unraveled in 2020, and a psychiatric practice exit to private equity where he finally got to use every lesson he had learned the hard way. Alan's story is one of the most honest and unfiltered accounts of what owner dependency really costs — not just in valuation, but in hours, health, relationships, and missed opportunities. He shares the trust cycle that unlocks delegation, the trap that keeps owners perpetually in the weeds, and why exit planning isn't about selling — it's about building a business that actually works without you. Key Insights You can build a $2 million business and still have nothing to sell. Alan's first business did over $2 million in combined retail and catering revenue — but without systems, processes, or a team that could run without him, he had no transferable asset when the time came. When the landlord forced the issue in 2008, closing was the only option. The business had value in revenue but none in structure. The tape measure at 2am is the moment owner dependency becomes visible. Alan snuck into his meat market at 2am to measure steaks with a tape measure — and his team saw it on the security camera. That moment destroyed their trust in him. Owner dependency isn't just about overwork — it's about the signal you send your team every time you step in to fix what they should be handling. Trust is the real solution to owner dependency — and it flows both ways. Owners think the problem is whether they trust their team. The real problem is whether the team trusts the owner. Trust must be rebuilt the same way it was broken, consistently over time. Once the team sees the owner trust them, delegation follows — and with delegation comes purpose, accountability, and a business that runs without the owner in every room. Recurring contract revenue changes everything about valuation. Alan's second business had almost the same revenue as his first — but seven school contracts and two summer camp agreements made it dramatically more valuable on paper. The nature of the cash flow matters as much as the size of the revenue. Predictable, contracted income is what buyers pay premiums for. Seller financing without protective deal structure is a catastrophic risk. Alan's chef bought the catering business on a 10-year seller note — and COVID made him unable to pay after four months. Because the right protective language wasn't in the agreement, Alan had no real recourse beyond liquidating equipment at pennies on the dollar. The deal structure must be built before the agreement is signed, not after something goes wrong. Exit planning is not the same as selling — and most owners don't know the difference. Many business owners, especially in the trades, recoil at the phrase "exit planning" because they think it means they're selling. Alan reframes it: a well-executed exit plan makes the business easier to grow, easier to finance, and easier to scale — whether you ever sell or not. The best time to start was 20 years ago. The second best time is today. Chapters: <p dir="lt

Summary In this episode of Visionary Leader with Jim Robinson , Alan Bennett, president and CEO of TrustBuilt Business Solutions, joins Jim Robinson for an honest discussion about building, scaling, and exiting businesses. Drawing from two decades as a business owner, Alan shares candid stories of success and struggle, which led to a loss of team trust and nearly derailed both his personal and professional life. Trust emerges as a foundational driver for long-term business value, with Alan highlighting how owner dependency can cripple a company’s growth and reduce its attractiveness to buyers. A loss of trust isn’t just about whether the owner trusts the team, but whether the team trusts the owner. The conversation covered practical guidance for business owners: understanding motivators beyond money, building a culture of care and recognition, and the importance of clarity in onboarding. Jim and Alan unpacked eight key business value drivers, emphasizing owner independence, repeatable financial results, and growth potential. Ultimately, Alan’s takeaway is clear—businesses that foster trust, align purpose, and systematize roles stand the best chance of thriving and achieving a successful exit. Listen in for actionable insights and real-world wisdom for business owners at every stage! Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (05:31) Building Trust for Business Success (10:31) Understanding Motivation for Employee Success (14:48) Optimizing Hiring and Onboarding Processes (20:37) Purpose, Accountability, and Alignment (24:42) The Team First, Client Second Mindset (28:04) Top Three Financial Business Metrics (38:33) How Uniqueness Wins in Market Disruption (42:11) Owner Dependence Hurts Businesses (47:27) Closing Thoughts Links Jim Robinson CGP Maintenance and Construction Services Alan Bennett TrustBuilt Business Solutions

