Business Buying Strategies From The Dealmaker's Academy

What size of business should you buy first? In the latest episode of Business Buying Strategies, Jonathan Jay offers guidance to first-time business buying on some key decisions to make when targeting their first acquisition.  Jonathan highlights elements to consider such as business size, owner involvement, business location, and the time commitment for the acquisition. He stresses the concept of not buying a business for just one pound, given the assumed liabilities can be burdensome, especially for first-time buyers. Jonathan recommends buying a solid, profitable business and using other people's money instead of taking on a distressed business. He also suggests strategies for negotiating, understanding the seller's motivations, managing the risks involved, and thinking about the business's exit strategy from the beginning for a more profitable result. If you are about to start your business buying journey, this episode will give you all the answers you need to these important questions.  Here are the key

In the latest episode of the Business Buying Strategies podcast, experienced M&A lawyer John Andrews of JMW reveals the most effective deal structures for buying a business without using any of our own money. John is The Dealmakers Academy’s recommended lawyer and has completed deals with many of our Mastermind clients. In this podcast episode – recorded at the last Dealmakers M&A networking event in Manchester – John walks through the specifics of the dealmaking process from a legal perspective.  Robust legal due diligence is essential to ensure you protect your personal assets and limit liability. Understanding the legalities involved with buying a business is important, and John talks on a broad range of topics from working with a M&A lawyers, structuring the business the right way, differences between types of purchases, warranties and indemnities and due diligence. If you have not yet purchased your first business or you are looking to start acquiring businesses soon, listen to this episode s

In this week’s episode, Jonathan shares his insights on successfully buying a business. He discusses a recent networking event held in Manchester, where he presented common mistakes buyers make and rules to follow for a successful acquisition. Jonathan explains that you don't need a massive bank balance or perfect credit to buy a business, but instead having multiple options, substantial knowledge, confidence, and right mindset can lead to a successful deal. You will learn about: The four golden rules of business acquisition to getting a business without risking personal assets. Why you should never use your own money. Why you should never run the business personally. How to avoid personal risk. How to plan your exit early. He emphasizes the importance of moving fast during the acquisition process and being surrounded with positive people who can provide support. He concludes by informing about their Dealmakers Retreat event in Marbella. 00:44 Recap of Recent Networking Event 01:05 Insights into Business Bu

In the latest episode of the Business Buying Strategies podcast, Jonathan Jay reveals some of the most common business buying mistakes we see new and inexperienced business buyers make. (And many experienced dealmakers, too!) Many of these mistakes can seriously damage your ability to source deals, negotiate the best price and terms possible and can even stop deals in their tracks. What’s more, many of these mistakes can be easily avoided. Listen to the Business Buying Strategies podcast today and discover whether you are making any of these 12 most common mistakes when it comes to buying a business. Here are the key highlights: 01:17 The Pitfall of Using Your Own Money 02:43 The Art of Financing a Business Purchase 04:48 Avoiding the Trap of Buying a Job 05:51 The Danger of Overpaying for a Business 08:46 The Importance of Understanding the Business You're Buying 10:44 Balancing Your Day Job and Business Buying Journey 12:54 The Power of Thinking Big in Business Buying 15:42 Assembling the Right Team for You

In the latest episode of the Business Buying Strategies podcast, Jonathan Jay talks with Mastermind client, Martin, who has ambitions to build a £400m empire through business acquisition. In addition to hearing Martin’s journey from his first acquisition – shortly after completing the Mastermind programme – to his latest, this episode is packed with insights on how to put the systems and processes in place to source deals, negotiate the right way and create a strong lead flow. In particular, Martin’s business coaching approach is a great example of developing creative ways to work with vendors to give them the valuation they want while acquiring businesses that you know have strong foundations.  Also in the episode, Martin shares his experience of rapidly buying businesses and integrating them into his existing portfolio.  Martin's control of negotiation conversations coupled with his consultative selling technique and risk-taking attitude form the core of his success. He encourages would be dealmakers to ove

