#332 Ask a Business Acquisition Expert ANYTHING
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
Release Date: 08/28/2025
#333 Legal Pitfalls of Business Acquisitions
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
In this week’s episode, Jonathan sits down with his long-term legal partner, John Andrews, for a masterclass on the legal do’s and don’ts of buying a business. With over 250 deals completed for Dealmakers clients and three decades of M&A experience, John shares the essential legal knowledge every buyer needs — especially if you’re serious about avoiding costly mistakes. Whether you’re preparing for your first deal or scaling up your acquisition strategy, this episode gives you the legal edge to navigate deals with confidence. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why a...
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#332 Ask a Business Acquisition Expert ANYTHING
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
In this episode, Jonathan does something a little different: a live Q&A session with listeners and aspiring dealmakers. You’ll hear real, unscripted questions from entrepreneurs across the UK (and beyond) – and Jonathan’s direct, practical answers drawn from decades of dealmaking experience. In This Episode Why traditional “day-one finance + deferred consideration” deals are becoming outdated. The big difference between the “vanilla” advice on YouTube and the full-flavour strategies inside Mastermind. Should you start with a small (£500k turnover, 5 staff)...
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#331 From Redundancy to £1 Million: Neil’s Journey from Scratch to 650 Clients
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
In this week’s episode of Business Buying Strategies, Jonathan speaks with Neil — a former accountant who lost his job in early 2020 and built a million-pound business in just five years. Neil shares how he went from doing the odd tax return to running a team of 12, managing 650 clients, and completing three acquisitions in just two years. You’ll hear how he turned redundancy into opportunity, overcame the chaos of COVID, and used acquisitions — not marketing — to scale rapidly and strategically. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How Neil built his business from scratch...
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#330 Fast-Tracking Business Acquisitions: Lessons from Success Stories
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
In this week’s episode of Business Buying Strategies, Jonathan shares valuable insights from Inner Circle members who have successfully purchased businesses. The episode considers the transformative power of a single acquisition, featuring examples such as Nick's printing business expansion and Jas's recent ventures. Jonathan stresses the importance of validating the business model to ensure sustainable growth. Lessons include the importance of empowering employees, maintaining quality management, and the strategic considerations of business consolidation and rebranding. It’s an episode...
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#329 Insights from Seasoned Entrepreneurs: The Inner Circle Discussion Panel
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
In this week's episode of Business Buying Strategies, we are treated to a special Q&A session from the annual Marbella retreat featuring a panel of seasoned members from Jonathan's inner circle group. These accomplished entrepreneurs, who have collectively acquired dozens of businesses, discuss their experiences and share invaluable tips on acquiring businesses with minimal capital outlay. The panellists, including Hari, Simon, Tim, Jon, and Ben, dive deep into topics such as the importance of getting started, whether to take a targeted or scattergun approach, managing...
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#328 Tax efficient strategies for business owners
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
Insights from an Expert Accountant In this episode of Business Buying Strategies, Jonathan introduces Jeff, an accountant he has worked with for nearly 13 years. Jeff shares invaluable tax-efficient strategies to help business owners maximise their savings and minimise tax liabilities. Key topics discussed include the benefits of family investment companies, approaches for handling inheritance tax, rewarding key employees using partnerships, using service companies owned by family members, and leveraging pensions for tax benefits. Jeff explains how to structure deals in a way that...
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#327 Masterclass on Financial Due Diligence
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
In this episode of Business Buying Strategies, Johan Gory, managing director of OnPoint Accounting, offers an in-depth masterclass on financial due diligence. Johan explains the importance of involving a due diligence expert, common pitfalls that cause buyers to overpay, and techniques such as the 'source of funds' trick to uncover the real financial health of a business. He also discusses the relevance of goodwill, the challenges and opportunities in buying distressed businesses, and the role of director's loans in business valuation. This episode is a must-listen for anyone...
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#326 Zero to Multi-Million: John's Business Acquisition Masterclass
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
In this episode of Business Buying Strategies, Jonathan talks with John, a long-time acquaintance and experienced professional in mergers and acquisitions. John shares his journey of acquiring six businesses with a combined annual revenue of 6 million pounds, detailing the various strategies and tactics he employed, including using the cash reserves of the acquired businesses to fund their purchases. He emphasises the importance of accountability, transparency, and understanding the financial aspects of a business to ensure successful acquisitions. John also highlights the value...
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#325 Mastering Personal Branding and Negotiation in Business Acquisitions
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
In this special edition of Business Buying Strategies, Jonathan Jay speaks live from the Deal Makers Retreat in Marbella, Spain, talking about the importance of personal branding when negotiating business deals. He explains how to present yourself to business owners, emphasising the significance of the first impression and maintaining credibility throughout the negotiation process. Jonathan shares practical tips and anecdotes, underlining that knowing the buying process thoroughly and having clarity of intent are crucial for success. Listeners are encouraged to adopt a calm, professional...
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#324 David's Journey From SME to Multi-Million Pound Buy-and-Build Success:
Business Buying Strategies from The Dealmaker's Academy
In this week's episode of Business Buying Strategies, Jonathan interviews David, a successful entrepreneur who shares his incredible journey of transforming a small domiciliary care business into a £20 million revenue enterprise over the course of four years through an aggressive buy-and-build strategy. David details his early days, the moment of insight that led to his first acquisition, and how he managed to acquire businesses with little to no upfront cash. He also emphasises the importance of having a strong management team, discusses integration challenges, and provides insights...
info_outlineIn this episode, Jonathan does something a little different: a live Q&A session with listeners and aspiring dealmakers. You’ll hear real, unscripted questions from entrepreneurs across the UK (and beyond) – and Jonathan’s direct, practical answers drawn from decades of dealmaking experience.
In This Episode
- Why traditional “day-one finance + deferred consideration” deals are becoming outdated.
- The big difference between the “vanilla” advice on YouTube and the full-flavour strategies inside Mastermind.
- Should you start with a small (£500k turnover, 5 staff) business – or aim higher?
- Why franchises are often jobs masquerading as businesses (and what to do instead).
- How to buy businesses abroad (Spain, Canada, etc.) and whether the process differs from the UK.
- What percentage of people actually buy a business after joining Mastermind – and why effort is the deciding factor.
- Why brokers are a trap for first-time buyers (and what to do instead).
- The truth about legal and professional fees – and why the business you buy pays them, not you.
- A reality check: why targeting £5–10m EBITDA in 18 months is unrealistic – and what is possible.
- What to do if management buys out the owner while you’re negotiating a deal.
- Is it better to buy near you, or can you run a business from afar?
Links & Resources Mentioned
- Three-Day Foundation Programme → dealmakers.co.uk/foundation (limited to 40 people per intake).
- Book a Clarity Call (free, no obligation) → dealmakers.co.uk/clarity
- Jonathan’s YouTube Channel → youtube.com/@JonathanJayDealmaker
- Subscribe to the Business Buying Strategies Podcast archive → dealmakerspodcast.co.uk
Key Takeaway
Every question reveals the same truth: success in business acquisition isn’t about finding a “magic formula” – it’s about having the right process, guidance, and deal flow. The people who follow the system always end up buying businesses.
Listen Now
If you enjoyed this Q&A format and want Jonathan to do more, let him know by leaving a comment or review!
And if you’re serious about buying your first (or next) business, book your free clarity call today: dealmakers.co.uk/clarity