FAQ
Frequent questions, answered clearly.
Services, pricing and process at a glance. If your question isn't here, drop me a line at maik@maikbusch.com.
What exactly does Maik Busch do?
Maik advises brands and investors on Amazon and e-commerce. He brings together the view from operational building and the view from investor mandates. Concretely: strategy, assessment of setups and growth drivers, support during turnaround phases and operational evaluation of acquisition targets. Account management and listing creation are deliberately not part of it.
What is the difference between Sparring, Advisory and Interim Management?
Sparring is the quick entry point: a call on a specific question, with no onboarding. Advisory is strategic support on demand for a phase of up to three months. Interim Management is leadership on a temporary basis with fixed days per week and at least six months' term. From shortest to most committed format: Sparring, Advisory, Interim.
Who is working together worthwhile for?
For two groups. First, brand founders and managing directors who need an experienced assessment or temporary leadership on Amazon and e-commerce. Second, private-equity investors and M&A teams who want an e-commerce target evaluated operationally. Both want straight talk and a sound basis for a decision, fast.
Does Maik also take on operational day-to-day work?
No. Maik works at strategy and leadership level. Account management, listing creation and the ongoing day-to-day are not part of it. If operational steering is needed after an analysis, that can be covered via Interim Management, but as leadership and not as hands-on execution in the tool.
What does an E-Commerce Sparring cost?
An E-Commerce Sparring costs €1,499 one-off. It includes a 60-minute video call on your question and a one-page PDF with an assessment and next steps. You book an appointment with about two weeks' lead time, pay in advance and answer four short questions. If the call doesn't help, you get your money back.
What is E-Commerce Advisory?
E-Commerce Advisory is strategic support on demand for a phase of up to three months. There are two ways: project-based for a specific undertaking with the result as a deck or PDF, or as a monthly retainer with a direct line via WhatsApp and a same-day reply. The terms are available on request.
What is Interim Management?
Interim Management is senior e-commerce leadership on a temporary basis. You book fixed days per week in three tiers: Compact with one day, Standard with two days, Intensive with three days. The minimum term is six months, the notice period four weeks. After the minimum term you can switch to a smaller model. Terms on request.
What is an Investment Due Diligence?
An Investment Due Diligence is the operational assessment of an e-commerce or Amazon target for PE and M&A teams. Maik examines the business behind the target: setup, brand strength, processes, team as well as the real growth and risk drivers. The financial review is handled by the financial advisers. There is no success fee. The fee is available on request.
How do booking and payment work?
You book the Sparring directly via TidyCal, and payment is handled in advance via Stripe. For Advisory, Interim and Due Diligence you get a proposal upfront, followed by an invoice with a 14-day payment term. As standard there are no discounts. Travel costs are billed as a daily flat rate per on-site day.
What experience does Maik bring?
Maik has 15 years in e-commerce and 10 years on Amazon behind him. Roles: KW-Commerce as Head of Marketplaces & Business Development (over $100m in revenue), Berlin Brands Group, unybrands (Advisory Board) and D2E-Labs as Director Europe. Plus advisory mandates with Rothschild and Cinven as well as talks at Amazon Sales Kongress, MerchantDay and OMT.
What does "operator's experience meets investor's lens" mean?
Maik has built and run brands on Amazon himself, and he has supported investors in valuing e-commerce businesses. These two perspectives sit in every recommendation. You get the operational reality of building and the sober view of where categories and margins are really won.
Which markets and countries is Maik experienced in?
The focus is Amazon in the German-speaking region and in Europe, plus international marketplaces. In earlier roles Maik was responsible for brands in up to 28 countries and helped build aggregator portfolios. For investor mandates, targets from the European and partly Asia-influenced environment are added.