How Gerald Ratner built a 2,500-store retail empire through acquisition British entrepreneur Gerald Ratner took his business from a single family-owned shop in Richmond to a multi-billion, 2,500-store retail empire spanning the UK and US.  In the process, he acquired some of the biggest names on the high street, including H. Samuel and Ernest Jones.  His entire strategy was built on growth by acquisition, often pushing the business to the limit.  You may have watched some of the recent video highlights from my interview with Gerald for my Mastermind clients. On today’s episode of the Business Buying Strategies podcast, you can listen to the whole interview where he detailed exactly how he grew the business at each stage, including the creative ways he raised funding and persuaded the owners to sell to him. You will discover… How Gerald used acquisition as a strategy to dominate the high street by buying his key competitors  How buying H. Samuel transformed the group and allowed the retailer to expand its cu

De-risking Business Acquisitions: A 12-Step Guide to Successful Deals.  In this episode, Jonathan Jay shares strategies for buying a business successfully, without risking personal cash. He elaborates on the importance of proper corporate structure, no personal guarantees, de-risking leases, and linking business payment to performance. Jay also explains the significance of not over-leveraging, cost underwriting abort fees, due diligence, and incentivizing owners for a smooth transition among other things. He illustrates these points with real-life examples and emphasizes the ultimate aim - to de-risk deals and ensure a better night’s sleep for business buyers.   00:34 Introduction and Upcoming Events 01:25 De-risking Business Acquisitions: Part 1 01:55 Importance of Corporate Structure in Business Acquisition 04:31 Avoiding Personal Guarantees 07:52 De-risking Leases in Business Acquisition 11:48 Linking Payment to Business Performance 16:00 Avoiding Over-leveraging in Business Acquisition 26:55 Dealing with

The words you use during a negotiation to buy a business can make the difference between closing a great deal and failing to close any deals. Use the right language and you will discover the vendor’s motivation, build trust and clear the path to a smooth sale at the best price. Use the wrong language and you could sabotage the acquisition – or, worse, end up with a bad deal. A few weeks ago, I was invited to speak to a group of property agents who are planning to grow in 2024. I showed them how they could double their agency within six months by growing their business through acquisition – and only those Dealmakers who know how to negotiate and use the right language will secure great deals at the best price.  You will discover… Why the words you use when you negotiate could be the difference between a good deal and no deal Why you must never, ever be the first to make an offer during a negotiation (do this and you will never recover) The one question to unlock the path to a great deal and guarantee the vend

This year, we have featured more business buying success stories than ever before. Buying a business transforms your life. You just need to hear the stories of those who have follow the system and taken action to know that you can do it, too. The stories we have featured on the Business Buying Strategies podcast range from experienced business owners using acquisitions to rapidly grow their business to individuals holding down a 9-5 job who transformed their life by buying a business in their spare time.  In the latest episode of Business Buying Strategies, we look back at some of the major client wins and business buying success stories from the last 12 months. 2023 has been a great year for business buying entrepreneurs. But 2024 promises to be even better. If you are thinking about acquiring a business in 2024 and want to feel inspired, listen to this episode and discover how people – just like you – transformed their lives by buying a business.  Here are the key highlights: How Alison acquired a business

What limiting beliefs hold you back from starting your business buying journey? What stops you from doing more deals or striving to close bigger acquisitions? In this episode of the Business Buying Strategies podcast, executive coach Vicki Espin explains how imposter syndrome and limiting beliefs stop you from getting what you want and how to eliminate beliefs holding you back. If you want to buy a business in 2024 and you’re not taking action, listen to this episode. It could be a game-changer for you. This is part 2 of a two-part series featuring Vicki. Make sure you listen to part 1 on a game-changer mindset first! Here are the key highlights: Why self-sabotage is the biggest threat to your success What is imposter syndrome? Why expectations are behind imposter syndrome What are your cultural reference points? What is an expectation? Client story - when the imposter turns traitor The difference between self-esteem and self-confidence Why you can’t completely eliminate the noise Here is what you will disc

What limiting beliefs hold you back from starting your business buying journey? What stops you doing more deals or striving to close bigger acquisitions? In this episode of the Business Buying Strategies podcast, executive coach Vicki Espin explains how imposter syndrome and limiting beliefs stop you getting what you want and how to eliminate beliefs holding you back. If you want to buy a business in 2024 and you’re not taking action, listen to this episode. It could be a game-changer for you. Listen and discover…

Mastering LinkedIn: Boost Your Business Buying Strategies In this podcast, Jonathan Jay invites LinkedIn expert, Andrew Grill, to share his insights on how to use LinkedIn more effectively, especially for individuals interested in buying businesses. Topics covered include developing online credibility through LinkedIn, improving profiles for greater visibility, using LinkedIn analytics, understanding the LinkedIn algorithm, and exploring various LinkedIn tools. Grill also introduces the 'LinkedIn Social Selling Index' and provides actionable tips for better networking and content sharing on LinkedIn. 00:35 Introduction and Welcome 00:47 The Importance of LinkedIn Profile for Business Buyers 01:19 Guest Speaker Introduction: Andrew Grill 01:41 Andrew's Early Experiences with Technology 02:21 Andrew's Background in Small Business 02:47 The Power of LinkedIn for Business 03:03 Andrew's Journey with LinkedIn 03:47 The Impact of LinkedIn on Andrew's Business 04:01 The Changing Landscape of B2B Selling 05:02 The Im

In this podcast episode of 'Business Buying Strategies', host Jonathan Jay interviews Andrew Scott, an accomplished entrepreneur who has a versatile track record of both buying and selling businesses. Andrew talks about his recent experiences at the Marbella VIP dealmakers retreat and shares insights about his successful exits, including one at thirty times multiple. He also discusses some of the challenges associated with the buying process, dealing with the emotional aspect of buying and selling, and how to maximize the value of a business. The importance of having a proper acquisition process, understanding the target market, and having a long-term value-oriented approach is highlighted. Andrew concludes by stating his current focus on acquiring other marketing-related businesses and building a property portfolio to secure long-term capital value. 00:34 Introduction and Welcome 00:47 Interview with Andrew Scott: Successful Business Exits 01:40 Andrew's Experience in Buying and Selling Businesses 02:17 The

This week Jonathan shares insights and experiences of business acquisitions to a live audience in Marbella. Transitioning from financial difficulty to successful entrepreneurship, he explains how the sale of his first business changed everything and resulted in him immersing himself in the world of business acquisitions. Jonathan outlines the reasons why people sell businesses and strategies for purchasing them, Jay sheds light on the potential of business acquisitions as a means of wealth building. He asserts that everyone is capable of buying a business successfully, emphasising the importance of implementing ideas and dealing with 'imposter syndrome', the fear and self-doubt that can hinder progress. He also explores how acquiring businesses is not just about financial gains, but also personal growth and development and developing emotional intelligence. 01:45 The Importance of Implementation and Future Goals 04:16 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome 05:31 The Power of Taking Action and Building M

This week, join me at the Gherkin for a talk I gave recently to sixty business owners keen to discover how to buy a business successfully. I discuss my strategies for buying businesses including looking for profitable ones that can run without me and deploying creative deal structures to avoid using personal funds. Hear me emphasising the importance of due diligence, winning over the staff during integration, and checking a business's recurring revenue. Sharing invaluable advice from personal experiences and clarifying misconceptions about sectors and business brokers, listen to how I always try to engage the previous owner post-purchase to ensure a smooth transition. Towards the end of the episode I explain how I help people to buy businesses and how these current uncertain economic times are ideal for M&A. 00:43 Jonathan Jay's Journey into Business Buying and Selling 00:51 The Accidental Start of a Business Buying Journey 01:02 The Highs and Lows of Running a Business 01:22 The Unexpected Profit from Se

