In this episode of Business Buying Strategies, we talk about insights on smart business acquisitions without risking personal capital. Jonathan shares key strategies from a presentation at the Marbella business retreat, emphasising the importance of getting corporate structures right and de-risking leases.   The episode features a discussion with Ed on the effectiveness of the buy and build, or roll-up strategy, and an in-depth interview with David, a successful mastermind client who combined multiple business acquisitions to win a substantial local authority contract.   The episode concludes with practical tips on avoiding personal guarantees, linking business payments to performance, and the integration challenges in buy and build strategies.   Key moments   01:42 The Importance of Corporate Structure 04:23 Avoiding Personal Guarantees 07:45 De-risking Leases in Business Acquisitions 11:40 Linking Payment to Business Performance 15:03 Success Story: David's Multi-Business Acquisition 25:57 The Benefits of a Buy and Build Strategy 34:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

 

** Looking for a great acquisition lawyer in the UK? Use mine! **

If you are looking for a lawyer in the UK to help you get the deal over the line, then use my own lawyer, John Andrews. You can phone his office at (0345) 2412494 or email him at johnandrews.deallawyer@jmw.co.uk.

Ready to get started?

Here’s how you can start your business buying journey…

Download our free Business Buying Toolkit
https://dealmakers.co.uk/business-buying-toolkit

Join our Business Acquisition FastTrack programme
https://www.dealmakers.co.uk/fast

Already bought a business?

if you've already bought a business, you should be part of my Inner Circle group where we discuss raising capital, integration management, and exiting. Email Maria on hello@thedealmakersacademy.com for more information.

In this episode of Business Buying Strategies, we learn six innovative methods for acquiring a business without using personal cash or capital. Jonathan talks with former Dragon James Caan about ways to minimise risks in acquisitions. And Jonathan and Ed discuss the limitations of relying solely on internet resources for learning about business acquisitions.   Key moments:   00:00 Introduction to Business Buying Strategies 01:38 Six Ways to Buy a Business Without Using Your Own Cash 10:43 Interview with James Kahn: Mitigating Risks in Acquisitions 19:04 The Importance of Cultural Fit in Acquisitions 23:11 Why Learning Business Acquisition from the Internet is Not Enough 30:48 Final Thoughts and Next Steps  

** Looking for a great acquisition lawyer in the UK? Use mine! **

If you are looking for a lawyer in the UK to help you get the deal over the line, then use my own lawyer, John Andrews. You can phone his office at (0345) 2412494 or email him at johnandrews.deallawyer@jmw.co.uk.

Ready to get started?

Here’s how you can start your business buying journey…

Download our free Business Buying Toolkit
https://dealmakers.co.uk/business-buying-toolkit

Join our Business Acquisition FastTrack programme
https://www.dealmakers.co.uk/fast

Already bought a business?

if you've already bought a business, you should be part of my Inner Circle group where we discuss raising capital, integration management, and exiting. Email Maria on hello@thedealmakersacademy.com for more information.

In this episode of Business Buying Strategies, we return for the second part of our 2024 round-up.

In this episode, we hear more business buying success stories from our Mastermind clients, personal brand expert Amelia Sordell offers practical tips for building your personal brand and attracting more business buying opportunities and M&A lawyer John Andrews offers essential legal advice every business investor should know.

We also feature highlights from Jonathan Jay’s interview with entrepreneur and former Dragon Den investor, James Caan, on his approach to growth by acquisition and protecting your personal assets when financing deals. 

If you are looking for motivation and inspiration as you continue on your business buying journey, you need to listen to this episode.

Here are the highlights

00:00 Introduction to the episode 
02:25 The importance of personal branding 
09:29 Practical tips to build your personal brand 
11:03 Mastermind client Steve’s journey from podcast listener to business buyers
15:47 Lessons learnt from multiple acquisitions 
20:03 Strategies to improve integration apply after you buy a business 
24:00 The benefits of remote work and recruitment
25:03 The first day you own a business 
28:36 Martin's deal structures and strategies 
35:06 Legal insights on M&A deals with John Andrews
44:08 James Caan’s business buying insights 
49:25 How to finance acquisitions without risking everything  

You will discover…

• The value of building your personal brand as a business acquisition entrepreneur - if you want to do more deals
  
• Why your personal brand gets 561% more attention than your company brand (and what to do)
  
• Why you are being searched on LinkedIn whether you like it or not (and what to do about it)
  
• Why you need to use the “TripAdvisor” test to assess your trustworthiness to vendors
  
• How to use business acquisition to increase your customer base (and increase your cross-sell opportunities)
  
• Why it is important to understand cultural differences when acquiring a business from overseas
• The importance of building systems and processes when sourcing businesses to buy
  
• Why you should never get an accountant to value a business (particularly if you are buying their business!)
  
