Business
In this episode of E-Coffee with Experts, Austin Willman talks with Gledsley Müller, an agency investor and operator at Gledsley Müller, who works closely with founders to help them scale, partner, or prepare for acquisition without burning out.
Gledsley shares what actually makes an agency attractive to buyers, why founder-heavy businesses struggle to sell, and how owners can step out of day-to-day operations without slowing growth or losing control.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
- What buyers really look for when evaluating an agency
- Why many agencies fall apart without the founder
- How to reduce risk using a 90-day “dating” phase before partnering
- The biggest operational red flags that hurt agency value
- How founder-led brands influence trust and valuation
- Why lead magnets and IP matter more than posting every day
- How to use AI to uncover and package your proprietary framework
This episode is essential for agency owners running a $1M–$3M business who want more leverage, better partnerships, or real exit options, without staying stuck as the only rainmaker.
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In this episode, we discuss:
00:00 - 01:10: Introduction
01:10 - 03:00: Learning vs taking real action
03:00 - 05:20: Why founders avoid personal branding
05:20 - 07:10: Talking about goals feels like progress
07:10 - 08:30: What makes an agency worth buying
08:30 - 10:40: Founder dependency lowers agency value
10:40 - 12:00: Common agency mistakes that stop growth
12:00 - 14:10: The 90-day dating phase before partnering
14:10 - 15:40: Sweat equity instead of consulting fees
15:40 - 17:20: Building a group of partner agencies
17:20 - 18:40: Why agency owners feel stuck and alone
18:40 - 20:10: How to find safe agency partnerships
20:10 - 22:00: Personal brand vs agency brand
22:00 - 24:00: Getting leads without founder dependency
24:00 - 26:10: Lead magnets beyond LinkedIn
26:10 - 28:00: Turning experience into agency IP
28:00 - 30:20: Using AI to extract your framework
30:20 - 31:42: Final thoughts
Connect with Gledsley Müller
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gledsleymuller/
http://gledsleymuller.com/
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Website: https://www.digitalwebsolutions.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digiwebsol
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dws_global
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-web-solutions./