Episode 1321: How to Make a Billion in Nine Steps

What if the biggest thing holding your business back isn't the market, but how you are leading it? In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Sir Richard Harpin, Founder and Former CEO of HomeServe and Sunday Times Bestselling Author, who shares the lessons he learned building HomeServe from a £50,000 startup into a global company that ultimately sold for more than $4.1 billion. He explains why copying proven models can be smarter than chasing originality, how founders become bottlenecks, and why hiring the right leadership is essential when a company reaches its next stage of growth. Richard also explores the difference between real growth opportunities and shiny-object distractions, the importance of acting quickly on talent decisions, and the traits he looks for when investing in entrepreneurs and scaling companies. Key Takeaways: → Testing a business model at small scale before expanding can reveal whether the economics are strong enough to support growth. → Entrepreneurs can lose momentum when they keep adding ideas instead of staying focused on the opportunity already working. → Businesses often get stuck around the $10 million to $15 million revenue range when owners become distracted and stop fully developing their strongest business. → One of the hardest growth decisions for a founder is hiring someone better suited to run the day-to-day business. → International expansion often requires local leadership because credibility, relationships, and buying behavior differ by market. Sir Richard Harpin is an entrepreneur, investor, and business leader who co-founded HomeServe in 1993 with a £50,000 investment. HomeServe was built to make home repairs easier and more reliable. It grew from a fragile startup into a multinational FTSE 100 company serving millions of customers before being sold in 2023 for £4.1 billion. Raised in Yorkshire, Richard began trading as a child and, as a teenager, built and sold his first business. His leadership philosophy emphasizes focus, disciplined execution, persistence, and close listening to customers. Today, Richard helps mid-sized companies scale into enduring businesses by investing, writing, and advising founders and leadership teams. A regular columnist for The Sunday Times, he shares lessons shaped by decades of growth, setbacks, and hands-on experience building successful companies. Connect With Sir Richard: Website: https://www.richardharpin.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richard_harpin/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rharpin/ TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/richard_harpin/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BusinessleaderUk