The emotional journey to building, scaling, and exiting a business: A conversation with Danny Curran

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while building the business?

Danny: One of the biggest challenges was the competitiveness of the industry. It may seem like a genteel field, but it was anything but. There were established players who had formed a kind of cartel, and they didn’t take kindly to new entrants. I had to fight against that and deal with aggressive rivals along the way. 

Another challenge came as the company grew. As we expanded, my role changed. I went from being deeply involved in the day-to-day operations to managing a large team. By the time we had 150 staff, I was spending most of my days responding to emails and managing people. I loved the work, but at the end, I wasn’t in a role I enjoyed anymore. I wasn’t doing what I loved; it was time to walk away. 

You eventually sold Finders International. What motivated you to make that decision?

Danny: The motivation came over time. I’ve always loved the work we did at Finders – it’s incredibly rewarding when you can help people who inherit money they didn’t even know was coming. But as the company grew, my role became less fulfilling. I wasn’t getting involved in the cases anymore and was spending most of my time dealing with issues such as complaints or competitor problems. I felt like I wasn’t doing what I truly enjoyed. 

Around the time I was approaching 60, I realised that I didn’t want to wait until someone “shot me out of the saddle.” I wanted to be young enough to enjoy the next phase of my life and focus on other interests. That’s when I seriously began considering an exit. 

How did you go about the exit process? What was that like for you?

Danny: It was an incredibly challenging process. I worked with a corporate finance company to find potential buyers, but it was one of the most stressful periods of my life.  

The sale process took about 18 months, and during that time, I was bombarded with questions about every little detail of the business – every day more questions, some of them going back 27 years. It felt endless, and it was torture! At one point, I joked that they’d be asking me how many paper clips we bought in 2016! 

Despite this, I was lucky to have a great team of accountants and lawyers who helped me through the process. I also had several interested buyers, but I chose a deal that offered less money overall because I wanted a clean exit – no earn-outs, no future targets. I didn’t want to be beholden to anyone after the sale. 

Did you face any emotional challenges during the sale?

Danny: Absolutely. Selling a business is emotionally exhausting. Even though I was ready to move on, it was still difficult to let go of something I had built from scratch. After all, Finders had been part of my life for more than 25 years, and there’s a sense of loss when you leave it behind.  

I was fortunate to have a strong senior team, including a CEO who had been with me for over 20 years, so I knew the company was in good hands. That gave me some peace of mind, but the process was still tough. 

One of the most surprising things after the sale was how strange it felt to move on from being so busy all the time. Overnight, everything stopped. My inbox went from 100 emails a day to nothing. No calls, no texts – it was like falling off a cliff, and no one had prepared me for that. It’s a big adjustment. 

What advice would you give to someone considering selling their business?

Danny: First and foremost, be prepared for the process to be difficult. It’s not going to be easy, and you’ll feel like you’re under a microscope the whole time. My advice would be to stay organised – get your documents and financials in order well before you start the sale process because the questions will keep coming. 

Also, make sure you have a strong team of advisers around you. A trustworthy accountant is worth their weight in gold.  

And finally, don’t be driven purely by money. I chose a deal that gave me peace of mind over one that might have made me more money but tied me into future obligations. You need to consider what’s best for your mental health and your future, not just the size of the cheque. 

What are you focusing on now that you’ve exited the business?

Danny: I’m focusing on a few different interests. I’ve invested in a non-league football club, which I’ve been involved with for years, and I’m working on a documentary film about the team’s journey. I also started a film production company for that purpose. 

Beyond that, I’m spending more time with my family. One of my daughters is autistic, and I’ve been dedicating more time to understanding autism and supporting her. I’m also involved in some philanthropic work, including supporting an autistic theatre group Oily Cart. I feel much more relaxed now, and I’m enjoying the freedom to pursue projects that interest me without the pressures of running a business.