Most small business owners discover that it's impossible to sell their businesses when they want to. Why? According to expert John Warrillow, it's the fault of the owners themselves. They dominate their businesses so completely that -- no matter how big or profitable -- their company is essentially worthless without them. When it comes time to sell, buyers aren't confident that the company can stand on its own.

He's certainly the right person to turn to for advice on this subject, having started and exited four successful companies himself. Now, he's sharing the rules and strategies he followed to transform and ultimately sell those businesses. In BUILT TO SELL: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You (to be published April 28), Warrillow explains what business owners can do to pull themselves out of the day-to-day dealings and focus on creating a valuable, sellable company.

Rather than another step-by-step guide filled with checklists and charts, he offers his advice in the form of an inspiring story of a business owner who's struggling to sell his company. Although the story is fictional, the lessons apply to any kind of business owner, whether they want to cash out now or decades later. And for those seeking actionable steps, the implementation guide at the end provides a road map.