• Why it is important to use lawyers who have M&A experience (and find vendors who are using lawyers with M&A experience)
  When to bring in your legal team in on a deal (don’t make the mistake of leaving it later than this)

 

** Looking for a great acquisition lawyer in the UK? Use mine! **

If you are looking for a lawyer in the UK to help you get the deal over the line, then use my own lawyer, John Andrews. You can phone his office at (0345) 2412494 or email him at johnandrews.deallawyer@jmw.co.uk.

Ready to get started?

Here’s how you can start your business buying journey…

Download our free Business Buying Toolkit
https://dealmakers.co.uk/business-buying-toolkit

Join our Business Acquisition FastTrack programme
https://www.dealmakers.co.uk/fast

Already bought a business?

if you've already bought a business, you should be part of my Inner Circle group where we discuss raising capital, integration management, and exiting. Email Maria on hello@thedealmakersacademy.com for more information.

Interview with John Hood

In this episode, I’m joined by entrepreneur John Hood. John and I met many years ago when I acquired a digital marketing agency I was gearing up to sell. By 27, John already had a furniture, distribution, and IT business. We later met in 2019 after he identified Home Improvement and construction as ideal for following my buy and build strategy. John joins us to share his background, how he made his first home improvement and construction acquisition, and possible mistakes in this journey.

Key Highlights

[01:33] About John Hood

[02:03] John's background and his first acquisition

[05:21] Business acquisition mistakes made by John

[09:04] How people approach business buying deals

[11.52] John’s plans and goals

[16:06] So are you saying that your ambitions have grown?

[17:34] The process of running one’s business

[19:04] John’s advice to those who want to buy their businesses

[21:00] Reinvesting profit generated from the acquired business

[24:00] Nature of business ventures

[25:55] John's parting shots

Notable Quotes

• If you don't understand your motive, then your motivation will never be there.
• I haven't quite had the courage to encourage people not to use lawyers because that's got connotations in the future, but we always encourage them to use lawyers.
• I think the first step and the action you want to take is to go out and get the inquiry to provide yourself with the lead, the deal flow, the needs, or whatever you want to call to give you a major choice.

Resources

If you are looking for a lawyer in the UK to help you get the deal over the line, then use my guy, John Andrews. You can phone his office at (0345) 2412494 or email him at johnandrews.deallawyer@jmw.co.uk.

If you would like to take the next step to learn the best ways of buying a business, without risking your own cash, you can access my free training at:
https://www.dealmakersvideo.co.uk

Watch my Webinar Training Video:
https://www.dealmakerspodcast.co.uk

You can also request a free copy of my book at:
https://www.thedealmakersacademy.com/free-book-giveaway/

If you want to jump straight to my live Zoom FastTrack course, please go to:
https://www.thedealmakersacademy.com/fast 

Connect with Jonathan Jay at:
Website: https://www.thedealmakersacademy.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-jay-3556b230/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheDealmakersAcademy

Interview with Phil Hunt

In today's episode, I’m joined by Phil Hunt. Despite having a full-time job as an HR director of a city bank in London, this hasn't stopped Phil from following the Dealmakers Academy program and making his first two acquisitions. Phil has recently acquired two hairdressing salons, and he joins us to share his experience, highs and lows, and some of his best tips on acquiring one's business.

Key highlights from the call

[01:06] About Phil Hunt

[02:50] Freedom of owning a business

[03:28] When you were watching my videos, what was going through your head?

[04:11] Likable moments in Fasttrack Program

[08:28] How many conversations did you have before you found your first business acquisition target?

[11:33] Did you use a lawyer?

[12:10] How long did it take to complete the transaction?

[12:41] Negotiation strategies

[14:35] Hunt’s second acquisition

[16:25] Tell me why this was a share purchase

[19:08] Phil’s plans

[19:49] What is the profit margin in this sector?

