How much equity are we talking about? What's fair?

The actual percentage will be agreed between us, fairly, based on involvement level, business complexity, and future potential. No surprises. No nonsense. It’s about partnership, not negotiation.

What if it doesn't work out? What's the risk?

We start with a short (usually 3-month), low-commitment paid project before the formal equity partnership. If it doesn’t click, no equity is exchanged. If it does, I put that initial payment back into the business.

What makes you different from every other marketing consultant or advisor?

I’ve built my own agency, scaled a national franchise network, and trained hundreds of business owners. But more importantly – I work this way because I believe in helping overlooked, ambitious founders grow without needing a retainer to pay my bills.

How It Works: My Pledge to Build Growth, Together

Q: Will we speak regularly? What’s the commitment?

Yes. Think of me as your part-time growth partner. We'll have consistent involvement and long-term accountability, typically through a dedicated weekly catch-up and accountability call. My commitment is deep and sustained.

Q: So… you take a percentage of my business instead of charging a monthly fee?

Exactly. I take a small minority share in the business and help you grow it from the inside. You’re not hiring a consultant. You’re gaining a business partner with true skin in the game.

You’re here because you know the truth: most founders don’t actually need more advice. You’re drowning in it. What you truly need is someone in your corner. Someone with battle-tested experience, unwavering clarity, and a profound, personal reason to care about your growth as much as you do.

That’s exactly what I offer.

I don’t send invoices.
I don’t sell generic packages.
I don’t hide behind buzzwords and meaningless reports.

Instead, I take a minority stake in your business and help you grow it like it’s my own. Because, in part… it is. Your future is my future.

What you're truly getting

A crystal-clear growth plan: I bring over two decades of digital strategy and hands-on growth experience. We'll cut through the noise and create a focused roadmap.
Deeply committed, hands-on support: I don’t just consult; I commit. I get stuck in, working alongside you, not just telling you what to do.
Proven customer growth expertise: I've built multiple customer acquisition engines from scratch. We’ll build yours to be sustainable and profitable.
Someone who gives a damn: Because I own part of the business, your growth isn't just a project; it’s personal.

How we build this partnership: A simple path forward

I believe in transparency and genuine connection. Our journey together starts here:

We talk. No pressure. Just real talk: This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s an honest conversation. You tell me where you’re at, where you ache to go, and what feels like it's getting in the way. I listen, ask the hard questions, and if I genuinely don’t believe I can make a meaningful difference, I’ll be upfront and say so.
Getting to know each other: If there’s a genuine spark, we’ll spend a short period getting to know one another in action. You’ll get a feel for how I work, how I think. I'll get a deeper look into the heartbeat of your business. This is about ensuring a true click. No long-term commitment, no legal hoops just yet. It has to feel right for both of us.
We partner. Truly: If we both feel an undeniable fit, we agree on a win-win minority equity share. We sign an agreement. You make me a legal shareholder of your business. From that precise moment, I become your growth partner. I’m in. Fully. Your success becomes my mission.
We build, grow, and scale. Together: This is where the magic happens. We work tirelessly to build the systems, refine the messaging, establish the structure, and execute the strategy that consistently attracts and converts new customers – sustainably and profitably. Whether it’s SEO, digital strategy, marketing automation, customer acquisition, or even improving customer experience and retention, I’m building that growth engine alongside you.

Why this model just works: Alignment. Trust. Shared destiny

Traditional model: You pay an agency or consultant £5k–£15k+ per month. You pay, regardless of results. Your risk.

The Groqet model: You pay me £0/month in fees. My share value increases only as our business grows and scales. We both win. We both have skin in the game.

That’s not just a business transaction. That’s alignment. That’s trust. That’s a shared destiny.

Curious how my mindset and strategies work in practice? Customer Growth Unlocked shares how 101 founders found clarity and traction.

Questions burning in your mind? Let's answer them

You're a founder. You ask questions. You need clarity, not persuasion. You've likely got a hundred 'what ifs' running through your head. Let's tackle the most important ones, founder to founder, so you can make an informed decision about our potential future.

Is this really for me? My business feels unique.

I'm not a high-growth tech founder. Can this still work?

Absolutely. Groqet isn’t reserved for venture-backed unicorns. It's for ambitious founders building real businesses with real intent – whether that’s a tech platform, a thriving service-based business, a scalable local franchise model, or something entirely unique you’re pouring your soul into.

What stage should my business be at?

You don’t need millions in revenue, but you must have something tangible. Early traction, a proven service with initial clients, a working product with early users, or even a solid waitlist. If you're still only at the idea stage, or haven't secured initial customers, it’s probably a little too early for us to make the profound impact we both want.

I haven’t raised funding. Is that a problem?

Not at all. In fact, Groqet is designed precisely for founders who are bootstrapping and can't afford to bring in a high-level strategist or CMO on salary or retainer. My growth strategy focuses on spotting organic opportunities and creating huge impact with minimal external investment, not relying on a massive marketing budget.

