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What does it really mean to take on external investment, and how do you know if it is the right move for your business?

In episode three of this three-part Sofa Stories x Clearwater special, we focus on funding the next chapter and explore what raising external investment actually looks like in practice. Joined by Mark Taylor, CEO of Clearwater, and Christopher Jones, Managing Partner, we unpack how business owners should think about funding growth, acquisitions and long-term strategy.

From venture capital and private equity to debt, family offices and secondary buyouts, this episode looks at how to navigate an increasingly complex funding landscape and, crucially, how to choose the right type of capital for your business and your goals.

This episode explores:

• Why the first question to ask is not “how much?” but “why?”
• The different types of investors and what they are really looking for
• How to align the right capital provider with your strategy and culture
• The trade-offs between debt and equity, and when dilution can be worth it
• What investors expect from management teams, data and financial models
• Why valuation is only part of the story when raising investment

Whether you are considering external investment for the first time, planning a buy-and-build strategy, or thinking about funding the next phase of growth, this episode offers practical, experience-led insight from advisers who help business owners navigate investment decisions every day.

Contact Clearwater;

Website: clearwatercf.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearwater-corporate-finance/

Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

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In episode two of this three-part Sofa Stories x Clearwater special, we focus on valuation and unpack one of the most misunderstood parts of selling a business. Joined by Michael Loudon and Joe Dyke, both Partners at Clearwater, we explore how valuation really works in practice and why it is rarely just a number on a spreadsheet.

From EBITDA multiples and market benchmarks to scarcity, strategy and buyer psychology, this episode looks at what actually drives value in a real transaction and what can quietly undermine it.

This episode explores:

• Why valuation is as much about perception as it is financial performance
• The difference between value, price and headline multiples
• How strategic fit, competition and buyer appetite influence outcomes
• Common red flags that can damage value late in a process
• The role preparation, readiness and timing each play in maximising value
• Myths around earnouts, private equity and whether you really need to run a full process

Whether you are questioning what your business might be worth, challenging assumptions you have heard elsewhere, or thinking about how to maximise value before a future exit, this episode offers candid insight from advisers who have negotiated valuations across a wide range of sectors and deal types.

Contact Clearwater;

Website: clearwatercf.com

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearwater-corporate-finance/

Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

Send us a text

What is it really like to sell your business, beyond the headlines and valuation multiples?

In this first episode of a three-part Sofa Stories x Clearwater special, we go behind the deal to demystify the realities of selling a business. Joined by Rich Goldsack, Partner and Head of Clearwater’s Leeds office, and Gareth Iley, Group COO and founding member of Clearwater, we unpack what business owners should expect long before a deal is done.

From the very first conversation with an M&A adviser to the emotional highs and lows of due diligence and negotiation, this episode explores:

• What buyers actually look for — and why profit, cash and business “attractiveness” matter more than headline turnover
• How to prepare your business for sale without losing focus on growth
• Common myths around private equity, partial exits and losing your management team
• Why selling a business is as much a personal and emotional journey as a financial one
• How experienced advisers help owners keep perspective when deals get intense — or wobble at the last minute

Whether you’re an owner-founder just starting to think about an exit, or simply curious about how deals really happen behind closed doors, this episode offers candid insight from advisers who’ve guided businesses through billions of pounds of transactions.

Contact Clearwater;

Website: clearwatercf.com

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearwater-corporate-finance/

Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