[25:48] Advice to listeners

Notable Quotes

• The perfectionism then comes when you engage with the accountant and the lawyer to make sure that the deal is what you need it to be.
• I think there's very little risk here. So it's definitely worth doing the courses that you provide because they give you it's not just the confidence, you've got to have that internally, but they kind of unlock the confidence if it's a little bit backward going forward.
• Just go out there and do it. What on earth do you have to lose here, and nothing you lose affects business?
• I'd spent the first nine months trying almost not to send the letters out; I was thinking, well, that word won't be right. And I’ve got the right address? And what about if the person doesn't like to be addressed like that? And I thought, you know, if they don't like it, they're not going to reply.

Resources

If you are looking for a lawyer in the UK to help you get the deal over the line, then use my guy John Andrews. You can phone his office on +03452412494 or email him at johandrew.dolawyers.jmw.co.uk.

To join the Fasttrack Program, you can connect with Jonathan Jay on Dealmakers Academy, follow him on LinkedIn, or get his videos on YouTube.

Interview with Jamie Simpson

In this episode, I talk to Jamie Simpson. When I first met Jamie he had been interested in buying a business for some time, but nothing has taken shape yet. Since then, Jamie bought three businesses without risking his own cash. Jamie joins us to share his journey and how he has managed to buy his businesses. He also shares some inspirational tips for those who want to buy their own business and haven't started yet. 

Key Highlights

[01:01] About Jamie Simpson

[01:36] When did you think buying a business was a good idea?

[03:14] What do you feel different about the deal hanging around for four years and what you have done in four months?

[03:48] Would you have approached it differently knowing what you know now?

[04:25] Did you lose that money, though?

[05:36] When did you do your Fasttrack program?

[07:10] How long did you take to feel as though you were speaking confidently to business owners?

[13:15] Some of the things learned from Jonathan Jay that helped in business acquisition

[15:00] Strategies used to talk to business sellers

[16:18] Are you doing your work?

[19:45] Lessons learned about business buying

[21:00] About the Numbers game

[25:38] Parting tips to listeners

Notable Quotes

• I feel like I've got two options here. I can be like the tortoise in the shell. If you put your head out of the shell and something goes to bite, you can stay in the shell for the rest of your life or put your head down.
• I was hearing people say oh, we send 200 letters out, and we'll test the water and see what happens. And I was thinking they were my competition. So if they're going to test the water on, I'm just going to blitz the water. And I sent out about three to four thousand letters straightaway.
• A lot of people feel like they need to do their homework on the industry before they start sending letters. But actually, I found the sellers to be one of the greatest sources of information about the industry.
• Training to collect the data, trying to send the moves out in bulk like it's just not practical. So outsourcing to the experts is the way forward because it frees up your time to focus on what you want to do and where your skill sets lie.
• I would say follow the steps given in the FastTrack program. Don't feel like, you know, better.
• If you don't know the industry, or you've never purchased the business before, you learn as you go.

Resources

If you are looking for a lawyer in the UK to help you get the deal over the line, then use my guy John Andrews. You can phone his office on +03452412494 or email him at johandrew.dolawyers.jmw.co.uk.

To join the Fasttrack Program, you can connect with Jonathan Jay on Dealmakers Academy, follow him on LinkedIn, or get his videos on youtube.

Moving beyond the mindset of organic growth

In this episode, I am joined by Aled Davies, who runs a printing and textile printing family business. Aled had been trying to grow this business organically before listening to this podcast and joining me on one of my business acquisitions, Fasttrack Programs, in 2020. Through this program, Aled got a whole new perspective on growing his business and has since made his first acquisition. In this episode, Aled shares how he came about and how he got to make his first acquisition. He also shares some words of wisdom with those interested in buying their own business.

Key Highlights

[01:03] About Aled Davies

[04:15] Motivation towards buying his own business

[05:18] When you heard other people do what you wanted to do, did that motivate you?

[06:09] Likable moments in the Fasttrack program

[07:34] How did you go about your first call with the business owner of the business you eventually bought?

[08:39] Would you have grown your business by 10-15% in the next 12 months?

[09:25] The negotiation process

[12:56] Were you interested in his website traffic, inquiries, and existing customer list?

[17:20] Signifier of the worth of a business

[18:33] Business acquisition principles used

[20:32] Plans for the future

[21:56] Tips to listeners

Notable Quotes

• It was surprisingly easy to do when you have started to get some idea of what you are doing.
• If a deal doesn’t feel right or doesn’t look like it's going to be the right one for you, you can always walk away if you don’t want to do it anyway.
• The first step is to get started and give it a go because you never know what will come out of it.
• All we did was make a few phone calls, went to see the guy, agreed on everything, and that was it. It was as simple as that.