Ever crossed paths with a top chef? In this episode, we sit down with Alan Bennett, a culinary maestro with a background in microbiology, sales, consultancy, and the food industry. Alan joins us to share his invaluable insights on mentorship and business growth within the restaurant scene. Join us for a hearty discussion as we delve into the challenges and triumphs of mentoring young talent, navigating a diverse workforce, and the key ingredients for a thriving kitchen. Alan shares an inspiring anecdote about a determined college student whose unwavering commitment became a cornerstone of success for his business. We'll explore the intricacies of catering to the unique needs of seasoned employees, seasoned with tales of unconventional stress relief like spontaneous egg fights. We'll also discuss the significance of mentorship as Alan reflects on how a retired individual's offer to lend a hand revolutionized his hiring practices. This ultimately led to the establishment of a transformative mentoring program that reshaped the onboarding experience for new recruits. As always, we're serving up encouragement and a call-to-action for our listeners to engage with the show and continue championing the heartbeat of blue-collar businesses. Highlights: -Dive into the heartfelt story of a retired man stepping into Alan's kitchen and how his simple desire to "get out of the house" unfolded into a life-changing mentoring program. This poignant narrative illustrates mentorship's potent role in reshaping the way we work and support each other. -Uncover the art of teamwork in the relentless pace of a kitchen; sometimes chaotic, sometimes comedic, but always a lesson in orchestrating excellence amidst the heat. Alan even tossed in an anecdote about a raw egg fight that promises to crack you up! -Whether you're kneading dough, welding, or crunching numbers at a desk, this episode is a reminder that recognizing the contributions of others, and the power of mentoring can have a multiplier effect on any business. -One hire in your business can have a multiplier effect. People tend to hang out with like-minded people, so use those people to help recruit more. Connect with Alan: Website Email LinkedIn Connect with us: Steve Doyle: Website LinkedIn Email Brad Herda: Website LinkedIn Email This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

In this episode Alan Bennett , Director of Britannia Bennetts of Malvern discusses how he began in the industry some 40 years ago at the tender age of 16 , for Ernest Batty Ltd ( a 5 vehicle BAR member ) where he remained until the company went into liquidation in 1985 . We discover that Bennetts of Malvern Limited ( prior to Britannia Bennetts of Malvern ) started on 27th March, 1987 and today is ran by Alan and his wife of 24 years Judith where they operate 4 HGV’s, 4 low-loaders ( 2 of which are from the van-hire side of the business ), 8 removal staff, 4 office staff and a 20,000 sqft warehouse ( on a 2 acre site ), where half houses 350 containers and the rest is 130 Self-Storage units, with a further 130 Self-Storage units being fitted in the new year. We discuss what the deciding factor was with Alan joining Britannia Movers International , which Alan points out is a co-operative and not a franchise that everyone seems to think it is ( including me ). We discover Alan’s challenges, the house purchase collapse in 1989, the 2008 financial crash, but the biggest one has been Covid. We discuss that the one thing Alan would change from his moving past would be to have undertaken a business life coaching course from the beginning, which after 20 years he has self-taught from reading books and watching YouTube. We discover that Alan’s highpoints of being in the industry include taking on Judith , who became Alan’s wife and business partner. Alan claims that she’s the executioner of his ideas ( I may have to get Judith on to confirm or deny that claim! ). Other highpoints include joining Britannia ( where Alan has just been appointed to the board ), joining BAR , buying his first truck, and of course seeing his staff develop. We discuss what Alan would change within the moving industry, reducing the VAT threshold is one, and although Alan has no problems with 3.5 tonne vehicles, he would like to change the enforcement of them, and finally completion dates. We discover that the advice Alan would give himself just starting out in the industry, apart from a business/life coaching course is to just treat people with respect. We discuss what changes Alan sees in the next 5 years, in the industry Alan believes the days of the HGV truck is slowly and sadly fading away as we utilise low loaders more and more. Personally, Alan wants to retire at 60 and give something back to the community, for no money, maybe even provide some business life coaching. We discover that outside of the industry Alan enjoys home life on his 5-acre sheep ranch, cycling, walking the dog on the Malvern Hills, however, he really enjoys trips in his most luxurious purchase, a Morgan sports car, bought of course with the permission of Judith . And as always we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story, regarding a trip to the Isle of Wight . BONUS: Alan plays a game with me, the removal man’s slang, from when he started in the industry! Enjoy! Links to Britannia Bennetts of Malvern : Website Facebook <a href="http