Why Zundara keeps a 10–15% stake in every venture — and why that's good for you.
We win when you win. That's not a slogan — it's the structure of the deal. A vendor sells you something and disappears. A partner stays in your corner. When Zundara retains a 10–15% stake, our incentives stay aligned with yours for the life of the business. Every quarterly review call, every funding application, every introduction we make — we're working for the same outcome you are.
This is not a franchise. Franchises charge ongoing royalties of 4–8% of revenue, dictate your brand, restrict your territory, and limit your exit options. The franchisee carries the operating risk while the franchisor takes a cut off the top. We take none of that. No royalties. No territory. No brand control. No exit restrictions. Your company has its own name, its own identity, and you decide how and when it grows or sells.
This is also not the outright purchase model that other ready-made-business sellers run. Under that model, a vendor takes a one-time payment of £5,000 to £50,000, hands over the documents, and is never seen again. The operator is on their own — and the documents go stale within 18 months. Our model keeps the engine running. The company is given to you free; the 12-month infrastructure service agreement (£179/£199 per month, by direct debit) funds continuous hosting, business email, phone, administrative support, and the full sector-specific compliance documentation library — unlimited, unrestricted, and continuously updated. The retained partnership stake keeps us motivated to make sure that support actually works.
Aligned incentives. Ongoing support. Lower upfront barrier. Optionality to own outright later. That's why we structure it as a partnership.
Operator and co-founders hold the overwhelming majority. Zundara holds a strategic minority stake. The split depends on the regulatory complexity of the venture.
Heavy-regulatory ventures — £199/month tier (Hearthstone, Wrenbury, Ashgrove, Children's Home, Volantis)
Light-regulatory ventures — £179/month tier (Recruitment, Construction, Logistics, Professional Services, Digital Marketing)
Zundara is structured as a non-PSC minority partner. Under UK Companies Act, a Person with Significant Control (PSC) is a shareholder who holds more than 25% of shares, holds more than 25% of voting rights, has the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors, or otherwise exercises significant influence. Zundara meets none of these tests. Operationally, this means you and your co-founders are the controlling shareholders. You appoint directors. You set strategy. You sign contracts. Zundara is on the cap table as a strategic investor, not an operator.
The 5% difference between the two tiers reflects the additional build complexity and ongoing regulatory support required for heavy-regulatory ventures — CQC, GP practice, supported living, aviation, and similar. The work to keep these ventures compliant and current is materially greater than for a recruitment or marketing venture, and the retained equity reflects that.
The rights and obligations attached to the retained stake — written plainly, exactly as they appear in the partnership agreement.
Equally important — the things Zundara cannot do, will not do, and has no contractual right to do.
If you want to own the business outright, here's exactly how that works.
The buyout mechanism is voluntary on both sides. Either party can initiate a discussion. Neither party can force the other to transact. If you want to take Zundara's stake out, you can. If Zundara wants to offer a buyout, it can — but you are never required to accept.
Valuation is set by one of two methods, agreed at the time of the transaction:
At a 4–6x multiple of EBITDA, the full business is worth roughly £2M–£3M. Zundara's 10% stake is worth £200K–£300K. That's the buyout cost, payable from accumulated business cash flow, external financing, or a combination of both.
By the time most operators reach this position, the business is throwing off enough cash to either fund the buyout directly or service the debt to do so. We are not in a hurry. You set the timing.
A partnership only works if both sides genuinely benefit. Here is exactly what each side gets — including the part where Zundara benefits, named explicitly.
We are explicit about this because hiding it would be worse. The retained equity is how Zundara is paid for the long-term work of being your partner. If we ever pretended otherwise, you should walk away.
The questions operators ask before signing. Direct answers.
No. There is no drag-along provision. You retain full control of any sale decision. Zundara has tag-along rights — meaning if you sell, Zundara has the option to sell its stake at the same terms — but cannot force a sale.
No. Zundara holds no director seat and no operational control. You and your co-founders run the business.
Fine. Usual share dilution applies pro-rata to all shareholders, including Zundara, subject to the anti-dilution floor (Zundara's stake cannot fall below 5%).
Zundara's stake would either be liquidated to a third party at fair value or — more likely — the operator would have first-refusal buyout rights set out in the partnership agreement. Either way, you are not exposed to losing operational control because of something happening on our side.
If you stop the service agreement, the partnership terms remain in force but Zundara stops providing the infrastructure (hosting, website, email, phone, admin support, documentation updates). Like cancelling any service contract — you can re-engage at any time.
The infrastructure service agreement is contracted for a minimum 12-month term, billed monthly by direct debit, or annually upfront with a discount. After the first 12 months, the agreement continues monthly until cancelled. The 12-month commit aligns with the time it takes to get a new venture trading meaningfully.
No. Franchises charge ongoing royalties (typically 4–8% of revenue), restrict your territory, control your brand, and limit your exit options. Zundara takes no royalties, no territory, no brand control, no exit restrictions. The £179/£199 monthly is a service agreement for the infrastructure and admin support we provide — not a franchise fee. The only ongoing claim is the equity stake.
Yes. If a buyer wants 100%, Zundara's stake gets bought out at the same per-share price as yours (tag-along). You retain full control of whether to accept the offer.
If the partnership model fits how you want to run a business, the next step is a fit conversation. Apply below — we come back within 5 working days.