Resources

If you are looking for a lawyer in the UK to help you get the deal over the line, then use my guy John Andrews. You can phone his office on +03452412494 or email him at johandrew.dolawyers.jmw.co.uk.

To join the Fasttrack Program, you can connect with Jonathan Jay on Dealmakers Academy, follow him on Linkedin, or get his videos on youtube.

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 190 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

This week we meet Nigel Wilkinson, who set up a digital marketing agency in 2000. Nigel acquired one of his competitors in September 2019, and then joined my five day dealmakers academy training programme last year.

He has made a couple more acquisitions since, although as you’ll hear it hasn’t all been plain sailing.

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:

  www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 189 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

This week I talk with Graeme Carling, who we first met in episode 76 of the podcast – Now Graeme had spent a decade building a substantial property portfolio, before buying a well known Scottish construction company out of administration.

I asked Graeme to relay his story to a private audience in London earlier this month.

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:

  www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 188 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

Now this week I am talking with Jack Baker, who a year ago was working in construction, thinking that there must be more to life than this, and wishing he could be his own boss. 

He started watching the business buying videos on my YouTube channel, listened to this podcast, and joined my Fast Track online training programme. And as a direct result, he has completed the acquisition of his first healthcare business, which has consistently delivered a £200K annual profit. 

Here’s Jack talking about his background leading up to when he started to get interested in buying a business …

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:   www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 187 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

Now this week I am talking with two of my private clients, catching up with their recent progress.

First we hear from Tony Egan, who is keen to acquire a number of veterinary practices. And then we talk with Nick Passmore, who has found his first acquisition through a chance conversation with a family friend. And it looks as though he might have struck gold. Let’s find out more.

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:   www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 186 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

This week we’re going to talk MONEY - The fact is that when I run one of my training programmes, I get asked about how to negotiate the price of an acquisition more than almost any other topic.

So here I am, talking to my audience about how to strengthen your negotiating position - How to reach agreement on the price of a business with the current owner - And the steps to follow to put a deal together.

I hope you enjoy it.

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:   www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 184 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

This week, we meet another of my mastermind clients, Hari Krishnadasan. Now Hari had actually bought a business a few years ago without realising that growing through acquisition could be a viable business strategy. 

But when COVID forced Hari to diversify, he made two new acquisitions and is now fully signed up to the principal of buy and build.  

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:   www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

In this compilation episode of Business Buying Strategies, Jonathan takes us through various key insights and practical tips for acquiring businesses without risking personal capital. The episode features highlights from a recent talk about the buy and build strategy given at the Marbella retreat, emphasising the importance of getting acquisition financials right, the value creation process, and managing the integration of businesses into a larger entity.

The episode also covers training staff, managing expectations of former owners, and understanding the psychological aspects of buying and selling a business.

Additionally, Vicky Espin discusses imposter syndrome and Nigel Risner shares motivational strategies and the importance of viewing setbacks as learning opportunities.

Key moments

00:00 Introduction to Business Buying Strategies
01:27 Understanding the Buy and Build Strategy
05:32 The Importance of Training and Management
09:28 De-risking by Tying in the Seller
19:57 The Psychology of Buying and Selling a Business
27:58 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Business Buying
29:09 Understanding Imposter Syndrome
30:01 The Importance of Caring About Your Business
30:41 Identifying What Matters in Your Business
34:38 Exploring the Roots of Imposter Syndrome
36:08 Defining and Recognizing Imposter Syndrome
40:22 The Imposter and the Traitor
43:14 Taking Action and Overcoming Barriers
46:44 Nigel Risner's Motivational Insights
48:34 The Power of Self-Talk and Coaching
53:42 Learning from Successful Businesses

** Looking for a great acquisition lawyer in the UK? Use mine! **

If you are looking for a lawyer in the UK to help you get the deal over the line, then use my own lawyer, John Andrews. You can phone his office at (0345) 2412494 or email him at johnandrews.deallawyer@jmw.co.uk.

Ready to get started?

Here’s how you can start your business buying journey…

Download our free Business Buying Toolkit
https://dealmakers.co.uk/business-buying-toolkit

Join our Business Acquisition FastTrack programme
https://www.dealmakers.co.uk/fast

Already bought a business?

if you've already bought a business, you should be part of my Inner Circle group where we discuss raising capital, integration management, and exiting. Email Maria on hello@thedealmakersacademy.com for more information.