Every week I interview someone from the world of mergers and acquisitions so we can find out their approach to buying businesses.   In this episode of Business Buying Strategies, I engage in an insightful conversation with Carsten Jensen, who bought a business following the advice from my Mastermind Program. Jensen shares his journey of acquiring a successful tree surgery enterprise, currently generating between £2 to 2.5 million with 18 staff members. He describes how the program helped in understanding the acquisition process, arranging the deal structure, making profit-focussed decisions and implementing system and process improvements. Also, he provides insight into his future plans for structural organization and acquisition of complementary businesses. The episode reveals the importance of 'learning by doing', and how exposure to real-life business acquisitions can massively increase entrepreneurial confidence and capabilities. 00:35 Introduction and Welcome 00:54 Meeting with Carsten Jensen 01:25 Tour

Every week I interview someone from the world of mergers and acquisitions so we can find out their approach to buying businesses.   These days we have an international audience with many, many listeners in the United States. Now in the United States, they have an incredibly useful way of buying a business called an SBA loan. This week I talk with Ray Drew, my resident expert on SBA loans, about how they work and how you can effectively buy a business without using any of your own money.  Key Highlights [01:18] Ray discusses his background [01:54] What SBA loans are used for [02:52] How they work [04:26] The application process [05:02] Why sector experience isn't essential for a loan [07:15] Options for raising a deposit [10:36] The role of the seller and the benefits for them [13:30] Loan terms and conditions [17:40] Negotiating working capital for the acquired business [21:24] Eligibility for borrowing [25:52] How to get in touch with Ray Notable Quotes The business plan is just the tip of the iceberg. It's

Every week I interview someone from the world of mergers and acquisitions so we can find out their approach to buying businesses.   On this week's episode, we've picked out some highlights from the last ten episodes so that you can see what you may have missed and go back to listen to those episodes in full. I hope you enjoy them.  Key Highlights [01:05] Darren Beaumont [09:10] James Gardner [18:35] Dan Bown [26:48] David [32:20] Chris Stone [36:46] Akram Abdullah [43:12] Nick Manuel Resources Buying a business is only the start, which is why we are now teaching what happens next on the Mastermind program. Now, 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.  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 johna

Every week I interview someone from the world of mergers and acquisitions so we can find out their approach to buying businesses.   On this week's episode, we meet Darren, who came on my Fast Track program right at the beginning of COVID, jumped into action, and since then has bought 35 businesses. On this episode, we are going to find out exactly how he did it.  Key Highlights [01:24] Darren discusses the businesses he currently owns [02:20] The coffee van deal [04:28] Darren’s IT background and career [05:21] The first deal [07:35] Acquiring hair salons [11:45] What motivates the salon owners to sell? [18:36] Darren’s management team [20:12] Acquiring in a second sector [23:46] What does the future hold? [31:05] Questions and answers Notable Quotes I've not met any business owner that is not optimistic about next year. I tell them that I don't value on things I can't see. The most powerful thing you can ever do in any negotiation is know that you can walk away and say no and mean it. When I look at a busine

Every week I interview someone from the world of mergers and acquisitions so we can find out their approach to buying businesses.   On this week's episode, we are going to meet Dan Bown. Dan Bown is one of my Mastermind clients, and when he came on Mastermind, he wasn't entirely sure which type of business to buy. He's settled on plant hire, and has just done his first eight figure acquisition. In this episode, we'll find out how he did it. Key Highlights [01:10] Dan introduces himself and his career before becoming a dealmaker [04:16] Dan talks about how he came to join Jonathan’s Dealmaker programme [05:28] Dan outlines the first sectors he considered [08:21] Dan describes his process for shortlisting companies to approach [10:08] Dan’s first, and only, initial response [11:05] The negotiations to agree a deal to buy the business [12:57] The deal seems to fall apart [14:26] The deal is back on! [17:57] Finding the right lender [21:16] Getting to Heads of Terms [25:38] The deal gets over the line [27:18] Dan