How to Land an 8-Figure Deal Without Running the Business Day to Day

When Ryan Atkinson sold CORE Resources to 24 Seven, it wasn’t his first exit. After selling Redwood Global in 2014, Ryan played a different role in his next venture—injecting $2 million of his own capital while his partner ran the business day-to-day. 

The model worked. They grew CORE Resources into a go-to firm for specialized technology talent solutions and ultimately sold the company to 24 Seven—one of the largest privately held marketing, creative, and digital talent firms in North America—in an eight-figure exit. 

In this week’s episode of Built to Sell Radio, Ryan shares how they structured the deal, avoided resentment, and nearly lost the sale in the final hours. 

You discover how to: 

• Structure a 50/50 partnership when only one partner runs the business 

• Compensate a manager with equity and profit-sharing 

• Avoid the trap of ambiguous working capital estimates 

• Build clean books that attract inbound offers 

• Use competing LOIs to negotiate a stronger deal 

• Spot the second most important number on a term sheet 

• Walk away without resentment—and with a meaningful exit 

Show Notes & Links

Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn

Curious what your business is worth? Book a free call with me here.

Definitions

Due-Diligence: This is a comprehensive appraisal of a business or investment undertaken before a merger, acquisition, or investment. It seeks to validate the information provided and uncover any potential risks or liabilities.

Earn-out: This is a financing arrangement for the purchase of a business, where the seller must meet certain performance goals before receiving the full purchase price. It reduces the buyer’s risk and aligns the interests of both parties post-acquisition.

Look-Back Provision: This provision in an insurance policy allows claims to be made for injuries or illnesses that occurred before the policy was purchased, based on the stipulation that the insured was unaware of the illness or injury at the time of purchase.

About Our Guest

Ryan Atkinson

Ryan Atkinson is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of CORE Resources, a leading provider of Agile consulting and professional staff augmentation services based in Toronto. Since launching CORE in 2017, Ryan has played a pivotal role in growing the company into a trusted partner for organizations navigating complex technology transformations and Agile journeys.

Under his leadership, CORE has delivered top-tier Agile coaching, assessments, and technology-driven professional services to some of Canada’s most respected companies. The firm’s unique approach—grounded in truly understanding the business problem before providing expert personnel to deliver the solution—has been a key driver of its success.

In February 2025, CORE Resources was acquired by Morgan Stanley, a reflection of its strong market position and Ryan’s ability to scale with excellence.