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 183 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

This week we meet John Richardson, whose expertise is acquiring coffee retail businesses and building a chain of coffee shops. 

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:   www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 181 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

Now a couple of weeks ago, I introduced one of my online audiences to two of the most prolific dealmakers I know. 

You might have heard the name Peter Lidgitt before - because he was on the podcast just a couple of months ago. But since then, during one visit to the Burgundy region in France, he has managed to acquire three businesses - including a sausage factory - and has his sights on another two. 

Another dealmaker who has joined me on the podcast previously is Gavin.

Now Gavin’s experience is in the printing sector - and he first approached me when he had built up his businesses to a turnover of £900K - but was struggling to get it over the £1m he’d set as a target. 

By changing from growing organically to acquiring other businesses and then joining them together, everything changed for Gavin. 

He and I discussed the skills and personality traits needed of a successful dealmaker.

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at: www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 180 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

Back in November last year I introduced you to one of my mastermind students, Kris Bark. 

At the time, Kris ran a software business that he had started with a business partner several years ago. Having bought out the partner, and after attending my programme, Kris realised that growth by acquisition was the way to go - and so began a rapid succession of acquisitions. 

Eight months on and Kris is well on his way to his target of 60 acquisitions, with a combined turnover of £60 million within the next two years. 

Earlier in May, I invited him to meet my current intake of virtual students, and we talked about his methods for deal flow, negotiation, financing deals and ways to exit. 

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at: www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 179 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast.    This week I talk with a legendary jewellery entrepreneur who grew his global business almost entirely through acquisition. 

Gerald Ratner left school at 16 with no qualifications, and went to work in his father’s jewellery business. 

In 1984, he took over the business - and after just six years in charge he had created the world's largest jewellery retail company - with 2,500 stores, 25,000 employees, annual sales of £1.2 billion. 

Last month I invited Gerald to share the lessons he has learned with my private audience.  Afterwards, I joined him on stage to talk about each of the significant acquisitions Gerald made. 

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at: www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 178 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast.    This week I am talking with Michael Girdley, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of US based Dura Software – and last year, Michael completed the acquisition of 6Connex – a technology company specialising in large scale virtual events - a great acquisition that in 2020 was definitely a case of ‘right time right place’ - and it was the fifth acquisition he’d made since 2018.    Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at: www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 177 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast.    Now this week we’re going to talk about buying businesses that are exclusively online - and as this is not my area of expertise, I’m going to be talking to Australian dealmaker Jaryd Krause about the specific skills required to acquire an online business.    Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at: www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 176 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

Now you may remember that a few episodes ago, I described dealmaker Nick Manuel as someone who just ‘gets’ dealmaking - and repeatedly implements the ideal strategy to make successful acquisitions.

A while back I met up with another of my students with the same drive and commitment common to every successful dealmaker.

Ray Burke grew his business by 680% - with three acquisitions - in just 12 months. Yes, you heard me correctly. Ray's business ballooned from £500,000 to £3.4M in just a year. I hope you enjoy his story.

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at: www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 175 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

Now several years ago I was introduced to Robin Pugh - and I was so taken with his calm and measured approach to buying a business that I couldn’t wait to introduce him to my group of mastermind students. He turned out to be one of our most popular guest presenters

A few months later I invited him onto the podcast to talk about his business experience, and in particular his belief that it’s always the people in a business that represent the largest opportunity - and also, in some cases, the biggest risks. I started by asking Robin for a career summary to date.

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at: www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 174 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast.  Now as much as I enjoy talking with many of the dealmakers who have made successful acquisitions after joining my programme, I also enjoy being interviewed myself. Last year it was a pleasure to be interviewed by Rob Craven, the managing director of the Directors Center.

Rob advises clients on running and growing a business - So he was keen to learn about buying and selling businesses from my own perspective. Now it's a forty-five minute interview, a little bit longer than our usual podcast episodes, but we didn't want to edit anything out because it felt like such a great interview. So sit back and enjoy it.

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at: www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 173 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast.    Back in October 2020, that’s episode 104, I talked with serial business buyer Peter Lidgitt.    Peter bought nine UK businesses in 2020, totalling £20m in revenue – all whilst being locked down for most of the year at his home in France.    Eighteen months on, I was keen to hear what Peter has been up to since.    Now for the first couple of minutes of our discussion, our broadband signal was extremely patchy. So rather than inflict that on you, we’ll pick up our conversation at the point where I asked Peter about the effect that the pandemic had on the flower business he owned when we first met. 
Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at: www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Exciting Updates: New Website, Free Business Buying Toolkit, and Upcoming Events.

