Buying Back Equity with Adele Anthony

Equity can help launch your business, but what happens when you want some of it back?
In this episode of Olive Insights, Sarah Petty is joined by Adele Anthony, Principal Lawyer at Adele M Anthony Legal, to unpack a listener question from Dan, a tech founder who gave away 40% equity for a $100K investment. Fast forward a few years: the business is thriving, the investor is now weighing in on day-to-day decisions, and Dan wants to reclaim control.

This episode dives deep into the legal and strategic side of equity deals, what founders need to know before they give it away, and what to do if they want to renegotiate later.

In this episode, Adele shares:

• The real purpose of a shareholder agreement (hint: it’s not just paperwork)
• What to do if you never created one (and why now is better than never)
• Your options for buying back equity from an investor
• What to do if an investor becomes overbearing
• The legal steps: from negotiation to mediation - and court, if it comes to that
• Why valuation, forecasting, and clearly defined roles are crucial from the start

Sarah also shares 5 practical CFO tips for founders:

1. Understand the true cost of equity, it’s not “free money”
2. Know your valuation before you give equity away
3. Use forecasting to protect your future profits
4. Define investor roles clearly, and early
5. Plan ahead for more capital raising or an exit strategy

Whether you're raising capital, fixing past mistakes, or preparing to grow, this episode is your legal and financial reality check.

Meet Our Guest: Adele Anthony
Adele M Anthony is a passionate lawyer, business mentor, and founder of Adele M Anthony Legal and The Queen of Evolution. With over a decade of hands-on experience growing, scaling, and selling multiple six- and seven-figure businesses, and years of legal expertise in estate planning and business succession, Adele brings a rare blend of strategic insight and soul-led guidance to her work.

At Adele M Anthony Legal, she provides high-quality, personalised estate planning services across Queensland, particularly for women with complex family or business circumstances. Her work helps clients protect their legacy with smart, structured legal documents and heartfelt support.

Through The Queen of Evolution, Adele mentors women 40+ to start, grow, or reignite their businesses with clarity, confidence, and legal smarts. She offers 1:1 coaching, strategic business planning, and soulful systems that empower women to thrive on their own terms.

Having overcome personal and professional challenges, Adele is deeply passionate about helping women build businesses and lives they love. Her approach is heart-centred, legally sound, and deeply empowering.

Connect with Adele
Website: Adele M Anthony Legal
Coaching & Mentoring: Adele Anthony Business Consulting
Facebook: adelemanthonyestateplanninglawyer | adelemanthonybusinessconsultant
Instagram: @the_adele_m_anthony

About Olive Business Partners
Olive Business Partners is a Virtual CFO firm founded and led by Sarah Petty, a seasoned CFO passionate about helping business owners take control of their finances and scale with confidence. Whether you're planning to hire a team, invest in technology, expand into new markets, launch new products, take on larger clients, raise capital, or prepare for acquisition, we’ll help you make informed financial decisions that support your long-term success.

Like the olive tree, we believe in steady, resilient growth. We connect ambitious business owners with experienced CFOs, providing tailored support for the stage you're at and the challenges you're facing. Our flexible model gives you access to expert financial guidance when and where you need it without the cost of a full-time CFO.

Find out more about Olive Business Partners:
Website: Olive Business Partners
Instagram: @olivebusinesspartners
LinkedIn: Olive Business Partners

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