What exactly will you do? How hands-on are we talking?

Are you just giving advice, or actually helping?

I don’t sit on the sidelines. I get stuck in. My involvement is deep: refining your strategy, building out the structure, providing digital direction, optimising SEO, crafting powerful messaging, boosting visibility, and implementing robust growth systems. If we work together, I treat your business like I’ve invested my own money into it – because I have, in time and stake. I'm not just going to give you a plan and tell you to implement it; I'm working alongside you.

Will you build everything for me?

I won’t be your developer, designer, or handle day-to-day customer service. Hopefully, you already have that side covered. However, I am happy to ensure all content throughout your customer journey is on point, sort out all the SEO, draft all the messaging, and give you crystal-clear clarity, sharp priorities, and powerful frameworks to execute faster and better.

Will we speak regularly? What’s the commitment?

Yes. Think of me as your part-time growth partner. Someone to bounce ideas off, pressure-test plans, and co-create your customer growth journey. We'll have consistent involvement and long-term accountability, typically through a dedicated weekly catch-up and accountability call. My commitment is deep and sustained.

How does the equity work? Am I giving up control?

So… you take a percentage of my business instead of charging a monthly fee?

Exactly. I don’t earn based on what I bring in monthly. I earn based on the future we build together. I take a small minority share in the business and help you grow it from the inside. You’re not hiring a consultant. You’re gaining a business partner with true skin in the game.

How much equity are we talking about? What's fair?

I totally understand that you want to know what percentage of your business you would need to release. The honest answer is – the actual percentage will be agreed between us, fairly, taking into account my involvement level, the business's complexity, and its future potential. Nothing gets decided until we both agree it feels right. No surprises. No nonsense. This isn't a VC negotiation; it's about partnership.

Do you work with businesses that already have other shareholders or co-founders?

Yes, absolutely. This isn’t an investor play designed to compete with your existing team. It’s a value-aligned partnership model that complements your existing structure and helps everyone accelerate.

Who will actually own the equity in my business?

Me (Mark Preston) personally. Groqet is simply the name of the partnership method; it’s not a business, doesn’t trade, and doesn’t take revenue. If we partner, the legal shareholder will always be me, ensuring the relationship remains direct, human, and grounded in mutual trust.

What if it doesn't work out? What's the risk?

That's why our "Getting to Know Each Other" stage is so crucial. I’m happy to agree to a short (usually 3-month), low-commitment paid project before the formal equity partnership. If it doesn’t click for either of us, no hard feelings and no equity exchanged. If we do click and partner formally, I'll put this initial payment back into the business. It has to be right on both sides.

What are your exit plans? When do you leave?

My Groqet model is built on transparency and trust. I’m not here to earn monthly fees; I'm building a future for my family through deep commitment to your success. My financial rewards come when I exit the business and sell my shares. My personal goal is to retire around 2030, which is when I would typically look to exit, knowing that the business is robust and fully equipped for continued, independent growth.

Why should I trust you with my business? What makes you different?

What makes you different from every other marketing consultant or advisor?

I don’t just talk growth – I’ve lived it. I’ve built my own agency from scratch, scaled a UK digital marketing franchise network from just me to over 50 franchisees, trained hundreds of business owners, and helped brands scale 10x in both locations and revenue. But more importantly – I choose to work this way because I believe in helping the overlooked, the ambitious founders who deserve to scale, not because I need a retainer to pay the bills.

How many businesses are you planning on working with through the Groqet model?

Very few. I’m not scaling an agency here. I’m building deep, committed partnerships with a handful of founders where I know I can make a measurable, lasting, positive difference – to your life and my own. This ensures my focus is always on your growth.

Can I see proof of results?

Yes. Check out the Groqet Business Portfolio page. You’ll see the kind of businesses I back, and how we’re growing together. And if you’d like to speak to someone I’ve partnered with, I’ll make that happen.

What happens next? Is this just another sales funnel?

Is there a pitch? A sales call? What am I signing up for?

No pitch. No pressure. If you acknowledge your interest in possibly partnering, I will be in touch to arrange a down-to-earth, relaxed, honest conversation (over Zoom initially). My goal is to bridge perception with reality. If we both feel like it’s worth exploring further, we’ll go from there.

Do I have to prepare anything?

Nope. Just explain your business to me, tell me where it’s at, what challenges you're facing, where you ache to take it (your future business goals), and what specifically made you interested enough in the Groqet model to want to start a conversation. All I ask is that you are totally open and honest about the reality of your business. This is about building a foundation of trust from day one.

If it feels right - Let’s talk

If you're building something real, and you're open to a new kind of partnership that values belief over billing – then let’s talk.

This isn’t about giving something away. It’s about building something bigger. Together.

Let's start the conversation.