In this episode, Jonathan shares exciting updates from The Dealmakers Academy, including a brand new website and a free Business Buying Toolkit - packed with 17 valuable resources.

Jonathan explains the importance of the toolkit for anyone interested in buying a business and announces a free webinar to guide users on its effective usage. Jonathan also introduces the revamped Fast Track program tailored for serious business buyers, and talks about the long-standing Mastermind program with three different levels.

Additionally, Dealmakers is hosting a three-day event in Australia and launching a complete Business Buying Course, alongside a new direct mail template kit, to assist entrepreneurs in sourcing business deals. 

Key moments

00:00 Catching Up 
01:05 Introducing the Business Buying Toolkit
02:18 Webinar and Fast Track Program
05:02 Mastermind Program and Inner Circle
07:51 Upcoming Events and New Products
10:02 Direct Mail Template Kit
11:52 Conclusion

** Looking for a great acquisition lawyer in the UK? Use mine! **

If you are looking for a lawyer in the UK to help you get the deal over the line, then use my own lawyer, John Andrews. You can phone his office at (0345) 2412494 or email him at johnandrews.deallawyer@jmw.co.uk.

Ready to get started?

Here’s how you can start your business buying journey…

Download our free Business Buying Toolkit
https://dealmakers.co.uk/business-buying-toolkit

Join our Business Acquisition FastTrack programme
https://www.dealmakers.co.uk/fast

Already bought a business?

if you've already bought a business, you should be part of my Inner Circle group where we discuss raising capital, integration management, and exiting. Email Maria on hello@thedealmakersacademy.com for more information.

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 172 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast.    From time to time, I meet someone who just ‘gets’ dealmaking - and who then graduates from my programme with the right attitude, determination and most importantly the right strategy to make successful acquisitions.    Nick Manuel is a really good example. He’s actually been on the podcast before - back when he was just starting out on his business buying journey. Recently, I invited him to one of my live mastermind group meetings to tell his story, and to bring me up to date with his progress. 
Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at: www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 171 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast.    Now back in episode 117 of the podcast, in January of last year, we met mergers and acquisitions specialist Rob Goddard - and talked about what it takes to sell a business quickly and effectively.    Since then, Rob has been applying his skills and knowledge of selling businesses to acquiring them - and has just completed his first acquisition - a large accountancy practice with 45 staff and a turnover of £2m. This week Rob and I talk about how he pulled the deal off. 
Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at: www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 170 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast.    This week, we’re going to tune in to one of my live mastermind group meet ups, where I invited Andy Doyle to speak. Now Andy was on my business acquisition mastermind program a couple of years ago, and we’re going to discover how he's bought five businesses since then and how he's taken his turnover from 600,000 a year to 2.3 million pounds a year at the same time.   
Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at: www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 169 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast.    This week, we’re going to go behind the scenes of one of my live mastermind group meet ups, where I invited some of the audience up to the front of the room to tell everyone how their business acquisitions are progressing.   Our students find it incredibly motivating to learn from others, and to hear about the strategies that have worked, as well as the mistakes they make along the way.    Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at: www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 168 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast.  This week we continue our discussion about the legal aspects of acquiring a business with Jonathan's go to lawyer, John Andrews.  
Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at: www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 167 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast.  This week, and in next week's episode, we consider the legal aspects of acquiring a business with Jonathan's go to lawyer, John Andrews.  
Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at: www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 166 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast.  This week, Jonathan talks with Sam Turner, who gave up a lucrative corporate career to become a dealmaker in the HVAC sector.  
Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:

www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 165 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

Just before Christmas I met up online with John Corney, another of my mastermind clients. When I first met John, he had just sold his internet services businesses to a large aggregator for a considerable sum - but it had taken him nearly 25 years to reach that milestone.

And whilst John was in no mood to retire, he was looking for a new business, one that could grow much faster and with less direct input from him. The thought of dealmaking appealed to John and the rest, as they say is history.

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:

www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 164 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

This week, we meet up for a second time with Richard Bundock, one of my dealmaking clients. Now, Richard is a great example of someone who started a successful business, but wasn't able to grow it organically as quickly as his ambition demanded.

Now he has a couple of acquisitions under his belt, his whole outlook has changed.

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:
www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 163 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

Just before Christmas I met up online with another of my dealmaking students - Clayton Shaw.   Now Clayton already had an acquisition under his belt when we first met - he bought a computer company with a friend some years ago - but since joining my programme in February 2021, he has made a series of real estate sector acquisitions - and has ambitious plans for more in 2022. 

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:
www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

In this episode of Business Buying Strategies Jonathan sits continues his conversation with Steve, a mastermind member who built a £7 million empire through strategic acquisitions without using his own cash.

They discuss the detailed process of what happens after purchasing a business, including the first 100 days of ownership, brand integration, financial oversight, and team consolidation. Steve shares invaluable lessons on due diligence, maintaining staff morale, and leveraging group resources. The episode underscores the importance of preparation, legal groundwork, and the benefits of a collaborative mastermind environment. A must-listen for aspiring business buyers looking to navigate the complexities of post-acquisition successfully.

Key moments

00:00 Introduction to Business Buying Strategies
01:28 Steve's Acquisition Journey
01:45 Post-Acquisition Challenges and Strategies
03:54 Financial Consolidation and Management
06:28 Day One of Ownership
10:40 Lessons Learned and Advice
12:31 Encouragement for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
13:21 Conclusion and Future Plans

** Looking for a great acquisition lawyer in the UK? Use mine! **

If you are looking for a lawyer in the UK to help you get the deal over the line, then use my own lawyer, John Andrews. You can phone his office at (0345) 2412494 or email him at johnandrews.deallawyer@jmw.co.uk.

Ready to get started?

Here’s how you can start your business buying journey…

Download our free Business Buying Toolkit
https://dealmakers.co.uk/business-buying-toolkit

Join our Business Acquisition FastTrack programme
https://www.dealmakers.co.uk/fast

Already bought a business?

if you've already bought a business, you should be part of my Inner Circle group where we discuss raising capital, integration management, and exiting. Email Maria on hello@thedealmakersacademy.com for more information.

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 162 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

Earlier this week, Jonathan met up online with another mastermind student, Kris Bark. Now Kris has run his software business for many years -  and acquiring competitors and related businesses has been something he has thought of doing for the last five years. 

But it was only after he bought out his business partner that it became a priority. And having attended our course at the start of last year, Kris started targeting businesses to acquire.    As you’ll hear, he has made tremendous progress. 

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:
www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 161 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

This week, Jonathan talks with entrepreneur and dealmaker Charlie Norton. 

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:
www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 160 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

This week, we discuss invoice and asset financing with finance expert Neil Curtis; we meet serial dealmaker Paul Green; and we talk about the power of LinkedIn with expert Andy Gwynne. 

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:
www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 159 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

This week, we meet former tax inspector Chris O’Hara, who now specialises in helping companies negotiate tax investigations, overdue payments and other challenges with HMRC. 

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:
www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 158 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

Now if you are a regular listener to the podcast you’ll know that at the start of recent episodes I have opened up my little black book and given the contact details of the lawyer who I recommend and use for my own acquisitions in the children’s day nursery sector.    Last year, I invited John Andrews onto the podcast to talk about the role that the solicitor plays in a merger or acquisition of a business. Now I meet a fair number of dealmakers who say that if a deal of their goes wrong, it’s usually the solicitor who has messed things up - so I started by asking John if there was any truth in that at all. 

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:
www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 157 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

Now whenever I meet or talk with regular listeners to the show, most tell me how much they love - and how useful they find - the episodes where I talk in depth with a single dealmaker about the acquisitions they have made.    I’m pleased to hear this - because I love them too! And from time to time, I meet dealmakers who have so much energy, and who are so keen to get started, that I want to bottle their enthusiasm and vitality and sell it!   This week, I want to listen again to one such dealmaker, who was a guest on the podcast at the beginning of last year. His name is John Graves, and having decided to focus on acquiring distressed businesses, he bought his first company - a hotel and golf club in receivership - in a deal that took just seven days to complete. 

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:
www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 156 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

This week, we have one of our regular highlights episodes, where I look back at some of the insights and interesting conversations I have had over the most recent ten episodes. 

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:
www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 155 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

So this week, I talk with Ed, the producer of this podcast, about my new Mastermind programme, which starts in January.

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:
www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 154 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

So this week, I want you to meet entrepreneur John Hood - now John and I first met many years ago, at a time when I had acquired a digital marketing agency that I was gearing up to sell.

John is no stranger to the world of acquisition. By the age of 27, John had already either started or acquired a furniture business, a distribution business and an IT business.

Our paths only crossed again in 2019, after John had identified home improvement and construction as a sector that was ideal for following my buy and build strategy.

Here’s John talking about his background, and how with his first home improvement business acquisition, he made just about every mistake it was possible to make.

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:
www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 153 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

So this week, my guest is James Gardner - an entrepreneur who started a business with his brother 20 years ago, grew it, expanded into the USA and then sold it, with James retained by the business’s new owners.

Now last year James was one of a dozen or so lucky people to spend the day with me, on a business excursion to Amsterdam, when I was able to advise him one to one about the next steps he should take to acquire his next business.

As you’ll here, his acquisition opportunity came about following a casual, throwaway conversation he had with a business owner in a barber’s shop. Here’s James telling his story.

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:
www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

In this week's episode of the podcast, Jonathan talks with Steve, a listener who was inspired by the podcast to join the mastermind program focused on buying businesses successfully without risking personal capital.

Steve shares his journey of making several acquisitions and the strategic decisions behind them, including stories of both successful and challenging deals. The conversation covers Steve's initial inspiration from the podcast, his first acquisition in the United States that eventually had to be reversed due to partnership issues, and his successful acquisition of a logistics and print finishing business.

Steve emphasises the importance of strategic acquisitions for cross-selling and expanding the service offerings to customers. The episode also considers the lessons learned, the importance of choosing the right people to work with, and how to structure deals to minimize personal financial risk while maximising growth and profitability.

Key moments

01:05 Steve's Journey: From Listener to Mastermind Success
01:55 The Power of Strategic Acquisitions: Steve's Insight
03:47 Expanding Horizons: The First U.S. Acquisition and Its Lessons
04:47 Learning from Failure: The Importance of the Right Partnership
06:58 A Successful Turnaround: The Logistics Hub Acquisition
12:22 Vision for the Future: Expanding into Promotional Products
15:26 The Art of Fair Negotiation
15:35 Honest Conversations and Realistic Expectations
16:16 Strategic Acquisitions and Business Growth
17:15 Cross-Selling Strategies and Team Structure
18:19 Innovative Deal Structuring and Funding
20:50 The Power of Networking and Learning from Conversations
23:55 Building a Successful Business Group
27:35 Future Plans and Exit Strategy

** Looking for a great acquisition lawyer in the UK? Use mine! **

If you are looking for a lawyer in the UK to help you get the deal over the line, then use my own lawyer, John Andrews. You can phone his office at (0345) 2412494 or email him at johnandrews.deallawyer@jmw.co.uk.

Ready to get started?

Here’s how you can start your business buying journey…

Download our free Business Buying Toolkit
https://dealmakers.co.uk/business-buying-toolkit

Join our Business Acquisition FastTrack programme
https://www.dealmakers.co.uk/fast

Already bought a business?

if you've already bought a business, you should be part of my Inner Circle group where we discuss raising capital, integration management, and exiting. Email Maria on hello@thedealmakersacademy.com for more information.

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 152 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

This week I want you to meet Michal Bereslavsky, who buys, builds and sells online businesses. As some of you will know, this is anything but my own area of expertise - so I am always interested to learn about business sectors that I don’t personally understand. But Michael’s business is fascinating - he specialises in virtual businesses - usually involving affiliate marketing and selling. As he himself explains, the business may be virtual, but the money is real!

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:
www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 151 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

This week we hear from another of my dealmaking students - Isaac Smith-Jones.    Isaac is as an experienced online marketing consultant - specialising in generating leads via Facebook. He’d been considering acquiring a business for some time, and my mastermind programme provided just the incentive he needed to get started.    Isaac started by talking about his background and explaining why he felt drawn to the idea of buying a business.  

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:
www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI

Hello this is Jonathan Jay - and welcome to episode 150 of the Business Buying Strategies podcast. 

This week I want you to meet Rob Schut, who after working in the aircraft parts and machinery business for a number of years decided to build for his future by acquiring businesses.    Interestingly, despite Rob’s considerable business experience, he found the negotiation of the price and payment terms for his first acquisition the most challenging part of the process. We’ll hear what he did to overcome his negotiating reticence shortly - but I started by asking Rob what attracted him to acquiring a business in the first place. 

Find more details of the next Fasttrack programme at:
www.thedealmakersacademy.com/FAST

Follow or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S3Xzxw

Watch our YouTube Channel The Dealmaker's Academy https://bit.ly/3b86OFI